We’re thrilled to bring you today’s GOLD Member success story! Kamalani Hurley signed with our May Featured Agent (and 12 x 12 Webinar Speaker) James McGowan! We know this formidable team will put some amazing books into the hands of kids. Congrats, Kamalani! We can’t wait to see your stories on bookshelves across the country!

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

I spent over three decades teaching linguistics and business writing classes at the University of Hawai’i-Leeward Community College and founded the college’s Native Hawaiian writing and arts website, so nearly all of the writing was for my students. I’d written a few drafts here and there, but it wasn’t until I retired that I was able to dive into my own writing projects. When I had two pretty good picture book drafts and chapter one of my middle grade nonfiction, I decided to query.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

My stories are nonfiction and informational fiction for and about my Native Hawaiian community. Finding primary sources, especially native voices, is challenging. I spend a lot of time interviewing experts, and I subscribe to newspapers.com, which has been a goldmine…and a rabbit hole since those old articles and ads are fascinating!

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

Lol I got maybe a couple of handfuls of outright passes, and I still haven’t heard anything from four agents and two publishers. Because I’d taught college writing, I knew that failing was part of the process. I tried hard not to take rejections personally, so I leaned into the idea that a pass meant (1) I’d submitted to an agent or publisher that wasn’t the right fit and (2) I needed to revisit the manuscript again. I have to say – a positive attitude really helps, but at times it wasn’t easy.

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

I really wasn’t sure what I was doing at first, so I’d submitted to agents I’d read about at Manuscript Wishlist. Sometimes I got a request for more material, but none of that panned out. And so I systematically submitted to one 12 x 12 GOLD featured agent for February, April and May. And it turned out that May was my month!

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

James McGowan of BookEnds Literary is awesome. He’s whip smart, funny, and driven. I submitted to him following 12 x 12 submission station guidelines. Within three days, he’d emailed me asking for additional manuscripts, which I sent. And about a week later, he emailed me to schedule “The Call” which I had heard about.  We had a really great Zoom meeting that lasted an hour and a half. Then he made an offer of representation.

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

All agents say they’re looking for own-voices, under-represented voices, but James really was. My nonfiction tends to be about native cultural and historic trauma. When he wrote that he was looking for something in the vein of Unspeakable (by Carole Boston Weatherford on the Tulsa massacre), I knew he was the agent for me.

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 🙂 )

James was a 12 x 12 GOLD featured agent! I’d been a 12 x 12 Silver member for a couple years but upgraded to 12 x 12 GOLD, which I saw as an important investment in my career. I devoured The Complete Picture Book Submission System to learn the best pitches and queries. I also took several focused six-week courses to improve my skills with Candace Fleming (narrative nonfiction), Kirsten Larson (nonfiction strategies), and Donna Janell Bowman (picture book biographies). Like a lot of writers, I’ve found that writing communities like 12 x 12, SCBWI and Writing Barn CtC are essential for encouragement and support and for meeting mentors and writer friends.

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

I hadn’t realized how much of a difference an agent would make in my writing life. I hadn’t thought much about representation when I started. But I am more focused and motivated than ever. I’ll be honest: I feel validated, too, that my Unspeakable-esque stories are what the world needs so every kid can learn who they are and where they come from. This hasn’t been the case for Native Hawaiian and Polynesian kids.

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

I recommended studying the agents and doing your best to pick the ones that might fit. And don’t be discouraged. It’s easy to say, I know, but it’s true.

And older, more mature writers, allow me to speak to you directly. I am a grandmother in my 60’s! We have a lot of life experience – working, raising families, being active in our communities – that we can tap into for stories and characters. I’m both grateful and thrilled that I have a great agent at this time in my life.

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

I’m working on the next informational picture book, a biography, a middle grade nonfiction novel, and a historical graphic novel script, all at the same time. And I’m always researching new topics to see if there’s anything to pursue. As the great author Colson Whitehead once said, “Time’s a’wastin’.”  And that’ so true.

Thank you, Julie and Kelli, and our amazing 12×12 members, for your encouragement and support!

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