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| Agent Victoria Wells Arms |
Victoria Wells Arms started as an editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, and then Putnam. One day, she spotted an ad for an editorial director at Bloomsbury and was chosen to set up Bloomsbury USA’s children’s division. Starting with three people (and a dog), Bloomsbury grew quickly, soon hitting the bestseller lists and acquiring major awards. In 2013, Victoria opened her own agency, Wells Arms Literary, where she represents authors and illustrators for the full range of children’s books, from board books to young adult, as well as some nonfiction. Visit: www.wellsarms.com and follow her on Twitter: @VWArms and @WALiterary
Victoria shares that in addition to being sure that asking "do I love it?" and "can I sell it?" that she wants to know who a potential client is as a human being. She says
"I want to know there's depth to what you're doing, and that you're in it for the long hall."
explaining that she doesn't represent single project, but people, for their careers.
She adds, "It feels like every one of my clients is a friend" and she wants to sign someone she wants to be friends with. No divas or those wrapped up in their egos.
Victoria says that she is an editorial agent, "I always work with them [her clients] on making it better." If she can help her clients make it better, it's that much easier for editors to take it on.
"I think it's a great time. It IS really competitive. ...But I think editors are wanting to find interesting books."
Victoria reps artists and writers.
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| Agent Kirsten Hall |
Kirsten Hall is President of Catbird, a boutique children’s literary and illustration agency. She has brokered many hundreds of children’s book deals between authors, illustrators, and all of the major American publishers. She is also the author of many books for kids. Her first trade picture book, The Jacket, was a 2014 New York Times Notable). Kirsten opened Catbird's wings in March 2014, and she likens her agency to a creative playground. Her focus is debut talent, and she works intimately with her clients to create and develop original story pitches—especially picture books. According to Publishers Marketplace, Kirsten reported more new picture book deals in 2015 than any other agent. Visit: www.catbirdagency.com
Kirsten tells us about how she specializes in picture books.
"I can look at something and very quickly know… if it speaks to me."
She keeps it small, curated, and everyone on her team does something different.
As to queries, Kirsten loves jokes and personal and human and hates standard query letters.
How editorial is Kirsten? "I'm not." If I see something, and that there's something completely golden about it, "I present them (editors) with something they should do their job on."
Kirsten also spoke about the new hybrid titles that are merging fiction and nonfiction, called "informational" books.
"Publishing, at least in picture book land…I feel like everyone's upping their game." There's so much out there already that's good, so we authors and illustrators have to mine what's unique about what we're offering.
"That's the only way your light's going to shine in this pretty bright room."
Kirsten reps artists and writers.
"I'm really heart-based. I rely on my instincts, I think they're sharp."
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Picture books are easy to love because they are tiny little windows that offer beautiful glimpses out into the whole, wide, wonderful world, and into hearts like and unlike our own.
I do love picture books! There is nothing more satisfying that to find a picture book manuscript which has been carefully crafted to share a story with the youngest readers. The Impressionist painter Pierre Auguste Renoir said that painting is “making love visible” and I can’t help thinking that is why some picture books are so endearing and everlasting. They make the love we feel for our children, our grandchildren, and the children within us very visible. It is a true craft which needs to be learned and practiced. And I honor those who learn this craft and honor children.
Picture books pretty much have me wrapped around their finger. I’m obsessed by the story-telling opportunities offered by this highly-visual genre! Picture books (as a format) seem simple at first blush, but they are often in fact quite layered and even poetic, displaying an elegant interplay between text and art. Best of all, picture books are accessible to everyone. You don’t have to be able to read in order to love them. They can be savored for what they offer visually, and when read aloud, until a reader has command over the written word. Simply, what format is better than the first one that takes children by the hand and turns them into book-lovers?
The best part of picture books, for me, is way words and illustration marry together to create a sum greater than its parts. I love the way art builds meaning in the story, and how the simplest of texts can be full of emotion and heart. I remember so well the picture books that I poured over as a child — mystified and delighted to be invited into the world of reading and books. For me, it’s an honor to represent picture books!
I love picture books because they celebrate a time in our life we all look back on so fondly. I love being a part of helping to create them because we’re creating books for kids who will look back on them for the rest of their lives.
I became a reader because of picture books, and I became an agent because of picture books. They are one of the richest and most influential forms of literature. So much feeling, so many laughs, in so few pages, meant to be read over and over again!
I love picture books because they speak to the quintessential child in each of us. They reach across the gaps of age and culture and language and bring us under their spell. A perfectly-crafted picture book is a full-senses experience that can last a lifetime.
I love the breadth of story and emotion—from clever and comical, to poetic and pondering—that can be found within the framework of a 32-page picture book. I love the right prose, the visual subplots, the rhythm and rhyme and repetition (and repetition, and repetition). But, most of all, I love them because they’re short.
I love working with picture books because they remind me that the earliest literature we read in life can be some of the most memorable (and the most fun!).
I love picture books because they’re fun to read aloud, and they’re meant to be read with someone else.They can’t not be shared! Even now, I don’t have kids, but when I read a good picturebook, my husband gets to be the audience. He’s very understanding. 
I love that Joanna Volpe reads picture books to her husband! I’ve picked out a few picture books that I just had to read to my hubby – but it works best if I tell him he just has to read it to the kids. Why should kids have all the fun?
It is so nice to hear agents express not only their love of picture books, but also acknowledge the importance and depth of them. Thank you!
Great responses, all. I love Joan’s comment about PBs reaching across age and culture and this quote by Kathleen R: the earliest literature we read in life can be some of the most memorable.
Lovely post! It’s nice to know that agents love picture books for the same reasons we love to write them. :)
Great perspectives and I love their enthusiasm for our genre!
Indeed Picture Books are a fun interactive tool for sharing with others; just like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or chocolate chip cookies dipped in milk take us to old familiar places. We love short pleasurable experiences that give memories for days and sometimes years. We also like experiences with surprises, that moment when we stop and think huh? Or Wow that’s a place I have never been before….just like eating Hershey Kisses and marshmallow frosted hot chocolate stirred with a candy cane…thanks so much for sharing.
I love this admission of love, inspiration & commitment to picture books from those who know. Long live picture books.
Lisa Connors
This post really gives a feeling of a picture book community out there. People I may never meet, but we all share a love.
Ha! Joanna, I know what you mean. I recently read “It’s a Book” by Lane Smith to my 20-yr-old. We laughed a lot. It’s fun to enjoy PBs together on a whole new level.
Great post, all!
Dana Edwards
Beautiful insights into the magic of picture books….I love sitting with my three year old grandson, listening to him “read” his books to me. Thank you for sharing your love and encouragement! I am off to read some books…