April Berry’s How I Got My Agent story proves that sometimes you have get out of your comfort zone and do the difficult or unusual things to succeed. 

Hooray for you, April! 

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

I had been serious about writing picture books for almost 2 years before I dipped my toes into the querying waters. By that time, I had acquired a large number of solid critique partners at various stages in their own author journeys. When these trusted colleagues began to consistently ask why I wasn’t querying yet after reading my work, I thought maybe I ought to give it a try.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I relied heavily on information from trusted sources: writing friends, 12 x 12 Featured Agents posts, and various kidlit podcasts.

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

I was very tentative about querying. I sent out occasional small batches, received a few rejections, and then took long breaks before attempting to query again.

I was ridiculously slow with my querying efforts! In almost two years’ time, I sent out a mere 40 queries. Of those 40 queries, I received one R&R, two full requests, 18 rejections, and a whole lot of crickets.

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

I think so. While there are agents still accepting text-only picture book authors, I found it difficult to catch many of those agents when they were actually open to queries.

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

My new agent is Katie Monson with SBR Media. She hearted one of my pitches during a recent #PBPitch Twitter event. I sent her my query letter and manuscript, and things moved quickly from there. She requested more manuscripts almost right away… and before I knew it, we were on “the call.”

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

Katie has a lot of qualities I respect. She is determined and hard working.  She is a clear and responsive communicator. She speaks the hard truths (in a kind and respectful way). And, I especially appreciate her transparency. I feel very fortunate to have her on my side. I know Katie has my back… and that’s a good feeling.

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 🙂 )

Oh, 12 x 12 helped in so many ways! I used the Featured Agents blog posts for research. I attended a webinar for Gold members early this year that led me to revamp my entire query letter. (I would be embarrassed to show you what I used as a query letter before that revamp.) I had received a glowing critique from a 12 x 12 Ninja which left me feeling confident enough in my manuscript to query with it. More importantly, the community members are fantastic—always willing to answer questions, provide guidance, and give encouragement. 

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

Hmmm. Good question. Now that you mention it, I guess it has. Whereas before I would jump between writing projects on a whim, I am much more intentional about what I’m working on from day-to-day.

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

Try not to let the rejections get you down. Writing is such a subjective thing, tastes vary so much from one agent to the next, and the market is so competitive right now. I found that most rejections had nothing to do with my skills as a writer; it was much more likely to be that my story was not the right fit for that particular agent at that particular moment of time.

Also, find your village. Surround yourself with other writers who will build you up and encourage you. Querying is a long road, and it feels even longer if you try to travel it alone. Writing friends can give you the boost you need to keep moving forward.

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

Definitely! Not only did I find my agent through a Twitter pitch event, but I’ve made a lot of great writing friends on social media as well. Those friends are my most trusted critique partners, they are the ones who picked me up after rejections, they encourage me to keep going, and they always celebrate my milestones. I’m not so sure I would have survived the querying trenches without them. 🙂

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 🙂 )

Tap dancing! I never took lessons as a kid, and I’ve always been intrigued with this dance style. A few years ago, I took a Beginning Tap Dance Class for adults and loved it. But then the pandemic hit and somehow I never got back to it. Not yet anyway. I plan to take lessons again this Fall.

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

Well, I’m out on submission, so… Yahooooooo! Also, I’m having a lot of fun co-hosting the Kid Lit Meet N Greet podcast with fellow 12 x 12 Member, Lori Keating. Meanwhile, I’m still writing, revising and polishing picture book manuscripts.