You think you’ve received a lot of rejections? Susan Johnston Taylor received over 400! And yet, she kept on submitting until she found the perfect fit for her work. Susan is living proof that your dreams of finding an agent and getting publish will come true if you just keeping working on your craft and staying in the game.

Way to follow your dreams, Susan! We are so proud of you! 

How long had you been writing before seeking an agent, and what made you decide it was time to look for one?
I’d been writing professionally for over a decade when I started writing picture books and attended a Picture Book Intensive at the Writing Barn in 2016. I started querying the following year, because that seemed like the next logical step. I got a request for more manuscripts pretty quickly, but I soon realized that my body of work wasn’t as strong as the manuscript that had gotten the request. I took a hiatus to build my body of work and started querying in earnest around 2018.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?
I watched as many webinars as I could, met with agents at conferences, and followed agents on social media. One of the best tools for keeping up with agents was the QueryTracker weekly email, which tells you which agents have opened or closed, updated genres, etc. that week.

The dreaded questions: How many queries?  How many rejections?
Over 400! I used to joke that I’m the Susan Lucci of querying. Lucci received 18 Emmy nominations before finally winning, and I received over a dozen requests for more manuscripts that didn’t result in offers. I also received a revise and resubmit and tons of pitch requests in the process. Those smaller wins kept me going and reassured me that I was on the right track.

Was it difficult to find an agent who wanted to represent an author focusing on picture books?
Yes, many agents open only by referral or they want author/illustrators only. Others say they’re open to picture books, but I’d get a response like “the writing is strong, but I’m not taking new picture book clients at the moment.”

Who is your new agent? Tell us about getting the news.
I signed with Mara Cobb at Martin Literary Management! I received an email from her on a Thursday afternoon asking to set up a meeting, and the time that worked best for both of us happened to be the next morning. That morning, we hopped on Zoom and after chatting for a few minutes, she offered representation! I then talked to one of her other picture book clients and signed with Mara.

How did you know your agent was “the one”?
When Mara emailed me a link to schedule “The Call” with her, I knew she’s really organized and efficient, which I love. When we hopped on Zoom, I immediately sensed her passion for picture books and her excitement about working together. Plus, Martin Lit has been around since 2003, so all of these were positive signs.

If 12 x 12 helped you in any way during your agent search/development of craft, can you tell us how? 
I have gotten so much support and inspiration from 12 x 12 over the years, especially during 2023, which was my debut year. The Facebook group is also a great place to ask for advice about querying or about specific agents.

Has your writing process changed at all since signing with an agent?
Not the writing itself, but now that I’m not putting so much energy into finding an agent, it’s freed up more time for reading and writing!

What advice would you give to picture book writers looking for agents today?
Be prolific! Many authors sign with an agent based on 3-4 polished picture book manuscripts, but I built a larger body of work. Some agents loved my poetry collection, but not my funny picture books or my picture book biography. I wound up with 7-8 projects that got interest from agents and that showed a real commitment to craft. Keep writing and exploring different picture book structures!

Do you think your platform (blog, social media) helped you find your agent?
No. Last year, I turned my frustration at the query process into a creative project where I posted a series of funny videos about querying. This really resonated with writers, and a few agents even liked and/or reposted them. Ultimately, though, I think the quality of writing attracted Mara, not my social media presence.

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 🙂
Since I’m a musical theatre person, I would LOVE to see one of my books adapted into a musical to be performed by or for young audiences.

What’s up next/what are you working on now?
I sold my debut picture book, Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures (released in 2023), to Gnome Road Publishing without an agent, so I’m continuing to promote that book and do school visits. I also sold a second poetry collection, If Pets Wrote Poems, to Gnome Road. It releases in spring 2026, so I’m looking forward to that!