Help us celebrate, Rozana Rajkumari! Rozana dove into picture books with both feet and her laser focus on her goal of landing an agent has paid off. We look forward to seeing her books on bookshelves and learning more about Manipuri culture soon!

Congratulations, Rozana!

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 writing (not children’s book specific) for a few years now. But I dove into the world of writing picture books in 2020 and fell head over heels in love with it. I found my first critique group online and sent out my first story to them and then realized, eek I needed to write more. I learned a lot from them but I knew I had a long way to go so that year I took writing classes (Susanna Hill’s, Storyteller Academy, etc. ), read up as much as I could about writing PBs, read close to 200 PBs, listened to writing podcasts, wrote many drafts, polished, and entered writing contests and giveaways on Twitter, which connected me with published writers and all of these helped me become a better writer. By the spring of 2021, I had a few polished MSs, I sent out three queries and one of them ended in a full submission request! However, after that, the passes rolled in. That one full request messed with my expectations and in hindsight, I realize I queried too soon.

I wanted to find an agent so I could concentrate on the creative part and I wanted someone to handle the submissions process, guide my writing career, and help me navigate this sometimes complicated publishing journey.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I researched agents on the manuscript wishlist website, query tracker, and agency websites. I kept a spreadsheet with agents that I thought would be a fit for my stories and I usually tried to tailor my manuscripts to an agent’s specific MSWL.

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

63 queries

58 passes + no response

5 full requests

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

Sometimes while going through the manuscript wishlist website, it seems like all agents want are author-illustrators or MG and YA and it can feel very discouraging, but there are quite a few agents out there who want author-only picture book writers. I submitted twice to some agents and waited for some agents to open to queries.

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

My agent is the wonderful Elisa Houot. I had the amazing opportunity to be one of the PBParty Finalists (Thank you, Mindy Alysse Weiss and judges!) and she was one of the agents who requested my manuscript. She then asked for the full and a call after that. It was thrilling and nerve-wracking because I know that a call doesn’t always end with an offer. We had the call and she offered me representation, I was in shock that it was finally happening.

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

Elisa is so easy to talk to, super helpful, and organized. Something important for me is that her vision for my writing career aligned with mine. Elisa is so passionate about my stories and it came across in the call. I didn’t really understand the term ‘dream agent’ until I met her. So for me, a dream agent is someone who loves your stories as much as you do (maybe not all your stories but sees potential in them) and who can sell them.

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 🙂 )

By the time I wanted to join 12 x 12 in 2020, the window to join had closed and I waited impatiently to join at the beginning of 2021. 12 x 12 really helped me connect with amazing writers, resources, and a supportive community that helped me immensely as a writer.

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

My writing process has remained the same but I feel a bit more confident having Elisa by my side while on this sometimes-wild-often-slow publishing ride.

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

Being in the query trenches is hard, there are a few highs—personalized passes, R&Rs, full requests but the lows are many. Take breaks and get back in the query game when you are feeling better about it. Persistence and working towards your publishing goals are important, but we also need to remember that there’s luck involved as well, like being in the right place at the right time and passes don’t reflect the quality of your work or you as a writer.

And I can’t stress this enough—having a community really helps as well, I couldn’t have been on this journey without the support of my critique groups. Not only for the critiques and brainstorms but to share the highs and lows and for the pick-me-ups. Thank you dear CPs!

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

Even if it didn’t directly lead me to my agent, Pitch parties on Twitter helped me hone my pitch-writing skills and they also helped me connect with the wonderful writing community.

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 🙂 )

I am passionate about creativity and promoting Manipuri culture, so I hope to be able to do that with my YouTube channel, where I do read alouds in my language and have art and craft activities. I want that to be a space where kids from my hometown, Manipuri diaspora spread across the world, and future generations find inspiration.

I would also like to travel to all seven continents.

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

I am writing some new PBs, trying to write a chapter book, and creating content for my YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCieqi5wnHRSBD9ttNKm9fDA

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