Childrens Writers Workshop

Subject: Children's Writers Chat - agent

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Date: 3/3/2000

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Welcome to the Children's Writers Workshop. Our guest this evening is Jennie Dunham, agent at Russell Volkening.

Tuesdays

9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT), Writers Workshop

Children's Writers chat - writers and illustrators of children's books meet for specific topics and special guest speakers, moderated by HOST WRTR WBABE & HOST WRTR CGaley, with HOST WRTR sUe & HOST WRTR Neely (Greeters).

***file disinfected using Anti-Virus 7.8***

<HTML>Welcome to the Children's Writers Workshop. 2-29-00

Our guest this evening is Jennie Dunham, agent at Russell Volkening.

Neely f: Now . . . it is my great pleasure to welcome Jennie Dunham,

Neely f: literary agent for Russell Volkening.

Neely f: I had the pleasure of meeting Jennie several years ago

Neely f: when she was a speaker for an SCBWI conference in New York City.

Neely f: Jennie impressed me then with her thorough knowledge of the

business

Neely f: and her sincere interest in children's books and writers.

Neely f: Welcome, Jennie. Would you like to make an opening statement

JennieRandV: uh, hi

Neely f: or do you wish me to go right into questions? GA

JennieRandV: thank you everybody for coming tonight, and special thanks to

my husband

JennieRandV: who insured that I could get online without problems this time.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: lol. Remembering last October's trials.

JennieRandV: yes. and special thanks for being invited into such fine

company. :) GA

Neely f: Well, Jennnie I am glad you are here tonight.

Neely f: Let;s go right to questions, then.

Neely f: Jennie, do you feel that all authors/illustrators need to have

agents? GA

JennieRandV: Most adult book authors need agents. If you meet one, that's

what their answer might

JennieRandV: be to this question. But it is not true for children's book

authors. There are some

JennieRandV: publishers that won't accept unagented children's book

material, but most still will. You

JennieRandV: don't have to have an agent, but you might want to have an

agent to help with selling the

JennieRandV: manuscripts and to negotiate a better deal. And remember this:

your agent gets paid

JennieRandV: when money comes in from your sales (advances and royalties),

but your editor gets

JennieRandV: paid by the publisher. Your agent is on your side and is your

advocate. GA

Neely f: That is good to hear.

Neely f: I'm posting the following question from one of our audience

members.

Neely f: At the recent SCBWI conference in NYC there was talk about the

advantages

Neely f: of having an agent.

Neely f: One thing that was mentioned was that an agent can help in terms of

Neely f: looking at the bigger picture of your career,

Neely f: not just selling your books and negotiating your contracts,

Neely f: but helping you with strategy, setting and reaching goals etc....

Neely f: Could you offer more detail? How do you feel about this? GA

JennieRandV: Publishers look for children's books, perhaps more than any

other type of book, to stay

JennieRandV: in print for a long time, to become classics and to sell to

children from generation to

JennieRandV: generation. One of the best ways to build a backlist is to have

a number of books

JennieRandV: published by a small number of publishers. They can put a page

in their catalog about

JennieRandV: the author and his or her various titles that they have

published. So focusing an author

JennieRandV: can become very important. This is a little less important with

illustrators,

JennieRandV: but still if it

JennieRandV: can be done it works well. Many authors try to push me to

submit to lots and lots of

JennieRandV: publishers, and sometimes I advise against this. Sometimes I

recommend that one type

JennieRandV: of book is published by one publisher and another type by

another publisher. I go over it

JennieRandV: with each author. GA

Neely f: Sounds like it is kind of custom made.

Neely f: Can you tell us what is the agent/client contract process. GA

JennieRandV: yes. it has to be. Authors are each individual people with

individual needs.

JennieRandV: Most agencies have written contracts between them and authors.

My company works

JennieRandV: on an oral agreement. When a writer submits work (and here I

mean a manuscript, not a

JennieRandV: query letter - more on this later), I may evaluate it and offer

representation. If I do, I

JennieRandV: explain that my firm represents authors exclusively. That means

you can't have 2

JennieRandV: agents for book projects. If you need an agent for something

else that we don't handle,

JennieRandV: that's different. (For example, we do not handle real estate.)

While we have no official

JennieRandV: paperwork when we offer to represent a client, we do have an

agency clause that

Neely f: lol

JennieRandV: publishers put in contracts we negotiate. This clause states

that the author has

JennieRandV: assigned my company as the agency for the deal. It lists our

commission and allows

JennieRandV: notices and payments to be sent to R&V for the life of the

contract.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: Jennie, what is an expected agent's commision? GA

JennieRandV: Most literary agencies charge 15% for domestic book deals. Most

graphic artists'

JennieRandV: representatives charge 25% or more. My agency charges 10% for

domestic book deals.

JennieRandV: For dramatic deals (movies, tv, stage, etc) we charge 15%. For

foreign deals we charge

JennieRandV: 20% GA

Neely f: Once you have agreed to represent a client and a contract is

signed,

Neely f: how long do you expect it to be from the contract signing to the

sale

Neely f: of the book? GA

JennieRandV: well, for the sake of this question, let's just substitute

"handshake" for "contract"

Neely f: Ok.. That's a deal

JennieRandV: For me it's been as short as 2 days that I've gotten an offer

and as long as 2 years with

JennieRandV: one editor that turned into a deal. Sometimes it takes years

and years of submitting. I've

JennieRandV: had authors cry when I've called with an offer after such a

long time. They had given up.

JennieRandV: I get a great feeling from selling manuscripts. GA

Neely f: Marilyn, my coHost, has a question. GO Ahead, marilyn.

WriterBabe: Jennie, how do you decide which editor to submit a manuscript to

initially?

WriterBabe: How often do you prod editors for an answer? GA

JennieRandV: I think to myself, who would like this? And then sometimes I

send it right to that editor or

JennieRandV: sometimes I make a list of editors.

JennieRandV: I don't prod too much.

JennieRandV: Definitely not before 4-6 weeks.

JennieRandV: Depends on what is happening (do I know that sales conference

was on or did Christmas fall

JennieRandV: in that time frame.

JennieRandV: )

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: Once you have agreed to represent a client, how often should he/she

WriterBabe: Thanks.

Neely f: check back with you on the submission progress?

Neely f: Do you keep in regular contact with your clients to inform them of

the

Neely f: status of their book? GA

JennieRandV: Go ahead and ask me when I'm about to submit. I'm happy to say

what an appropriate

JennieRandV: time is. Usually it's a couple of months. I know that most

authors are waiting to hear

JennieRandV: from me. And you should know that as soon as I hear anything, I

will call or write you.

JennieRandV: I'm waiting to hear on your behalf too!

JennieRandV: As each response comes in, I generally send a copy of the

letter to the author and

JennieRandV: say where the manuscript is going next

JennieRandV: sometimes I wait until I have a few letters to send them. GA

Neely f: Thank you. I think waiting is the hardest.

JennieRandV: for all of us waiting is the hardest

Neely f: At least knowing what is happening helps. :)

Neely f: Jennie, This is a two part question. Do you have a slushpile and

are you

Neely f: the primary reader, or do you have readers sift through the pile

first?

Neely f: How much of your day at the office do you spend reading

manuscripts?

Neely f: GA

JennieRandV: Indeed, I have a slush pile. I read all (yes ALL) of my query

letters myself. I generally

JennieRandV: read them each day. Then I give them to my assistant for a no

or for a request. She

JennieRandV: generally gets them on their way each week. By the way, I read

all of my own

JennieRandV: manuscript submissions too.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: I understand you refer query letters as opposed to full

manuscripts,

Neely f: oops prefer

JennieRandV: yeah, good reefer

Neely f: approximately how long does it take for you to respond on a query

JennieRandV: just kidding :)

Neely f: letter? GA

WriterBabe: (LOL)

Neely f: OOops, looks like you just answered that.

JennieRandV: I think that's in the question I just answered

JennieRandV: yeah, but why don't I

JennieRandV: say about manuscripts???

Neely f: Moving right along. :)

Neely f: good idea.

Neely f: GA LOL

JennieRandV: It usually takes me a while to consider a manuscript - at least

4-6 weeks. At least. I am

JennieRandV: a slow and careful reader. Once I submit to an editor, it may

take the editor anywhere

JennieRandV: from 3 weeks to 6 months to get back to me. And it depends on

the editor. Some are

JennieRandV: fast, some are v e r y s l o

w.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: We hear you.

JennieRandV: like molasses, you know

Neely f: Do you generally call or write back to the prospective client

Neely f: to inform them of your interest? GA

JennieRandV: Generally I call, but sometimes if I'm interested I'll write

with specific suggestions. GA

Neely f: Can you say anything about the author's involvement in his/her book

Neely f: and its promotion once it is published? GA

JennieRandV: Once you have a book out, let me stress that your role is not

over. Publicize your book

JennieRandV: as best you can. If it doesn't sell well, the publisher won't

be able to sign up another

JennieRandV: one. A publisher an author work together, and more than ever

before this part is up to

JennieRandV: the author. Organize story time reading, class visits, and book

signings. Send out

JennieRandV: flyers. Do what you can.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: Folks, If you have questions you can post a ? to the screen.

Otherwise I have a million mor

MaryCronk: ?

JanssD: ?

Neely f: Jennie, if you like a manuscript but are unable to represent it,

Neely f: do you ever indicate to the author any specific reasons why you are

not

C BEIGHEY: ?

Neely f: making an offer? GA

JennieRandV: Yes. I try to be as specific as possible and to help as much as

possible. But my time is

JennieRandV: extremely limited. Sometimes I invite an author to submit other

work. I don't say this

Prbatey: ?

JennieRandV: often so take it as a compliment if you get it. This is true in

general of agents. Often you

JennieRandV: get one shot, so make sure you've got that manuscript in its

best possible shape before

JennieRandV: submitting. GA

MeTwo1344: ?

WriterRoss: ?

Neely f: I am going to open the floor after my next question.

Neely f: Jennie, does it improve one's chances of representation to have

Neely f: publishing credits before attempting to request your services? GA

Neely f: (Folks, please have your questions ready to send to the screen when

called upon.) :)

JennieRandV: Yes, it does. I receive hundreds of queries every week. I find

that this is a business of

JennieRandV: having a few clients who do very well, rather than having a lot

of clients who do

Neely f: (Mary C you will be first...followed by Janss.)

JennieRandV: mediocre. I hate turning people down, but the reality is that I

must turn down the vast

JennieRandV: majority of people who write to me. It comes down to the old

"one person with only two

JennieRandV: arms" problem.

JennieRandV: and let me just add a quick statement that as an agent I'm

expected to do all of my

MaryCronk: Do prefer a query about a particular manuscript, or would you

want to know about several

JennieRandV: reading on my own free time

MaryCronk: (sorry)

JennieRandV: And that's when it all gets done. GA

MaryCronk: projects the author has?

MaryCronk: ga

JennieRandV: I generally like to know about one at a time. I mean, don't

tell me about the 10 picture

JennieRandV: books you've written or the series.

JennieRandV: But if you have a couple brewing then sometimes it's nice to

know that.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: Janss, go ahead with your question.

JanssD: (Had a lot more ?'s, but just got my query back yesterday...) : /

JanssD: What about R&V's policy of not considering previously

author-submitted MS's?

JanssD: Obvsly. less paperwork, but doesn't that filter the clients?--Who

else would be

JanssD: searching for profitable auth-agt. relationship?

JanssD: Seems needlessly damaging to the agency's talent file ga

JennieRandV: i don't understand the question.

JanssD: Seems a rather odd technicality--

JennieRandV: I can't take something on if I can't submit it. And I can't

submit it if it's been submitted

JanssD: Don't most houses usually ask for submission histories?

JennieRandV: already by someone else (author or other agent)

JennieRandV: no they don't

JennieRandV: but if it's been to an editorial meeting already, I'm going to

find out about it

JennieRandV: and I will be embarrassed.

JennieRandV: GA

Neely f: C BEIGHEY, your question, please.

C BEIGHEY: Is it difficult to get an agent to look at an unpublished

writer's manuscript? I think you

C BEIGHEY: answered this already. Thank you.

JennieRandV: it depends what the topic is and how well written the query

letter is and on

JennieRandV: the author's other credentials.

C BEIGHEY: And you said you don't want to see series?

Julisari: ?

JennieRandV: a paragraph that tells me about a legal guide for child abuse

doesn't sound fun

JennieRandV: but something about underwear (guaranteed to get a laugh) might

sound fun

JennieRandV: no series for me please.

JennieRandV: GA

C BEIGHEY: I'm writing a series. Have several books done,. Shouldn'g

C BEIGHEY: the synopisis cover all the books?

JennieRandV: If an agent handles series yes

JennieRandV: I don't look for these usually.

C BEIGHEY: Thank you.

JennieRandV: Not that I've never sold them, but they tend

JennieRandV: to be books that are more plot driven and I look for character

driven books.

JennieRandV: ga

Neely f: Prbatey, it's your turn.

Prbatey: Jennie, once you agree to represent an author, how long does it

generally take to map out

Prbatey: your plan of where to submit the mss.? ga

JennieRandV: Well, I generally try to think of that before I make the intial

call, but sometimes not.

JennieRandV: Sometimes it's the next day or within the month at the latest

usually.

JennieRandV: depends what is happening in the office.

JennieRandV: ga

Prbatey: Thanks!

Neely f: The que is open. Post ?.

JennieRandV: :)

Neely f: Jennie, do you get at all involved in the editing process of a

book?

MaryCronk: ?

Visitah: ?

Neely f: Does that phase interest you at all? GA

MeTwo1344: Hey, what happened to Me?

Julisari: ?

JennieRandV: After I read a manuscript, I have comments. I don't demand that

an author change the

Neely f: Sorry, Me. I didn't see you. You will be up next.

JennieRandV: manuscript, but I do ask that the author listen to my comments

and sit with them for 24

WriterBabe: (Donna, MeTwo is next)

MeTwo1344: Would you ever represent a self-published book--one with a proven

track record?

JennieRandV: hours before deciding to make the changes I recommend or not.

My job description

WriterBabe: (Then, WriterRoss, then Juli)

Neely f: Yes, I see, Marilyn. Thanks . :)

JennieRandV: does not include editing, and I am not an editor. But the

reality is that unless a

JennieRandV: manuscript is practically perfect, it's probably not going to

sell. I try to make comments

JennieRandV: that I think any editor would make. I will say, however, that

it is the writer's job

JennieRandV: to do all

JennieRandV: of the writing and to make the manuscript saleable. But of

course editorial comments

Neely f: Pamela, you are next. Jul, you will follow.

JennieRandV: are subjective. The long and short of it is that I try to do as

little as possible.

JennieRandV: ok, now I think I answer the question from Me about self

publishing, right?

Neely f: Please wait until called on. :)

JennieRandV: Donna, please advise ..

MeTwo1344: Yes, sorry I jumped the gun.

JennieRandV: it's ok

Neely f: Jennie did you se MeTwo's question.

Neely f: ?

Neely f: Me, can you repost?

JennieRandV: yeah, about considering books self published with a track

record

MeTwo1344: Right. Thanks.

Neely f: ok. Good. That is it.

JennieRandV: not usually. I find it's just too hard to do. Sometimes in

adult yes, but kids no.

JennieRandV: ga

Neely f: Pamela, you are on.

WriterRoss: Thanks and welcome back, Jennie. My Q: could you share some of

your favorite children's bks

JennieRandV: thanks for asking!!

WriterRoss: with us? What dream books do you hope come your way? -Pamela

-thanks

JennieRandV: picture books

JennieRandV: CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM by Bill Martin and John Archambault

BOEDEN: ~~~~~5 MINUTE WARNING~~~~~~~

JennieRandV: THE GARDEN OF ABDUL GASAZI by Chris van Allsburg

JennieRandV: ok look, it's a semi long list... can I post it somewhere else?

Neely f: We can post itin the library , I think.

JennieRandV: is that ok?

WriterRoss: And may I ask about novels? Serious? Humor?-- GA

Neely f: Okay folks the novelists are appearing.

Neely f: Julisari, will take the last question for the evening.

Julisari: Do you represent picturebook authors who are primarily

illustrators, and if so, are you

JennieRandV: I have a list I've prepared of picture books and novels. Let me

post it later.

WriterRoss: (Perfect. Thanks.)

Julisari: willing/or do you prefer no--alllowing them to keep an

editor/publisher they've previously

JennieRandV: (phew. thanks too)

Julisari: published with separate from the "handshake"?:)

Julisari: ga

JennieRandV: I occasionally represent illustrators, but usually they are

writers and illustrators

JennieRandV: I don't find it makes sense for an author or illustrator to

keep certain relationships sep

JennieRandV: separate

JennieRandV: the point of having an agent is to have a whole career looked

at

Julisari: would they still be able to contact the editor and then hand over

the contract?

Julisari: ahhh...good point

JennieRandV: oh yes, that happens all the time

JennieRandV: and if they are pros they are nice about it and realize any

author or illustrator

JennieRandV: has the right to have an agent

Neely f: Jannie, last question...

JennieRandV: we are deal enablers

JennieRandV: getting in the way would be bad for us.

Neely f: oops.

JennieRandV: ok donna, shoot

Julisari: thanks:)

Neely f: Are you willing to accept manuscripts from the writers/illustrators

Neely f: If so, what procedure would you prefer? GA

JennieRandV: do i have time to answer this one last question? I have the

answer prepared

Neely f: Novelists, we will be clearing the room in just a few moments.

BrendaHB: (That's fine--we'll wait. :)

Neely f: If it is short. GA

JennieRandV: I'd really like to see a query letter first. This should be no

more than one page.

Neely f: Thanks, Brenda.

JennieRandV: The letter should describe briefly what the project is about

and briefly what the

JennieRandV: author's credentials are. It should come with a SASE.

JennieRandV: That means self-addressed, stamped envelope.

JennieRandV: This is customary in the industry so make sure it's there. My

response to this

JennieRandV: will either be a form no (no offense to anyone is meant by this

impersonal response,

JennieRandV: but this allows me to get out an answer quickly) or a specific

request for material.

BxTeacher: hi betsy... made it

JennieRandV: thanks next group for letting me finish. :) !!

Neely f: I want to thank you, Jennie, very much for being our guest this

evening.

BOEDEN: Children's writers, Please vacate this room quickly in the name of

Romance! Ü

Wendie Old: Thank you Jennie.

WriterRoss: Thanks Jennie. Looking forward to reading about books you love.

Donna, Marilyn? Can we post

Julisari: Thank you, Jennie!!!!

JAnder5045: Thanks, Jennie enjoyed it

C BEIGHEY: Thank you, Jennie. Appreciate your time.

Neely f: Your answers were very interesting and very informative.

Prbatey: Thanks

WriterRoss: this in the AOL Library?-- Pamela

BOEDEN: Thank YoÜ

Julisari: lol Sue

Neely f: Please feel free to come back any time.

GAWill: Thanks, Jennie!

Neely f: ()())()() CLAPPING )()())()(

JennieRandV: I have a few more things you might want to put in there too. My

list of books, for example

Julisari: :::::::applause:::::::::::::Jennie

JennieRandV: (Blush) (blush) (aw shucks)

BOEDEN: applause!

Neely f: Jennie, great job.

C BEIGHEY: Don't forget to post that list in the library, Jennie.

Julisari: and congrats on the bed!!:)

WriterBabe: Thanks a lot, Jennie. Great hosting, Donna!

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