We are so thrilled for Nell Cross Beckerman! After working with two previous agents, Nell knew exactly what she was looking for in her third agent and she took a very measured approach to the querying process this time around. Whether you’re trying to land an agent for the first time (or second or third time), we think you’ll find Nell’s story incredibly empowering. Congratulations, Nell, and thanks for sharing with our community!

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

This was my third agent hunt! My second agent let me go for various reasons, although we are still friends. I was right in the middle of closing two offers, both with editors I had worked with previously. So I both felt pressure to find someone fast to negotiate the deals, but also wanted to take my time to find someone who felt aligned with me and my work. It was kind of stressful! I thought maybe I could negotiate the contract myself and joined the Author’s Guild for their contract review service, but there were some details in the contract I didn’t feel equipped to navigate, so I knew an agent was necessary to advocate for me.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I looked on Publishers Marketplace (paid subscription) to see who was making deals with editors I wanted to sell to. It was important to me that my future agent had established relationships with the editors who I felt were good fits for my work. Then I also stalked the agents online, reading all the interviews I could, watching any webinars they appeared in—anything to give me a sense of “vibe” and how I might hook the attention of someone who seemed well suited for me. After I identified a few agents who I felt could be a very strong match, I reached out to current clients with whom I had connections through friend, and asked more about things like communication style, how many projects were submitted per year, certain contract details I knew were important (for example, did the agent claim ownership over “next in series” even if you left?)

I also asked some of my current editors for recommendations—they were wonderful and volunteered to reach out on my behalf. I did this with the editors I had impending deals with because I knew they had even more incentive to help since we would all want the deal to go smoothly and as quickly as possible.

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

Here’s where it gets a little confusing and messy. I quickly decided that Ammi-Joan Paquette (known as Joan) was who I felt most excited about. One of my editors kindly made the introduction and Joan agreed to consider me. She asked for more and more pieces and I was getting very hopeful! But then…it was a no.. for now. I had attended a webinar with Joan and another author, where the author had shared how her first approach to Joan had also been a no—so I knew Joan could say no but leave a door open. That helped me with the rejection. We did keep the lines of communication open, occasionally emailing a little bit. I was stuck though because now I had an offer in hand and didn’t know what to do. So, I actually asked my old agent to negotiate the deal so I wasn’t rushed into a relationship with someone else, and thank goodness she agreed!

Fast forward a few months, I kept thinking, researching, looking, but it wasn’t feeling like the right time to query. I am trying more and more to work within my intuition (and the seasons and phases of the moon if you want me to reveal my full new age-y vibe–check out Jess Keating if you want more on this). Finally, I had another offer, the follow up to CAVES (not yet announced as I’m writing this.)  I was bananas over the manuscript and thought the deal might also be attractive to agents. So, I went back to Joan. She loved the manuscript! I did have two to three agents I had very carefully researched and wanted to do my due diligence to talk to everyone. One was just too busy to consider me. The other one, we had a really great conversation. I was very impressed and interested, but in the end, our communication style didn’t seem to be correctly aligned, despite our mutual admiration. At the same time, pieces just fell into place with Joan, so it felt meant to be.

So, in all I’m going to say it was four agents (one early on said no before even reading my work because she wasn’t accepting PB text-only authors). But that’s how I am in general—I take a very long time and circle around the people who I feel would be right. I go to conferences and pay for manuscript consultations and just find different ways to make that first, very educated, connection before querying.

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

Yes. In fact I decided I should just embrace the idea of writing middle grade or graphic novel—both because I have an interest and because most of the agents I was interested in were not considering picture book text- only authors. And in fact, I think part of the reason Joan took me on is because I told her I have middle grade/graphic novel aspirations (which I do!) That being said, the other agent I came close with had no concerns about me being a text-only PB writer.

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

My agent is Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary. It’s funny, it was more of a long courtship than a pop-the-question, so I didn’t have that real defining moment, but every time I felt our relationship building, it was very exciting and felt very expanding, which is how I knew we were a good match.

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

Joan and I are both bookish people with a real lust for adventure—I remember looking at her website and just feeling a powerful connection to her tagline: Author*Adventurer*Doer. Those three words resonate with me as well. I mean, she had to pause our discussions to go to South America where she sprained her ankle running down a volcano, and then still went caving and swam in a cave with her hurt ankle. That’s the gal for me! Additionally, I thought it could be interesting to work with a fellow author, and one look at Publishers Marketplace—she does a crazy number of deals, so I knew she must just have a very organized way of keeping track of work. Lastly, she was such a huge, enthusiastic fan of my work—I knew that was the most important element. I’m not going to lie, having my previous agent drop me was definitely an ego-bruiser. Joan helped build me back up. Also, the stable of authors at EMLA include so many who I really admire, from Liz Garton Scanlon, to Deborah Underwood, to Megan Wagner Lloyd, to Pat Zietlow Miller. They all have careers I aspire to, which helped me feel secure in general with the agency.

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 🙂 )

Absolutely. So many people sharing their agent journeys in the Facebook group has really helped me in my overall perspective. Hannah Holt especially shared very openly about changing agents in ways that I found comforting. And it was Nadia Salomon who very generously zoomed with me for over an hour to discuss her experience as one of Joan’s clients. Plus, all the different agents who have appeared on webinars over the years—they all added to my education of what skills and qualities are important to me.

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

No

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

First and most importantly: WAIT. If getting an agent so you can submit to Big 5 publishers is important to you, I would perhaps consider not submitting work to editors or publishers, and keep writing and honing your craft until you have AT MINIMUM three very, very polished manuscripts. Manuscripts that your friends are begging you to submit. Each one a total gem. Not one total gem, three. I remember it blew my mind when Miranda Paul said she had something like eight polished manuscripts before she even started to query. Icon! Cause then, when you do get that agent–boom you are ready to go and go and go! As one of my productivity gurus, Cal Newport, says, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” I think if you have at least three ready to go, you will approach your querying with a confident (rather than desperate) energy, which is important.

To get to this level, you obviously have a critique group. And, what really helped me jump into the “polished gem” level of writing was working with freelance editor Deborah Halverson. She was good at giving me an indication if something was really ready. And she explained so so so much to me about how picture books work. I always say I feel like working with her gave me a very fast MFA education.

Some writers choose to not spend money on their career until they are making money—I felt like I was investing in myself and I do feel like I see the investment pay off. I absolutely recognize my privilege to be able to do this. But I also see friends who have the financial means feel too uncomfortable to invest in themselves. Friends who would not think twice about investing that money in a class for their child can’t do the same for themselves. I try to gently push back on the boxes so many women and moms put themselves in, and encourage them to treat themselves as well as they would treat their own child. Take the time away from your child and go to a conference (either online or in person.) If you have a partner, let them support you by giving you time alone to work on your writing (if you need help with this, read FAIR PLAY and UNICORN SPACE by Eve Rodsky.)

Also listen to the Literaticat podcast by ABLA agent Jennifer Laughran. She gives so many great nuggets and pearls that give you more of an insider education for how agents work. Following Jen Rofé on Twitter also is very informative for good agent practices.

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

I think it is important to have a web presence to look professional. I don’t think having a lot of followers matters, just show that you are in the community, you have a professional website, if someone Googles your name, your identity as a children’s book author (even if you are pre-published) is what rises to the top. Also, if someone—either an editor or agent—is considering me for something, I may tailor my posts to things I sense might interest them—things we have in common that I want to highlight. Who knows if it works, but it’s all part of my process to connect with similar energies.

Tell us something that is on your “bucket list.” Something you’ve dreamed of doing all your life but have yet to accomplish.

Ooh how fun to think about! I’d love to go to Machu Picchu, I’d love to see the ancient cave art in France, and someday I want to spend the night at Chateau Marmont and pretend I’m faded rock star royalty haha! Oh and also do some kind of full moon sound bath in the desert, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, audition for the Old Skool Crew over-40 dance team for the LA Sparks, go on a hut-to-hut hike with my daughter, and, and, and…how many do I get??

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

In September, WHEN THE SKY GLOWS is coming out, illustrated by the phenomenal David Litchfield, published by Beach Lane Books/S&S.  It a lyrical non-fiction book about all the ways that nature can make the sky glow. I’m very very proud of it. It functions just the way I envisioned—set-ups, reveals, and a full-circle day-to-night structure. Each reveal is a gorgeous, goosebump-y, David Litchfield masterpiece.  I really wanted the reader to feel the spirituality of seeing a gorgeous sunset, or fireflies—that wordless magic that stops you in your tracks. And the book does that!! I just got a preview of the Kirkus review today and my favorite line is, “A beautiful and informative title for a sense-of-wonder storytime.” Mission accomplished!

Then in October I have CAVES, illustrated by debut artist Kalen Chock, published by Scholastic. Where SKY goes up, CAVES goes down. Dark, mysterious, creepy…oh it’s so fun!  Readers will learn about caves all over the world, and the wondrous treasures in them—from fossils to crystals to glow worms to bats…super exciting! Kalen is a Senior Concept Artist who has worked for Dreamworks, and is a genius at world-building. He brings almost a video game vibe to the books—in fact I wish there was a CAVES video game! It would be amazing to immerse yourself in the illustrations he made for the book.

CAVES will have another “dramatic nature” follow-up, and I have another one from Cameron Kids which is also nature-themed—can’t wait to share both of these!

Also in October I’ll be teaching my first mini-class about using all your senses in writing about nature, for Storytellers Academy.

I have learned so much from 12×12 and received so much support through everything—I hope sharing this “How I Got My Agent” story helps others as well!

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