Our Agents
Our Agents
SUBMISSIONS
Thank you for thinking of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
We look forward to reading your work!
HOW TO SUBMIT
Prepare your digital submission.
Prepare and polish your complete manuscript and/or artwork. Submit your best work. Note that we only accept human-created submissions; no AI-generated work will be considered.
Select an agent.
Visit our agents' bio pages and select one agent to query.
The ABLA agents who accept adult submissions are Laura Rennert, Saritza Hernández, Jennifer March Soloway, Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, and Paige Terlip. All other ABLA agents only accept children's submissions. Please refer to agent bios for specific categories and genres each represents.
Please note that the submission system we use for receiving queries (QueryManager) shows us the history of an author's submission. To keep things fair for all, we will not consider submissions that do not adhere to our guidelines.
Submit your work.
Click on the QueryManager link in the agent's bio, follow the prompts, and complete all required fields to be considered:
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A short query letter with a description of your work
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Previous publishing credentials (if any)
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A short author bio
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A contact phone number and email address
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A sample of your work:
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For novels: first 10 pages of text.
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For picture books, text only: full text manuscript.
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For picture book, text and illustrations: the full dummy (in pdf format) that includes 1-2 color samples, and provide an online portfolio link.
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For graphic novels, art and text: 10-20 sample page spreads in jpg or pdf format, as well as a summary/synopsis.
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For graphic novels, text only: first 10 pages of script.
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For nonfiction: a proposal and 1-3 sample chapters.
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If you are an illustrator submitting art samples only (not a dummy), please put "SEEKING ART REPRESENTATION" in lieu of Title. And "0" or "1" for Word Count. In the sample section, simply write "n/a". Please upload sample art in pdf format and provide an online portfolio link.
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You will receive a confirmation of receipt upon submission.
Response time.
The agent you queried will send you a response on your submission even if it is just a short email letting you know they are passing. Response times vary by agent. If you have not yet received a response, your work is still being considered.
We wish we had time to offer specific, in-depth feedback on each submission but unfortunately this is not a business reality given the amount of material we receive.
If you receive an offer from another agency.
Please let us know immediately, and we ask that you give us 2 weeks to review your submission once you've notified us of your offer.
ABLA Second Chance Inbox.
At ABLA we take pride in our collaborative approach to agenting and we often share queries internally when we believe a colleague is a better fit for the material.
However, if a creator would like another opportunity to have their project considered by ABLA after their first choice agent passes, we invite you to submit your work to the Second Chance Inbox. All our agents have access to this inbox and will regularly look through it to discover new material! If an agent finds something they are interested in, they will reach out to that creator directly.
When submitting to the ABLA Second Chance Inbox, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. However, because this is a shared inbox and we want every agent to have the opportunity to look through it, we will not be sending passes to queries in the Second Chance Inbox. If you have not heard from one of our agents within 12 weeks of submitting to the Second Chance Inbox, please assume ABLA has passed on your project.
Revised or reimagined submissions.
If you have significantly reimagined and reworked a previously queried project, you may submit the revised work to a new agent or the same agent you queried before. Please note the revision at the very top of your letter. Details about what the changes entail are particularly useful.
For artists, we know that portfolios change and develop over time. If you queried us and we passed, but then you spent time developing and adding to your portfolio in a significant way, we would be happy to reconsider; you may submit to a new agent or the same agent you'd previously queried. Please mention in your query your previous submission history and what changes your work has undergone.
New projects.
All rules are reset on new projects. You may again select one agent to submit your new project to and, if that agent passes, you may submit your material to the Second Chance Inbox.
We wish you the best of luck!
QUERY TIPS
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Be professional and courteous in your approach to any agent. Agents form an impression based on your query, and you want to make a good impression. Take the time to write your query well.
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Prepare your manuscript, paying close attention to the opening pages. Take the time to revise and polish. Submit your best work.
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Look carefully at our bios and choose the right agent for your work.
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If you met an agent at the Big Sur Writing Workshop, a conference, a pitch event, etc., please note the event as a "Referral."
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We are aware that there has been an uptick in agent impersonators. Any communications from ABLA will be directly through query manager or from the agent email addresses listed on our website.
MESSAGE TO CREATORS
We understand that writing and illustrating is a passion, an intensely personal calling, an long-time-dream for many, and frequently a lonely endeavor. We have great respect for authors and artists, and we share the creator's passion—that is why we are literary agents.
Unfortunately, publishing is a business that necessarily involves a lot of rejection, at every stage. One of the most difficult things for us as agents is to have to say no. Yet, we can only take on a small fraction of all the work we see. This is simply a business reality.
We say no for many reasons—because of changing trends in the market; because we already have something similar on our list; because we know of similar published or forthcoming titles; because something isn't right for us; because although something may be strong, well-written, and even publishable, we didn't fall in love with it.
Try to keep "no" in perspective. A rejection doesn't mean your project won't sell. This is a highly subjective business and another agent may adore your work. All it takes is one "yes." We wish you success in finding that "yes," whether with us or another agent and publisher. We appreciate your thinking of us, reading our website, and giving us the opportunity to see your work.