It’s time for 12 x 12 GOLD members to spring on the March Featured Agent profiles and decide which one is the best fit! Get to know these agents and then read the guidelines on the forum as you prepare your submission. Be sure to double-check everything before you hit the send button.
Little GOLDen Book members can choose one of these two agents to submit their manuscript to in March. (If you are a SILVER member, you may use this info for research. Check out our How to Use 12 x 12 Featured Agent Posts article here.)
Adria Goetz of KT Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from March 1-15. Rick Margolis of Rising Bear Literary will be accepting picture book submissions from 12 x 12 GOLD members from March 16-31. Adria’s profile appears first, followed by Rick’s.
Here we go!
Adria Goetz of KT Literary
A little bit about Adria:
Adria Goetz is a Senior Agent and Illustration Coordinator at KT Literary. She is based out of the beautifully gloomy Pacific Northwest. Adria got her start in publishing as an intern at Martin Literary Management in 2013, and began agenting in 2016. She represents picture books, middle grade, graphic novels, and adult fiction. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.
She was recently proud to represent THE OCEAN CALLS by Tina Cho, which received four starred reviews, THE WHATIFS by Emily Kilgore which made the shortlist for Barnes & Noble’s 2020 Best Picture Book Award, and THE CHRISTMAS BOOK FLOOD by Emily Kilgore and Kitty Moss which hit the Indie Bestseller list. She was also proud to represent instant NYT and Indie Bestseller MILLIE FLEUR’S POISON GARDEN by Christy Mandin, GIRLS ON WHEELS by Srividhya Venkat, THE UGLY DOODLES by Valeria Wicker, THE CRESCENT MOON TEAROOM by Stacy Sivinski, IN THE GROVES by Andrea Cruz Floren, HALAL HOT DOGS by Susannah Aziz, BATTER ROYALE by Leisl Adams, and dozens of others.
Adria has eclectic taste but particularly enjoys projects that are tinged with magic, have so much heart you can practically hear their heartbeat, and have a compelling, commercial hook. Adria lives in an old Victorian farmhouse with her husband and their two darling dust gray cats, Maple and Mulberry. In her spare time she can be found rewatching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time, listening to Taylor Swift, and dreaming about the mossy stone cottage in the woods she would like to live in one day.
When asked what she’s looking for in submissions, Adria replied:
“I’m looking for commercial, humor-driven picture books that will make kids crack up laughing and have big franchise potential. Humor is a great entry point into reading for kids who are intimidated by books, so I take silly books seriously. I’m also looking for magical, atmospheric, whimsical stories that are so beautiful they almost feel like they could be a family heirloom. I tend to steer away from picture book biographies, holiday books, ‘meta’ books, and anything to do with sports. For more specifics about what I’m looking for, I have a very long and overly detailed manuscript wishlist on my website: www.adriagoetz.com.”
Adria has been a 12 x 12 Featured Agent previously. Find her previous profile posts here, here, here, and here. Here are some additional resources for your research:
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- Check out Adria’s website
- Look at The KT Literary website
- Follow Adria on Instagram
- Adria is very active on Pinterest
- Adria’s Manuscript Wish List (#MSWL)
- Check out Adria on the Writers with Wrinkles podcast
- Adria was also on the You May Contribute a Verse podcast
- Video interview with At Home Authors
Rick Margolis of Rising Bear Literary Agency
A little bit about Rick:
For nearly 15 years, Rick Margolis worked for School Library Journal, the world’s largest reviewer of books for young readers. As SLJ ’s executive editor, he had the pleasure of interviewing many remarkable children’s book creators, including Kate DiCamillo, Mo Willems, Katherine Paterson, Gene Yang, Rita Williams-Garcia, Rebecca Stead, and Jon Klassen. One of the best parts of Rick’s job was writing a monthly interview column, which highlighted new and promising authors (like John Green and Suzanne Collins) who went on to have amazing careers. And for some reason, almost every year Rick was able to predict the winner of the Caldecott Medal, which honors the year’s best-illustrated book.
Although Rick loved his stint at SLJ, he was ready for a new challenge. But not just any job would do.
Rick wanted to find one that felt like his true calling—one that he was wild about—and that could contribute something of value to the world. He also wanted to stay connected to kids’ books—because he loves them and because he was once a reading specialist (working with students who struggled to read) and he knows firsthand what a profound difference the right book can make in a young person’s life.
To make a long story short, Rick launched Rising Bear Literary Agency, specializing in what he most loves: picture books, early- and middle-grade fiction, and young adult literature. Rick is constantly looking for outstanding picture books and novels for kids and young adults. He represents everyone from award-winning authors and illustrators, such as Gary D. Schmidt, Kate Banks, Ron Koertge, and Jennifer Yerkes, to gifted newcomers. Rick is especially attracted to people who have something to say to children and teens, and he admires creative risk-takers who aren’t afraid to try something new or to shake things up.
When asked what he’s looking for in picture book submissions, Rick shared this:
“I represent both fiction and nonfiction picture books. In fiction, I love character-driven stories that offer a fresh take on things. On the other hand, we’re not seeking message-driven or educational stories. In nonfiction, I love stories that offer a new or unexpected perspective or twist on well-known or on lesser-known (but equally deserving) folks and their contributions to the world.”
Rick was a Featured Agent previously. You can find his previous profile posts here, here, here, and here. Additional resources are below:
- Check out Rising Bear Literary Agency’s website
- Follow Rick on LinkedIn
- Rick on SCBWI
- Rick is part of this year’s PB Party
Remember: Little GOLDen Book Members may only submit to ONE of these agents. Please choose the agent who is the best fit for you and your manuscript. Look for submission guidelines in the Submission Station on the 12 x 12 forum.
- Submissions will only be accepted for Adria Goetz from March 1st at 8am ET/5am PT through March 15th at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
- Submissions will only be accepted for Rick Margolis from March 16th at 8am ET/5am PT through March 31st at 6pm EASTERN/3pm PACIFIC.
Please double-check the times for your time zone on your submissions. Anything received before or after the submissions window is open will be disqualified and you will not be able to submit again this month.
Remember, it is NEVER okay to submit your manuscript twice. Contact Kelli if there is a problem with your submission.
Good luck to our GOLD members! We look forward to your success stories!
Not a 12 x 12 member yet? Find out more here!
