Ever hear of a “reverse nudge?” Ilona Bray has. When an agent was eager to see the R&R (revise and resubmit) from Ilona, she nudged her, asking how it was coming along. That nudge encouraged Ilona and eventually led to an offer of representation.

Hard work paid off! Way to go, Ilona!

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

Ouch, you’re reminding me of how many years I’ve been writing and querying! Enough to remember a time when lots of publishers were open to unagented submissions. Many of those doors have since closed. I did place a book with a fledgling publisher in 2016 (MOSSBY’S MAGIC CARPET HANDBOOK, The Innovation Press). It fit their niche interest in books presenting science in fun ways. Like them, many smaller publishers have specialized interests—say, Southern gothic or Hawaiian folk tales—so finding a match can be challenging. It became clear that having an agent would be not only helpful for a zillion things (editorial feedback, negotiating with publishers, and more), but necessary.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

All the kinds. I kept a spreadsheet of agents, listing which manuscripts I’d submitted to them and what I’d learned about each agent by attending panels at conferences, following their socials and Manuscript Wish List, watching interviews on YouTube, and gleaning inside info from critique partners. Keeping the list updated is (was!) a good way to be productive on mornings when my creative sparks weren’t crackling. (Mornings are when I work on kidlit projects—before turning to my “day job” as author/legal editor at Nolo.)

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

Is there a prize for the most? I might win, except I didn’t start counting until recently. In 2023, I sent 108 queries to agents (both PB and MG, in some cases more than one manuscript to the same agent) and 44 queries direct to publishers. I seriously would have given up by now, but for encouraging words from critique partners and some champagne rejections and “almosts.”

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

It was a bit of a puzzle, since I work on both picture book and middle grade. Strategically, I thought variety would be a good thing. (“Like my picture book? Wait till you see my MG novel!” Or vice versa.) But sometimes it played out negatively. Happily, while the agent I’ve signed with focuses primarily on middle grade and up, she also handles picture books for existing clients.   

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

My agent (ooh, that’s fun to say!) is Kristen Terrette of Martin Literary Management.

The path to signing with her was a winding one. Last fall, as part of a conference, Kristen critiqued the first 25 pages of my MG manuscript (a novel inspired by my mother’s childhood in WWII Lithuania). She asked to see the full, and I sent it, then she said she loved it but wasn’t sure she could sell it. I knew it was an unusual manuscript—for one thing, it spanned several years—and I’d been trying, over the course of several drafts, to make that work. Somehow, Kristen’s words made something “click” in my brain. I saw a way to chop and consolidate, and promised to send her the revision — soon. Of course, revising turned into a bigger deal than expected. At some point I had to give it a rest and work on other stuff. (Yay for short picture books texts.)

Fast forward to early this year when, out of the blue, Kristen emailed to ask how the manuscript was going. “Do agents do that?” I wondered. It kicked me into high gear. I rewrote and resubmitted, then things started happening. I was actually in an Airbnb on the morning my college reunion began when Kristen and I talked and she offered representation. Afterwards, on the way to my reunion lunch, I told myself, “Don’t bore old friends by talking nonstop about your offer.” You can guess what I really wanted to talk about, though.

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

Getting a “reverse nudge” from her sure didn’t hurt. I also felt super-comfortable talking with Kristen, both in our initial critique session and on “the call.” I sense we’re on the same wavelength—both of us excited to dive in and get things done. I was also hugely impressed by her warmth and openness. She showed me a sample Google spreadsheet she keeps for each client to track submissions to publishers and the replies, which I’m pretty sure not all agents do, or give clients access to.

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 🙂 )

The help has been indirect, but huge. 12 x 12 webinars help keep me in touch with work by other authors (read your picture book aloud to me anytime, please!), the forum critiques push me to take my work up a notch, the Facebook page is great for quick questions, and the monthly GOLD-member submission opportunities create deadline urgency. In fact, something about preparing submissions makes me look harder at possible improvements, even after I thought I was done with a piece.

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

Not yet, but it’s a relief to know I’ll have someone to run drafts or ideas past before I get too deep into the weeds.

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

Don’t rush it until you’ve got a bunch of polished manuscripts—especially if you’re like me and enjoy experimenting (which makes it tough to have a “brand”). In receiving agent requests for additional manuscripts before signing with Kristen, I had some “uh oh” moments when I realized the manuscript the agent liked was totally different from anything else I had ready.

Also, read Stoic philosophers. Or whichever philosophers you prefer who focus on enjoying the moment and the journey without obsessing over outcomes beyond your control. To set a goal like “I’ll have an agent by next year” can be a recipe for self-torture. Meanwhile, what could be more soul-enriching than sharing this journey with our kidlit community and having an excuse to read beautiful books?

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

Not so much—I wouldn’t say I have a “platform” yet, though I like hanging out with kidlit friends online. Of course, Kristen is encouraging me to develop more of a platform now. I’m glad I’ve already dipped my toes into the social media pond, or this would feel seriously unnatural.

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 🙂 )

Learn to play the guitar. Also, travel the route my mother and grandparents took when fleeing Lithuania as the Soviets were invading.

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

Aside from working with Kristen to edit and submit my work to publishers, I’m working on a picture book that’s made up entirely of nonsense words. (Art notes, here we come.)