Today, we get to celebrate Elayne Crain! Elayne brings her wit and humor to our webinar chats and we are SO excited that now kids of all ages will be able to enjoy her humor as her books make it to bookshelves around the world. Read on to hear how Elayne concentrated her agent search and found her “designated editorial smartypants” in Sean McCarthy of Sean McCarthy Literary.

Congrats, Elayne!

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

I have written since I was a kid, but I joined SCBWI in November 2019—and soon realized I had a lot to learn about writing for children. I missed the 2020 sign-up, though, so I finally joined 12×12 in January 2021, completed the challenge, and realized I was creating quite a pile of revised manuscripts! So, I made a “2022: The Year I Get an Awesome Agent” spreadsheet (later amended to “2023: The Year I Get an Awesome Agent”) to take my agent submissions more and more seriously. 😊

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I did a lot! I didn’t query anyone I didn’t know quite a bit about, especially regarding their clients, Publisher’s Marketplace deals, and stated MSWLs. I read interviews and scrolled social media accounts. I also went to many, many webinars and even some in-person events to get a sense of what they were like professionally and personality-wise. My favorite “decider,” though, was getting feedback on actual manuscripts, which I did through workshops with SCBWI, Inked Voices, and Storyteller Academy, plus the occasional charity auction opportunity. Getting agent editorial feedback was incredibly illuminating (and enabled me to hone my craft simultaneously)! Win/win!

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

Great questions! I sent to the same handfuls of agents I adored over and over (waiting 6 months or longer in between) vs. broadening my search all that much (I know, I know—I wouldn’t advise others to do that), so the count gets hazy. I definitely sent several dozen in total! For better or worse, I didn’t get a ton of rejections—mostly what I would call “friendly ghosting” (#sadfacts)—until my last round, when I went back to them with my book deal. (Yep, this lucky weirdo got a book offer before an agent.) Luckily, I had already established connections with my favorites, so it was a delight to go to them (again!) with the good news. This time they were much more responsive, and I was relieved that most seemed to remember me and my work!

Still, just to set expectations: it’s tough out there for picture book authors! I had a big-five offer, an editor referral (from a different publishing house than the offer!), sometimes a referral from one agent colleague to another, and (later) an agent’s offer of rep—and still never heard a peep from a few…not so much as a “take a hike, Red!”

I have no complaints, though: I’m absolutely thrilled with where I am, and any ghosts are certainly pardoned—just thinking about literary agent inboxes makes me shudder sympathetically.

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

Yes, especially when you are as picky as I am! 😊 I also wanted an excellent editorial match—AND someone with a similar sense of humor!

Unfortunately, while nearly every agent lists “humor” on their MSWL, everyone’s idea of what’s funny differs. It took submissions trial and error to sort all that out! But knowing who my humor didn’t land with helped me slowly pare my submissions list further. A humor writer needs an agent they can laugh with!

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

I’m thrilled that my agent is Sean McCarthy from Sean McCarthy Literary Agency! Woot-woot!

I had previously queried Sean when the offer news sent me into querying update overdrive. Sean already knew me and my writing well from workshops I’d done, so he congratulated me and asked to see 2-3 of my current favorite stories to consider in concert. When he offered representation via email, I *may* have burst into my partner Nick’s office with the news like a modern-day Kool-Aid mascot; luckily, Nick’s Zoom call had just wrapped up!

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

I met Sean in person at RUCCL last fall, and I have been lucky enough to do two different longer-term editorial workshops with him, so I was already impressed with his manuscript insights, his wit, and his kind nature. Not only did I have a deep respect for him, but I was also genuinely wowed by his other clients and their work, so I’m pinching myself to be a part of the crew there. I doubt anyone who knows me was surprised when I accepted his offer.

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

When I first joined, I was living in Melbourne, Australia, and being an American writer on the other side of the world already felt a little isolating. Then came COVID and the famous Melbourne lockdowns, and it became my lifeline, not just for craft—but also for community.

IMHO, if you joined 12 x 12 for the webinars alone, it would be well worth it! But once you add in all the other extras—the book chats, the 24/7 forums, and so much more—it’s a no-brainer. I can’t imagine not being a member now—I’ve learned (and enjoyed!) so much!

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

It hasn’t been very long, but I’m already reaping the time-saving benefits of not having to query and skipping workshops I would have attended purely for submission opportunities. Now I can focus on writing, revising, and super-specific workshops solely for craft! BLISS! Best of all, there’s a designated editorial smartypants to run my best work by—and to help me build my career!

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

As creators, we are lucky that kid lit really does attract some of the best and brightest agents in the biz—with a genuine passion for children’s literature!

I would say:

• DO start your research early and buckle up for the long haul!
• DO critiques and workshops with your top prospects (if you can)—especially if you are looking for an editorial agent!
• DON’T be afraid to submit stories you love!

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

If you can build kidlit connections (and I may be quoting Sean here) in “authentic and non-spammy ways,” it surely doesn’t hurt. I’ve got a Substack and a website, Sean and I were both active on the death rattle of an app previously known as Twitter and followed one another. It’s a two-way street, though; his and his clients’ platforms also helped me learn more about his agency.

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 🙂 )

Believe it or not, I’ve had quite a few crazy adventures in my lifetime, so this is getting progressively more challenging to answer! Outside of publishing-related goals, I’d love to see the Northern Lights (aurora borealis)! Also, I’d love to see a snowy owl, a badger, or a ringtail cat in the wild someday.

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

I’m getting ready to sub my first picture book manuscript with Sean since we’ve been busy with the contracting details, etc., from my recently-announced picture book with Feiwel & Friends! It’s all quite exhilarating! Other than that, I’ve got a ton of revision to do—(mostly) YAY!