We’re thrilled to celebrate with Victoria K. Chapman! As an author-illustrator, she had to polish her work in both disciplines as she searched for representation, but her persistence paid off and she landed not just one agent but a two-agent team to work on her behalf.

Way to go, Victoria! 

Thank you, Kelli and Julie for this opportunity! I’m so happy to share this interview with you.

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

I am an illustrator first. I went to school for illustration and had graduated in 2004, but found making a career in art difficult at the time. I got sidetracked for a long time in a career in web design and web development. In early 2020, I was getting tired of my job and I decided I really wanted to make an illustration career work this time. But I also needed to work on my writing skills and knew I wanted to make a dummy with my own manuscript before seeking an agent.

I wrote my first manuscript draft on my birthday in March of 2020 right before the pandemic lockdown. As fate would have it, I got laid off from my web development job that summer, and I finished my first dummy by February of 2021. I began querying agents that spring. But, I quickly realized I still had some work to do to improve my writing. So, I rewrote my manuscript and tweaked the art before querying agents again in the fall of 2021. I realized I still had some work to do at that point, which is when I joined 12 x 12.

What kind of research did you do before submitting?

I joined SCBWI and downloaded The Book as my starting point. From there, I started looking up and writing down agencies and specific agents. That’s how I discovered Manuscript Wish List. I also became active on Twitter and discovered all kinds of writers, illustrators, and their agents through the community on there. Eventually, a critique partner introduced me to QueryManager where I started keeping lists of agents who seemed like they might be a good fit. I wanted to make sure the agents worked with author-illustrators of picture books. I also wanted to make sure my type of work, which is often inspired by nature and lyrical, would fit their tastes.

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

I think I sent a total of about 40 queries—some to the same agent multiple times. Most of those were either rejections or radio silence—a lot of radio silence.

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

Finding agents to represent picture books wasn’t too difficult. The harder part was finding someone who wants my style of work, which tends to be quieter and somewhat poetic, with a focus on nature themes, nature nonfiction, and mindfulness.

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

I’m super lucky to have two agents! Joyce Sweeney (agent and director of Kid Lit) and Rosa Frazier (assistant agent) at The Seymour Agency. I had originally queried Joyce for the first time back in 2021. I queried them four times in total with three different dummy books (one of which I had re-written and re-submitted). Joyce was so kind and thoughtful with their replies, even offering some advice.

I came back to Joyce each time I had a new dummy. By the time I was ready to query my third dummy in the fall of 2023, Joyce was closed to queries. But, at the end of December, I noticed The Seymour Agency website no longer stated they were closed to queries, so I jumped on the opportunity. Joyce replied rather quickly how much they liked it, which of course, made me squeal with joy! A couple of weeks later, we set up “the call”. When we met on Zoom in early February, I met both Joyce and Rosa and was offered representation. I might have run around the house dancing and whooping like a wild hyena after that.

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

Honestly, after my first interaction through email with Joyce, I had a really strong feeling that they would be a good fit for me. Often, with big and important pieces of my life, I get strong gut feelings that usually end up being right. That happened with adopting my dog and buying my house too. I just knew somehow. I had that same feeling with Joyce.

Joyce has a really kind and responsive way of communicating. They are also editorial with their clients, giving a lot of great advice. They are a career agent (not just a one-book deal), which is exactly what I was looking for. Plus, they love nature, poetry, and nonfiction, so that right there seemed a great fit. Joyce also expressed how much they loved my illustrations right off the bat, even though the writing needed more work. Having an agent who is a fan of your work is a huge win! When Joyce later introduced me to Rosa, I knew I had a dream team on my side.

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! The dummy book that got me my agent was one of the first manuscripts I wrote when I joined 12 x 12 in 2022. I received some amazing feedback in the forums. Plus, I met some of my critique partners through 12 x 12, who were key players in helping me get the manuscript and illustrations to a really strong place.

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

It’s not hugely different. I still write manuscripts, send them to critique partners, and revise first. But, I also know I have another person to take a look at my works-in-progress, let me know if I’m headed in the right direction, and if that work has the potential to be pitched to editors. That’s the main difference.

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

I’m sure this is what everyone says, but, DON’T GIVE UP! No, seriously. Don’t give up! Keep going. Keep writing. Keep revising. Keep querying. If there is an agent you really love, keep going back to them, even if you get rejected the first few times.

Keep nourishing your joy. Write the things you love to write about. Play with your creativity. Go see and experience things that inspire you.

And connect with your community! Having other writers on your side will help you so much. The support of my critique partners and kid lit friends has been so huge for me.

Eventually, your persistence and passion will pay off. And after all the “no’s”, there will be that one “yes” that makes it all worth it.

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

Yes! I believe I found Joyce through Twitter initially. I started following them on Twitter and Instagram. When I first queried them, Joyce started following me back. I think continually sharing my work and what I’m up to on social media, as well as my persistence in continuing to query them are things that helped keep me in the back of Joyce’s mind for the future.

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 would love do school and library visits once I’m published. Specifically, I want to visit my youngest son’s class and read my own book to them. I was the mystery reader for them recently and it was so fun! It would make my heart so happy if I could read my own book to my son and his friends. I’m hoping I have something out before he’s too old for it. He’s in kindergarten currently. My two older kids are far too old now, but I still might be able to make it happen with my little guy.

And if I’m dreaming big, two things I want to do are to travel for my books (for research, events, teaching, etc.) and to win book awards. If I’m going really big with that award dream, winning a Caldecott medal or Caldecott honor would be absolutely thrilling!

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

I’m currently on sub with one of my dummies. There have been some rejections so far, but it is pretty exciting that those rejections are coming from editors now, and not agents!

I’m re-writing my first dummy in the hopes that it will work better and we can go on sub with that. And I’m working on my first nonfiction picture book, which I’ve written and revised, and I’m now in the art phase for. I have a feeling I’ll be doing more nonfiction after this. I really enjoy it!

I’m also hoping to illustrate for other authors, not just my own stories. So, I’m always putting myself out there so art directors see and consider me. It would be amazing if I could illustrate for fellow 12 x 12 members! If you have a nature story, I want to draw it!