A Rock Star Idea!

Writing Song of the Day: Party like a Rock Star (Remix) by Da Shop Boyz feat. Lil' Wayne, Jim Jones, and Chamillionare (check it out on our PLAYLIST)

Hey, aces! Fancy meeting you here- wait, don't go! You're not at the wrong blog!!! Yes, this was formally- See Pam Write, See Pam Run- and it is essentially the same blog ( I promise!) so don't un-follow. However, the blog is getting a makeover because two unstopable writing forces have collided and created....

Y(A)? CUZ WE WRITE!

Me (Quita) and Pam have combined our literary, creative, and total rock star forces in order to bring you a blog that delves into BOTH of our crazy mind. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. So, due to the mash-up we created an all new line-up to share with and help you, our fellow writers/readers/plain-old-blog-lovers. Like to hear it? Here it goes!

Monday: Music Monday - (we connect our two favorite worlds- writing and music)

Tuesday: Agent Wish List- (highlighting AWESOME agents)

Wednesday: YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday-(we participate in the YA Highway festivities)

Thursday: Road to Publication Series- (we give advice for getting your A+ work published)

Friday: Free/Fun Friday- (we talk about whatever we want relating to life and writing- but refrain from giving you the details of the perfect Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones that we may have eaten for lunch)

Oh, before WE forget!!! We will be hosting a contest for all of you beautiful people. Why? Two reasons 1.) to celebrate the fact that this blog passed 50 followers last week, and 2.) to celebrate the collision of our writerly forces.

We will announce the guidelines sometime this week so stay tuned and have a happy Memorial Day!

Quita

Contest Alert Number 2!

Workout Song of the Day: "Nasty Boys" by Janet Jackson (I was inspired by her American Idol performance)

So yesterday, I let you all know that YA Highway was having an anniversary. And then I teased you all mercilessly with a picture of a huge cupcake. I know, I'm still drooling.

Today, my peeps at YA Highway are having a prize packet for all of us aspiring writers. Prizes include critiques from both agents and soon-to-be-published writers! Can you stand it? Me neither. Go enter NOW!

Side note: There will be BIG changes to this blog starting next week. I'm actually pretty psyched about it--I hope you all will be pleased. :)

Contest Alert: YA Highway Style!

Workout Song of the Day: "Bulletproof" by La Roux

We interrupt this blog to announce a very awesome contest. My peeps over at YA Highway just celebrated their one year anniversary. First, a cake:

Mmm, cake...what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the YA Highway contest where you can win a buttload of stuff like books, ARCs, journals, and more! Tomorrow, they'll have a prize packet for writers, and Friday, something that I'm sure will knock our socks off!

So, what are you waiting for? You MUST enter now!

Super Agents Chit Chat!

Workout Song of the Day: "California Gurls" by Katy Perry ftg. Snoop Dogg

This past Saturday, I got to hang out with super agents Kathleen Ortiz and Suzie Townsend.

Okay, maybe we didn't actually "hang," but I did get to talk to them over Skype after winning Ortizzle's Epic Skype Contest! These ladies were so chill that they allowed me to go over my 12-minute time limit. Just look at how excited I was to speak with them:

So, what did I learn from our fabulous conversation? Here are a few of the highlights:

On Point-of-View (POV):

Suzie feels that 1st person POV is easier to write, especially for YA. This POV allows writers to grab readers almost immediately by establishing a clear voice and gives readers a look inside of a character's head. She says there are successful YA novels that use 3rd person POV, but she recommends using 1st person if you're writing your first book.

Kathleen is not a fan of manuscripts that feature more than 2 POVs. She feels that more than 2 POVs makes it more difficult to distinguish voice, and that it's easier to connect with characters if there are fewer POVS.

On Re-querying:

Kathleen says not to re-query with the same project unless it has undergone a major revision, such as changing POVs. Even then, she recommends waiting about six months to a year before pitching the same project.

Suzie, on the other hand, doesn't mind if a writer queries her again with the same project. She even joked that if you revised the query and send it to her the next day after a rejection, she may consider it now. However, she recommends not to mention if she has rejected your last query.

On Conference Etiquette:

If you want to meet an agent (and not scheduled for an actual pitch session), Suzie recommends introducing yourself and engage in small-talk--allow the agent to get to know you as a person. Then wait for the agent to ask what you've been working on as a writer. If you signed up for a pitch session, she recommends writing it down and admitting if you're nervous. She shared a pitching experience she had as an 18-year-old writer in which an agent was so mean that she didn't even want to attend the rest of the conference sessions. However, she says that she does not see this type of behavior now, and to remember that agents are just people.

During a pitch, Kathleen suggests that you be be as concise as possible. Just make sure to mention your main character and his or her goal. Try to leave out as much back story as possible. Agents don't really care where you received the inspiration for the story; this is something they can find out once they consider offering representation.

On Historical YA:

Suzie and Kathleen both agree that this is a tough field because it's less commercial; teens care about what's going on RIGHT NOW. However, Suzie says that successful historical YA novels feature a hot romance, strong identification with the main character, and a commercial gimmick.

On Whether or Not They Google Prospective Clients:

Both Suzie and Kathleen gave me a resounding YES!

Kathleen says she doesn't Google possible clients as part of a background check. Instead, she just wants to see their online presence and assess their professionalism. For example, if she's considering signing someone for a picture book and they have nude photos online, that may be a problem!

Suzie says that the author-agent relationship is more than just professional, it's a commitment. We Google potential dates, so why can't we Google possible clients/agents? She wants to make sure you're not crazy, but she says a little crazy is kind of cool. :)

On Whether or Not Self-Publishing Affects Offering Representation:

Again, both ladies gave me a very passionate YES! They were quite vocal about this topic.

Kathleen says that editors want numbers. Selling 8,000 copies may be a lot for self-publishing, but looks bad in an editor's eyes. They don't want to hear: "Well, it was 8,000 because it was self-published." All they care about are the figures. Additionally, if you choose to self-publish, YOU are paying for your books and it should be the other way around.

Suzie says that self-publishing tells an agent that you're impatient because you didn't wait for the submission process. She feels the two most important qualities you can have as a writer is patience and persistence (cool--that's what my future tattoo is based on!). She adds that self-publishing may work for non-fiction, but fiction writers should put in the work and consider getting an agent. If the first manuscript doesn't nab you one, then shelve it and try with the next. She also adds that one of her boss's client was quite successful with fiction self-publishing, but it took a huge marketing effort. She says that this story is an exception.

As you can see, both ladies were honest and gave me tons of advice. My hand was flying while taking notes so I could make sure I could give you all a full report! If you have a polished manuscript that's ready to go, I would definitely recommend sending a query to both. Their clients are absolutely lucky!

You Can't Handle the Truth!

Workout Song of the Week: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" by Michael Jackson

I'm interrupting my weekly Agent Wish List series to answer my six lies and a truth post last week (also known as, the post where I received my second blog award!). Never fear, however! I plan on giving you some juicy agent scoop tomorrow when I share news of my EPIC SKYPE session with Kathleen Ortiz and Suzie Townsend. These ladies are incredible, and I can't wait to tell you all the tips they gave me (and you, my loyal followers, as I asked some of your questions).

Alas, you have to wait until tomorrow.

So, did you guess which one of my seven confessions were the truth? Here we go:

1. I once stepped on a snail, then cut my hand on porch swing while freaking out from killing said snail. FALSE. This horrendous moment did happen, but I was just a mere witness. The victim here? My fabulous cuz (sorry to share your business!).

2. I came in first place at a talent show for reenacting the whole choreography from N SYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye." FALSE. I did use to enter talent shows for dancing when I was in middle school, but I never performed "Bye, Bye, Bye." I do, however, know all of the dance steps. Hmm, maybe I'll post a video of me humiliating myself whenever I score a book deal. :)

3. Freddy Krueger scares me. Like seriously. FALSE. Not one bit. Freddy's my favorite villain--the dude has swagger. But the villain that really freaks me out--Mike Myers. I just got a chill from typing his name!

4. I once saw a cat with its head turned all the way around. TRUTH. As strange as this sounds, I really did see a cat with its head turned all the way around to the sky. It fell from a dumpster truck, and when I went to go check on it, that was the monstrosity that I saw! It was walking around and everything! Needless to say, I have an intense fear of cats...to the point that I may not enter your house if you have one as a pet.

5. If I could marry any celeb, it would have to be Keanu Reeves. FALSE. He was one of my first official crushes, but the celeb I really want to put a ring on it is Leo DiCaprio. *sigh* A girl can dream, can't she?

6. I fell down the stairs at a Kings of Leon concert. FALSE. Thank God! I did see KOL in concert (they're one of my favorite bands EVAH), but I didn't humiliate myself like that. That'll be saved for my vlog dancing to N SYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye."

7. My favorite snack in the world would have to be my grandma's banana pudding. FALSE. I'm not sure my grandma even makes banana pudding--it's been so long since I've seen her cook/bake! My aunt is the banana pudding guru in my fam, but that still doesn't top a batch of warm, chocolate chip cookies--which is my ultimate snack. I can't wait to sink my teeth into Blue Lipstick Samurai's recipe. :)

So, there you have it. You probably know way too much about me than you wanted to. Don't worry, I'll post helpful info tomorrow with notes from my Skype session.

In the meanwhile, hmm, I'm only 5 away from 50 followers. I think I may have mentioned that I'll hold another contest once I reach 50. I'm just saying...

I Got More Props, Yo!

Workout Song of the Day: "Diamond Eyes" by the Deftones

Have you ever visited the Blue Lipstick Samurai blog? If not, what are you waiting for? Head over there now! And I'm not just saying that because she's giving away cookies. And I'm also not just saying that because she's given me an awesome award (which I'm about to talk about). Seriously, homegirl is funny. And insightful. Follow her NOW.

But enough about her--this post is all about ME! The wonderful Samurai has bestowed upon me this fab award:

That's right, peeps. I'm a good liar, I mean, creative writer. So, in order to officially accept this award, I need to do two things. First, I must pass it along to three other "creative" bloggers, and I've selected Racquel Writes, Two Years and Counting, and Moomurs (like rumors, but not). You rawk ladies! Everyone, go check them out!

Second part of accepting this award is that I have to tell six lies and one truth. See if you can figure out which one is true. I'll post the right answer tomorrow!

1. I once stepped on a snail, then cut my hand on porch swing while freaking out from killing said snail.

2. I came in first place at a talent show for reenacting the whole choreography from N SYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye."

3. Freddy Krueger scares me. Like seriously.

4. I once saw a cat with its head turned all the way around.

5. If I could marry any celeb, it would have to be Keanu Reeves.

6. I fell down the stairs at a Kings of Leon concert.

7. My favorite snack in the world would have to be my grandma's banana pudding.

So tell me--which one is true???

Ouch! It Hurts So Good!

Workout Song of the Day: "Die by the Drop" by The Dead Weather

They've done it again. YA Highway, that is. And by "it," I mean ask a killer question for Road Trip Wednesday. This week they want to know: "what tattoo would you get to celebrate your book's success?"

So, I was supposed to get a tattoo years ago. I have this cousin (not this one, but her older sister) who's like a million times cooler than me, and it seems like she gets a tattoo every other week. Hell, even my mom has about five of them. She even got another one just last month right on her lower back. I know. I shuddered, too.

Thus, in order to not look like the big nerd that I actually am, I vowed that I would get a tattoo like all the hip chicks in my family. Then I chickened out. And I blamed it on money, when really I cry from flu shots--can you imagine what getting a tattoo would do to me?

Yes, that's me as a blond, curly-haired boy. But I digress.

If I ever FINALLY make it in the publishing biz, I'm going to put my big girl britches on and finally get a tattoo. And this is what it would look like:

This is an image of my zodiac sign, Taurus (yes, my b-day just passed. You may start sending your belated gifts now). Everyone always jokes and says that they knew I was a Taurus because I'm so stubborn. Being that I'm a counselor, I know how to put a positive spin on things. So instead of saying "stubborn," I'm going to say the Taurus symbol represents persistence.

And when you think about it, don't you need persistence to make it in the pub industry? I've had my fair share of rejections already. Some bring me close to tears; some make me want to punch a hole in the wall. But you know what? I keep going. No matter how puffy my eyes get or how much my knuckles sting. I LOVE writing. And I'll keep doing it regardless if I get published or not. But that tattoo sure does look pretty. Let's hope I get good news one day! :)

My Agent Wish List: Taylor Martindale

Workout Song of the Day: "Find Your Love" by Drake

I love highlighting new agents. Not only are they actively building their client lists, but they also bring eagerness and a certain zest to the publishing industry. It's kind of like when I was fresh out of my graduate counseling program--the possibilities seemed endless. This week, I would like to showcase the wonderful Taylor Martindale of the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. Ms. Martindale started off as a Submissions Coordinator for Bliss Literary Agency, Intl. before joining the SDLA family in the summer of 2009.

Why I Heart Her: She received her BA in English from the College of William and Mary. So, not only did she have the same major as me, but she also attended a college in my beloved Virginia! Call me a little biased. :)

Why You'll Heart Her: Because she knows what she wants immediately. She offered representation on a manuscript that she DIDN'T FINISH READING! I would love to have an agent so in awe of my writing that they don't even have to read a whole sample.

Who She Represents: Ms. Martindale is so amazingly new that I could only find one client (the subject of the fabulous tale I mentioned above). However, her agency represents writers such as Kate White, Janell Cannon, Lisa See, and Amy Tan. That's right--THE Amy Tan.

What She's Looking For: She places a heavy emphasis on all things YA, but she's also interested in women's fiction, commercial fiction, and multicultural fiction.

Notable Net Nuggets:

New Agent Alert on Guide to Literary Agents

Absolute Write Water Cooler

Linked In

Agent Story on Client's Blog

GotYA Interview

QueryTracker

How to Submit to Her: Right now, this agent only takes e-queries by referral. All others interested need to snail mail a query with a synopsis and the first 50 pages of your manuscript. Additional information can be found here.

I'm even more eager to query this agent now after researching her. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all if you do the same for me. :)

Enough Already!

Workout Song of the Day: "The Royal We" by Silversun Pickups

The end of this week will be rather bittersweet for me. I've been writing an alternate version of my manuscript, Wants, and I'm about to ship it off to my beta readers. After I receive their feedback, I'll make a few more tweaks, and then send it off to Query Land. Granted, the current version already has two fulls and one partial out, but since I've received a number of rejections on this version, I decided to revamp it with a POV change and a few minor plot lines to see if Wants 2.0 will be the one that somebody besides me (and my loyal cuz) falls in love with. I love both versions, I do, but I'm just a little tired of looking at them. It's kind of like when you first started dating a guy, and he's shiny and new and wonderful, but after a few weeks you notice he chews with his mouth open and laughs obnoxiously loud in a crowded movie theater.

So, how do you know when your manuscript makes you do this:

1. When you whine every time you have to sit in front of your computer.

2. When you visit every blog possible to avoid opening that dreaded folder with 80 versions of your manuscript (I love your Literary Rambles and YA Highway!).

3. When you finally open up one of those annoying drafts, but instead of working, you dance to music playing from your computer. Or stereo. Or TV. Or inside of your head.

4. When you start cussing out your characters (i.e., "I told your dumb a** to not say that s***ty piece of dialogue!")

5. When you're not aware of any conversations going on in the real world because you're wondering if your protagonist smiles, rolls eyes, or smirks too much.

6. When someone asks you what your novel is about and all you can do is shrug. And smirk like your protagonist does all the time.

7. When you right a blog post about being tired of your manuscript when you should, in fact, be working on your manuscript.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think this baby is without flaws. WHEN I do get signed, I'll make as many changes as necessary to make it perfect for all of your lovely eyes. I figure I'll look at it with a bit more gusto then because, as I mentioned earlier, I really am proud of it.

So, I'll keep my fingers crossed that one of these versions will finally breakthrough. And if not, well, check out my girl Jaime Reed's post (VA represent, baby!).

When do you all know that enough is enough?

#FF @parker_fadley

Workout Song of the Day: "Ride" by Ciara ftg. Ludacris

Okay, if you're looking at the title of this post and scratching your head, you, my friend, are missing out on the wonderful world of Twitter. And my peeps over at YA Highway are shedding light on this fantabulous social networking device by asking us: what literary character would you follow on Twitter?

First, let me explain why you'd want to follow anyone on Twitter. Period. I find it to be a great opportunity to network with insiders in the publishing industry. I find out what agents don't like in queries; I receive recommendations on good books; I hear good news from my writer friends. Also, sometimes I really just like to know what so-and-so ate for breakfast...because I'm strange like that.

As far as the literary character I'd most like to follow on Twitter? That would have to be Parker Fadley, the protagonist from Courtney Summers' Cracked up to Be.

If you've read CUTB (and if you haven't, stop reading this blog now and go grab it!), you know that Parker is bitter and cranky and ambivalent about many things in life. So why would I want to follow such a depressing creature? Because she has the wit of a curmudgeon (yes, I did just use an SAT word). Some of the things Parker says makes me cringe and laugh at the same time, which probably looks pretty awkward to anyone around me.

Here's a dose of things Ms. Fadley may say on Twitter:

@parker_fadley: Really, I don't want to hear it. You're dull.

@parker_fadley: Cosmo, December '94. The Sex Issue. Came with a map and everything (re: G spot)

@parker_fadley: Oh joy.....No, really.

I'm a fan of sarcastic humor, so I'd eat this right up!

A close second of the characters I'd follow on Twitter would probably be "Pudge" of "The Colonel" from Looking for Alaska. I'm not even halfway through this book yet, and I keep cracking up at their antics. I would love to follow a conversation between these two.

So, there you have it. If I haven't hooked you on the Twitter-Fever, then clearly something is wrong with you. But I'd really love to hear which characters you'd like to follow. :)

My Agent Wish List: Holly Root

Workout Song of the Day: "Move Along" by The All-American Rejects

I've been showcasing plenty of fantabulous agents that I would love to one day call my own, and I'm continuing this trend by writing about the amazing Holly Root of the Waxman Literary Agency. Holly got her start as an editor in Christian publishing, then entered the agent training program at the elusive William Morris Agency. She joined Waxman in 2007 and is currently building her client list.

Why I Heart Her: Because she has a heart, and I'm not just talking about that organ that keeps us all alive. Ms. Root has donated a thirty minute phone call to the Do the Write Thing for Nashville auction. As I type this, Ms. Root's donation is currently at $250--which is a bargain if you ask me. You have until midnight tonight to win this awesome opportunity to speak with her about the publishing industry. What are you waiting for?

Why You'll Heart Her: Because she compares finding the perfect query to Spidey-senses. An agent with a sense of humor? You can't get any better than that!

Who She Represents: Some of Ms. Root's clients include Kate Perry, Misa Ramirez, Serena Robar, and Rachel Hawkins, author of the new YA hit, Hex Hall.

What She's Looking For: Upmarket and commercial fiction (women's fiction, mysteries, urban fantasies, romances, and YA); voice-driven nonfiction, particularly lifestyle, self-help, and religion.

Notable Net Nuggets:

QueryTracker

Guide to Literary Agents interview

Absolute Write Water Cooler

Waxman Literary Agency blog

Novel Girls interview

Booklover of the Week interview

Plotmonkeys guest blog

Magical Musings guest blog

AuthorMBA interview

Twitter

Romance University interview

Fun interview with client, Myra McEntire

Mother. Write. (Repeat). interview

How to Submit to Her: Please click here for submission guidelines. Ms. Root prefers e-queries; please include the first 5-10 pages of your manuscript in the body of the email.

As you can see, Ms. Root has an INCREDIBLE web presence, and her clients really seem to love her. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all! :)

Contest Alert!

Workout Song of the Day: Beamer, Benz, or Bentley by Lloyd Banks

Okay, this will be very brief because I have LOTS to tackle this weekend. But I had to drop everything and let you know about an AWESOME contest that's going on somewhere else in the blogging world.

The La Femme Readers blog is having a may-jah spring giveaway. Just check out some of the items you could win:


ARC of Wereling by Steve Feasey
Finished Copy of Exit Strategy by Ryan Potter
ARC of The Knife That Killed Me by Anthony Megowan
ARC of Party by Tom Leveen
ARC of The Karma Club
ARC of Before I Fall
Amazon or book depository pre-order of Grace by Elizabeth Scott
Amazon or book depository pre-order of The Iron Daughter (Book #2) by Julie Kagawa
Amazon $10 gift card
2010 Twilight Calender off of Amazon
Your choice of a Team Edward or Team Jacob T-Shirt off of Hot Topic.com

Pretty cool, right? Make sure to swing by the blog for your chance to win. Have a great weekend! And Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! :)

Ode to an Alpha Reader

Workout Song of the Day: "Winner" by Jamie Foxx ftg Justin Timberlake & T.I.

Okay, so we all heard of beta readers. You know, those beautiful creations that help whip your manuscripts into submission-ready pieces of artwork. But what about those less heralded creations? Yes, my friends, I'm talking about the "Alpha" reader. The one who sees your work before you ship it off to get attacked by a red pen.

But what exactly is an alpha reader? Well, Webster dictionary says...okay, I don't think any dictionary is really savvy on the perks of having an alpha reader. So, my lovely followers, I will supply you with my own definition while paying homage to my favorite (and only alpha reader), my cuz, Marquita.

So, why is Quita such an awesome alpha?

1. She laughs...on the areas that are supposed to be funny.

2. She cries...on the areas that are supposed to be sad.

3. Sometimes she does a combination of 1 and 2, and I start thinking that I'm the coolest writer since John Green.

4. She always sees the good in my manuscripts, even when I don't.

5. If she sees anything wrong, she blankets it by first telling me why it could work (I'll let my beta readers tear me a new one for any mistakes).

6. She's an aspiring author, too, so she's going on this scary ride with me towards publication.

7. She lets me bounce new ideas off of her, and I never worry that she may steal them!

8. She doesn't let me give up. Ever. No matter how many rejections I collect. No matter how many negative comments I receive during workshops. No matter how many times I want to bang my head against the desk to get ideas out. She believes in me, and you just can't find that kind of support in forums and/or message boards. Okay, maybe you can. But it takes a while to get to that level of trust.

Okay, I think I've been schmaltzy enough. To balance the score, may I please add that she's the same color of a Simpsons character and she has an unhealthy obsession with Casey James from American Idol? There, I feel much better.

What about you all? Do you have an alpha reader? Why are they so awesome? Please comment below or post your own blog--just leave the link below. :)

I Won! I Won!...Help Please!

Workout Song of the Day: "Airplanes Part 2" by B.o.B ftg Eminem & Hayley Williams

So, do you remember not so long ago I subjected you to this? Well, it was all part of my ploy to talk to two super agents--Kathleen Ortiz and Suzie Townsend in the epicest (nice word, huh?) of all epic contests.

Guess what? I WON! I'm really one of the winners! My first reaction was this:

And then it started to dawn on me that I was going to spend 12 WHOLE MINUTES talking to two agents that I truly admire, and that I one day hope to work with. So my second reaction was this:

I'm aware that this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Twelve minutes to pick the brains of two awesome agents, and I don't want to spend my time stumbling over my words and grinning like an idiot (which is pretty much what I did ALL yesterday). I wanted feedback on a manuscript that Ms. Ortiz read a partial of--to see if my revisions were heading in the right direction--and I wanted pointers on how I could make the most of my visit to the upcoming SCBWI conference in LA. But what else?

This is where you come in, my most awesome followers. I want to come back and share any tips/advice this lovely ladies wish to bestow upon me, so what would you like to know? How they prefer queries? What they want to see more of in the slush pile? What turns them off in the first few pages? I want to devote my final few minutes to YOUR questions, and then I'll give you all the deets on my blog.

Post a comment and have at it. :)

My Agent Wish List: Sarah LaPolla

Workout Song of the Day: "I'm Back" by T.I.

Before I share the goods on Ms. LaPolla, I want to spread my love fest to Jess who awarded me the Sunshine Award. A few of you may remember that I received this award a while back, but I'm all about over consumption (just ask my pants size!). But seriously, thank you Jess--you are a rawk star. And if you guys don't follow her, please swing by her blog because she is a riot! :)

So this week I want to pay homage to someone kind of new to the agency game, and that's Sarah LaPolla from Curtis Brown LTD. You may have heard of this agency--it may just employ super blogger and speedy responder, Nathan Bransford, who also happens to be a fan of Ms. LaPolla. Want to learn more about this agent who started actively building her client list just last month? Ch-ch-check it out!

Why I Heart Her: Because like me, she thinks that S.E. Hinton is the messiah of YA fiction! Or at least that she's the one that put YA literature on the map.

Why You'll Heart Her: Because she frequently showcases new writers on her fantabulous blog, Glass Cases.

Who She Represents: Ms. LaPolla is fresh out of the oven! She's been working with Curtis Brown LTD for two years, but just recently started taking on her own clients. However, her agency represents Jeff Abbott, Ayn Rand, Diana Gabaldon, and Gail Carson Levine among many others.

What She's Looking For: Ms. LaPolla is on the hunt for literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, urban fantasy, magical realism, horror, paranormal romance, and crossover YA.

Notable Net Nuggets:

Glass Cases (her very own blog where she showcases new talent, as well as interview established authors)

QueryTracker (Ms. LaPolla is known to respond to queries within two weeks)

LinkedIn

YA Highway interview

Twitter (her account pretty active)

Absolute Write Water Cooler

How to Submit to Her: Click here for Curtis Brown LTD submission guidelines. Ms. LaPolla does take email queries. Make sure to include a synopsis and the first chapter--but not as an attachment!

It's always great to query new agents, especially ones from well-respected agencies like Curtis Brown. I've done the dirty work, now polish those queries and manuscripts! :)