We’re excited to continue our How I Got My Agent series with Jenna Johnson. Once she decided to get serious about writing picture books, there was no stopping her. And now that’s she’s landed an agent, it’s only a matter of time before our bookshelves are filled with Jenna’s books!

How long had you been writing before seeking an agent, and what made you decide it was time to look for one?
I have been seriously writing PB’s for almost a year. I played around with the idea of writing PBs for a few years, full of ideas and self-doubt, but didn’t take the leap until January, 2022. I decided it was time to seek an agent after the PBChat mentorship. I feel so lucky that I was able to work with the incredible Anitra Rowe Schulte and Justin Colón. My craft and writing really grew throughout the mentorship, as I polished 6 stories, and my confidence boosted as well. I joined SCBWI back in 2018 or 2019 (following the advice of a fellow PB author) and was signed up to attend a regional conference, but chickened out at the last minute. I hadn’t written any stories and really had no clue what I was doing. I lacked confidence. But then, in January of 2022, I decided to take my dream of writing PBs seriously and signed up for my first class (shoutout to Susanna Leonard Hill!). Since then I have really embraced the kidlit world and am SO happy with my decision to chase my dreams.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?
I did as much research as possible before submitting to agents. A fellow PB author shared a list of agents open to PB writers and I researched them on Google, Twitter, PM, Query Manager…really any source of info I could find. For Christie, she liked my PBPitch, so I immediately went to her Twitter profile and her website, as well as her Instagram. I messaged my amazing crituqe partners and asked for their thoughts and also my PBChat mentor. I felt hopeful that we would be a good match when I sent her my initial stories, and am pleased to report that we are a GREAT match.

The dreaded questions: How many queries? How many rejections?
I sent around 40 queries. I sent them in batches mostly, and also queried a few agents that I “met” through webinars or conferences. I received 10 rejections (including a few champagne rejections), 13 no responses, and 2 R&Rs. 1 query I sent I don’t think actually went through because I never received a confirmation email. I also withdrew some queries after I got the request from Chrisite and just focused on specific agents. 4 agents stepped aside when I nudged them with the offer, some never responded. Ultimately, I received 3 full requests with 1 offer!

Was it difficult to find an agent who wanted to represent an author focusing on picture books?
I think it is harder now to find an agent who is focusing on author-only picture book writers than it was a few years ago. A lot of my rejections stated something about “lists being too full.” I see a lot of agents who want to represent author-illustrators. (Though I wouldn’t necessarily say it is easy for them to find an agent either.) That being said, those agents are still out there! Querying is rough though and you have to grow a thick skin.

Who is your new agent? Tell us about getting the news.
Christie Megill is my new agent and I am SO excited to work with her. She is a newer agent, but has received a lot of mentorship and has a background in publishing as well. She also has a background in elementary education, just like me, so that was fun to connect over. I am really excited to be one of her few clients, because I feel that she can give me a lot of attention and I won’t get lost in her list.

She liked my pitch in PBPitch, (a homeschool story) and that is how she first came on my radar. The CAT agency has a great reputation, so I was excited by that. In the past, CAT has represented illustrators and author-illustrators, so I was a little confused at first. But then I learned that Christie was brought on to start building their author list and my heart leaped. I emailed her 3 stories right away (because I looked on Twitter and saw others were sending her 3 stories) and received an email a few days later that was exciting. We emailed back and forth and then set up “the call!”

How did you know your agent was “the one”?
I knew Christie was the one as we were having our call. Our conversation just flowed so naturally and she had such great things to say about my manuscripts. We also bonded over education, homeschooling, and a love for kidlit. She shares my passion for disability rep and disability joy in kidlit, which was the number one thing I was looking for. She talked about how she likes to work as an agent, and it just checked off all the boxes I was looking for in an agent. She didn’t pressure me to sign that day and encouraged me to take several weeks to think about it. Which I did. 2 weeks later, I signed with her and now we are partners!

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 🙂 )
12 x 12 absolutely helped me. All of the webinars and Book Chats have been so fascinating and have helped me grow as a writer. Also having the community has been HUGE. Joining 12 x 12 also allowed me to take myself seriously as a writer. After I finished my first class, I learned about 12 x 12 and wasn’t sure if I should join. I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to write SO much. But then, after a few days, and nonstop thinking about PBs, I knew I had to join. The motivation provided by the challenge was just what I needed. I got worried that I wouldn’t have time to write after September when I was returning to the classroom after a 4-year medical leave. So I spent the month of September writing as much as I could. I ended up with 36 manuscripts over the course of the year! (Some of them will never see the light of day and I feel like were “practice” manuscripts, but 15 of them I feel like are really strong and have the chance to get published.)

Has your writing process changed at all since signing with an agent?
My writing process has not changed. I still heavily depend on my amazing critique partners, who always help me shape up my manuscript. I want to make sure that I am sending Christie my best work!

What advice would you give to picture book writers looking for agents today?
My advice would be to not give up! Keep plugging away. Query with a plan and take breaks/set boundaries if you need to. Lean on your CPs who get what it’s like. Celebrate small victories. Also wait to query until you have 3-5 polished stories. I remember I applied for the PBParty showcase and was SO disappointed I didn’t get it. But, now I am happy I didn’t get it because I only had 1 story at that time. I don’t know what I would have done if I had gotten it and an agent had requested more work.

Do you think your platform (blog, social media) helped you find your agent?
I’m not sure that I really have a platform. But my agent did say (along with other agents who requested more work or who stepped aside) that she checked out my website. My website started off as a personal blog to kind of process my life with chronic illness. I started it around the end of 2019 I think when I was on medical leave and had a lot of time on my hands. I was encouraged by close friends to write that blog and I think that also helped with my writing. I remember, when I started it, I thought, I’ll write this as practice for fine-tuning my writing. Then I can pursue a writing career with PBs. Then, when I got serious about writing, I started blogging about kidlit stuff. Then I transformed it into a website with information about me, a free critique and sensitivity read service, resources for PB witiers, and of course the kidlit blog. It’s nothing fancy, but I know industry profesionals have looked at it! So, if you are thinking of creating a website, even as a pre-published author like me, I would say go for it!

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 🙂 )
Ooh something I REALLY want to do, but have no idea how to pull off at this point, is open up a service dog training center/foundation that can place service dogs with people who need them for free. I know, it sounds like a dream. But my dad really wants to do it too, once he retires. So maybe we can work something out. My service dog, Hamilton, has changed my life and kept me alive. He is also the muse for several of my stories. So, if I can help people get a service dog, I want to!

What’s up next/what are you working on now?
Right now, I am working on some minor revisions before I go on submission! Christie and I have talked about our sub strategy and I am excited to send my stories out into the world! Also a bit nervous too. I am also always working on my next story. I have 2 PB WIPS that I really like and think have some potential. They are still very much WIPs though. I am also taking Chapter Book writing classes and mulling ideas in my head. I want to keep growing as an author. Plus, writing is my passion. I am happiest when working on a story.

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