Won't You Be My Agent?

I've decided to blame the lack of blog posts on the National Day of Prayer. I was busy. You could also throw in Little League and Mother's Day. They're too blame, too. But I've been writing blog posts in my head.

Last week I finally discovered who Shannon Hale's agent was. His name is Barry Goldplatt, and he represents a lot of children/YA authors. He represents Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty) and authors of books like The Year We Disappeared, Going Bovine, and The Princess and the Bear. He's what we writer's dream about at night. Who needs Valentines? Won't you be my agent?

I can't really say what appeals, besides the fact that he represents Shannon Hale and Libba Bray (and, granted, he's married to Libba Bray). There are other big name agents out there. Tracey Adams represents Margaret Peterson Haddix (Among the Hidden), Nancy Gallt represents Jeanne DuPrau (The City of Ember) and Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson & the Olympians), and Mary Kole (from the Andrea Brown Literary Agency) knows her stuff and seems like someone I could work with (her agency has Neal Shusterman on their client list). And then there's Writers House...

Oh, Writers House, how I dream of being added to your list of Nora Roberts, Stephanie Meyer, Christopher Paolini (Eragon), Barbara Park (Junie B. Jones), Dave Barry/Ridley Pearson (Peter and the Starcatchers), Melissa Marr (Ink Exchange), Andrew Clements (Frindle), Kenneth Oppel (Airborn), and James Howe (Bunnicula).

I am Cinderella and you are my impossible, untouchable prince, oh Writers House. I can dream, but even to gaze upon your list of bestsellers gives me an ache in my chest that whispers I'll never see your greatness. Just to have you touch my query would make my heart flutter. Receiving a rejection letter from you would have me floating on air for at least a day, because you - you - wrote it. Writers House, oh Writers House...

Before all my research last week, I would have been happy with just any agent. They were all the same in my mind, although I may have had a vague idea of things like AAR and Client Lists. But now, now I'm hoping for that one or that one. No one spectacular in your client list - never mind. I feel rather like a snob, but then this is writing. It's a cutthroat business, my friend. You should take up piracy if you want something less grievous to the heart.

In all honesty, however, any of the above listed agents are big hopes of mine. I respect all their authors, write similar to some of their authors. Mary Kole wants a rock 'n' roll story, or a dystopian novel (both for YA), and I have both in my "working on." Barry Goldblatt represents the woman who introduced me to princess/romance/light fantasy (Shannon Hale). Nancy Gallt gets stuff made into movies. Tracey Adams represents the best sci-fi/dystopian YA author of all time (Margaret Peterson Haddix). And then Writer's House...is the unattainable bestselling conglomerate.

[Because of all this research, the links page has practically doubled in size. It's newly organized. Check it out and realize how many agents keep helpful blogs.]