For those of you who have spent years querying, this one’s for you. Angela De Groot has been working toward this goal for five years! Hers is a story of tenacity and celebrating milestones along the way. Be encouraged and celebrate with Angela today!

How long had you been writing before seeking an agent, and what made you decide it was time to look for one?

I’ve been writing for a long, long time 😊 but I got really serious about querying in 2017, which was when I joined 12 x 12. I knew that an agent would open doors for me, especially with publishers closed to non-agented writers. And I wanted to find an agent who would help me navigate the industry and develop my career as a kidlit author.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I made sure that the agents I subbed to were a good match for the kinds of books I write, and for what I was looking for in a professional relationship. I researched agents using SCBWI resources, QueryTracker, and followed leads from conferences, social media, etc. I thoroughly reviewed agent websites and guidelines. 12 x 12 GOLD is an excellent agent submission opportunity, and the forum and 12 x 12 Facebook group has tons of information and advice.

The dreaded questions: How many queries? How many rejections?

Oh my! A LOT. I’ve been subbing seriously for over five years. I’ve subbed to more than 30 agents with different manuscripts, and some lucky agents heard from me more than once. In 2019, I set a goal of getting 80 critiqued, well-revised, and polished manuscript submissions out to editors and agents. And I celebrated accomplishing that goal even though those 80 subs resulted in rejections (some champagne ones!) or resounding silence (the dreaded no response). In 2020 and 2021, I set my submission goals even higher.

Was it difficult to find an agent who wanted to represent an author focusing on picture books?

It seems like there are fewer agents seeking picture book authors, and even fewer who are open to repping a text-only picture book author. And that’s why I had a multi-pronged submission approach: I strategically subbed my polished picture book manuscripts to agents and editors. And I kept writing new drafts while I waited for responses.

Who is your new agent? Tell us about getting the news.

The amazing Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency is my agent. I was super excited to receive her email that she was interested in my manuscript and could we discuss further on the phone. It was a moment of stupendous joy wrapped in I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING! Then, I got super nervous about our first phone call – needlessly as it turned out because Liza is an easy-to talk-to, seasoned, and enthusiastic agent.

How did you know your agent was “the one”?

I met Liza at a NJ SCBWI Conference lunch event a few years ago. She was friendly and personable, and put all of us quivering writers and illustrators at her table at ease. She asked what each of us was working on and listened to our pitches and gave a little feedback, which was a wonderful (and nerve-wracking!) experience. But most of all I liked her frankness, her interest in each of us as individuals, and her encouragement. I knew she’d be someone I’d enjoy working with.

If 12 x 12 helped you in any way during your agent search/development of craft, can you tell us how? (P.S. It is TOTALLY okay if the answer is no. I am not trying to “lead” you 🙂 )

Even though my agent signing didn’t come directly from my 12 x 12 membership, 12 x 12 definitely helped in both my agent search and in the development of my craft. As a Gold member, I had above-the-slush pile opportunities with agents and became well practiced at writing queries, researching agents, and evaluating which of my well-revised, polished manuscripts were a good fit. The webinars are excellent, and the forum feedback and Ninja Crits are incredibly helpful. And I LOVE being part of the 12 x 12 community.

Has your writing process changed at all since signing with an agent?

I am still focused on writing new drafts and vigorously revising existing drafts. However, with guidance and advice from Liza, my revisions are more strategic – I’m spending more time on the manuscripts that are marketable and putting the others on the backburner. Instead of spending hours and hours researching editors/agents to query, I now dedicate those hours to learning more about the marketing side of publishing and how to build my career as well as improve my craft. I have a picture book debuting in 2023 and I’m thrilled to be learning about what happens post-acquisition and I’m enjoying the challenge of new activities and skills needed for pre- and post-launch. It’s very, very exciting!

What advice would you give to picture book writers looking for agents today?

I’d say think long and hard about what you want in an agent, what type of relationship you’d like to have, and what you need that partnership to look like. Do the research and also talk to those agents’ clients. Most of all, I’d tell picture book writers and illustrators to believe in yourself and never give up. If being a published author or illustrator is your dream, then keep at it, until that dream comes true. Believe me, sometimes it takes a long time! But it can’t happen at all if you don’t keep putting yourself out there. And keep working on your craft and creating new stories.

Do you think your platform (blog, social media) helped you find your agent?

Social media didn’t help me find my agent, but it did help me with agent/editor research and submission opportunities. Events on social media helped me refine my pitch and query crafting. Social media is how I connect with other writers and illustrators, how I know what’s happening in the kidlit world, and it gives me insight into self-promotion and marketing. The kidlit community on social media are like my co-workers – we huddle around the virtual watercooler and “talk” about writing and illustrating, but also about what’s going on in our lives.

Tell us something that is on your “bucket list.” Something you’ve dreamed of doing all your life but have yet to accomplish (besides publishing a book, which is inevitable at this point 🙂 )

I’m a travel junky, and I’d love to visit Hawaii, Japan, Namibia, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, to name a few. As for my bucket list of things to do, I want to drive a big rig down a deserted road in Montana and blow that horn!

What’s up next/what are you working on now?

I am always working on new picture book projects. And revising, revising, revising. I am also hard at work developing the skills (hello, marketing and promotion!) I need to launch my debut which is slated for Fall 2023. It’s very exciting and sometimes a little overwhelming, but mostly exciting. And I am super-thankful to my crit partners, my agent, my editor, 12x12ers, and everyone in the kidlit community for their wonderful support and never-ending encouragement.

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