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Monday, January 13, 2020

4 agents at Bradford literary seek adult fiction & nonfiction, plus kid lit – picture books to YA

Gravemaidens by Kelly Coon
represented by Bradford literary

Bradford Literary Agency
5694 Mission Center Rd. #347
San Diego, CA 92108

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Bradford Literary was founded in 2001 by Laura Bradford. It represents books for adults and for children, fiction and nonfiction. Four of the five editors are generally accepting queries.

Katherine Wessbecher is the newest member of the team She joined the Bradford Literary in January 2020. Like all new agents, Katherine needs authors.
Prior to becoming an agent, Katherine edited children’s and young adult books at Putnam, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, and was the science and technology editor at an academic book review journal. She holds a B.A. in English from the College of William and Mary.
As an editor, Katherine worked with debut and veteran authors, including Sherri L. Smith, Stacey Lee, Keir Graff, Jeff Seymour, and Eliot Sappingfield. She brings to her work a nuanced understanding of the publishing industry and a practiced editorial eye.
Katherine is looking for children’s books (picture books through YA), upmarket adult fiction, and narrative nonfiction for all ages.
In MG and YA, historical fiction and fantasy have been favorites since she was young. But more than genre, she’s looking for the kinds of stories that transport her: to the past, an imagined world, or a perspective wholly different from her own. She’s drawn to stories that push readers to question their assumptions of the world. She’s interested in humorous voices; she’s also a fan of epistolary novels and other unexpected storytelling techniques, like Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s Illuminae Files series or Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer.
Her favorite picture books are the kind that make both kids and grown-ups laugh. Inventive premises, twist endings, and quirky characters are all good ways to pique her interest.
Katherine is looking for upmarket adult fiction that straddles the literary and commercial divide. Books that inspire her list run the gamut from Where’d You Go, Bernadette to Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing. She loves unexpected takes on familiar stories and flawed yet endearing characters. Katherine is actively seeking adult and juvenile narrative nonfiction—particularly projects that highlight stories the history textbooks left out. In the same vein, she’d love to work with nonfiction graphic novel projects like John Hendrix’s The Faithful Spy.
Query Katherine using the online form here.
For more information on querying her, see below.

Laura Bradford, founder of the Bradford agency, considers herself an editorial-focused agent and takes a hands-on approach to developing proposals and manuscripts with her authors for the most appropriate markets. During her own misadventures as a writer, Laura came to understand the importance of having a friendly but critical eye on your side, a career strategist in your corner and a guide who can lead you through the travails of publication.
Her recent sales include books placed with Penguin Random House, Grand Central, Harlequin, Kensington, Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Sourcebooks, Hyperion, and many others.
Laura continues to actively build her client list and is currently seeking work in the following categories: Romance (historical, romantic suspense, category, contemporary, erotic), speculative fiction, women’s fiction, mystery, thrillers, young adult, upper middle grade, illustration as well as some select non-fiction.
Query Laura at: queries@bradfordlit.com
For more information on querying her, see below.

Jennifer Chen Tran joined Bradford Literary in September 2017. She represents both fiction and nonfiction. Prior to joining Bradford Literary, she was an Associate Agent at Fuse Literary and served as Counsel at The New Press. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Northeastern School of Law in Boston, MA, and a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jennifer understands the importance of negotiation in securing rights on behalf of her authors. She counsels her clients on how to expand their platforms, improve on craft, and works collaboratively with her clients throughout the editorial and publication process. Her ultimate goal is to work in concert with authors to shape books that will have a positive social impact on the world – books that also inform and entertain.
Select titles that Jennifer has represented: THE MODERN CARAVAN by Kate Oliver (Chronicle Books); THE SHARP END OF LIFE by Dierdre Wolownick (Mountaineers Books); THE PEACHED TORTILLA COOKBOOK by Eric Silverstein (Sterling Epicure); THE ART OF ESCAPING by Erin Callahan (Amberjack); A CROWDFUNDER’S STRATEGY GUIDE by Jamey Stegmaier (Berrett-Koehler).
As a person of color and second-generation daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jennifer is very interested in diverse writers and #ownvoices from underrepresented / marginalized communities.
As a former art major, Jennifer is also eager to grow her list of illustrators and actively looking for graphic novel projects, in both MG and YA. She believes that visual literacy is increasingly important in our interconnected world and that graphic novels help reluctant readers become voracious readers.
In adult fiction, she also wants to see strong and conflicted characters who are not afraid to take emotional risks, stories about multi-generational conflict, war and post-war fiction, and writing with a developed sense of place. 
Basically, surprise her!
In nonfiction, she loves books that broaden her perspective on a variety of topics, but that also dive deep into worlds unseen. Books like EVICTED by Matthew Desmond and MAID by Stephanie Land are examples of the type of non-fiction she is looking for. Additionally, Jennifer is always interested in cooking, lifestyle, health, parenting, and business titles that present the author’s expertise and are instructive without being pedantic. Teach her something new and you will pique her interest!
In short, Jennifer is looking for:
Fiction: Women’s Fiction (Contemporary, Upmarket, Literary); Select Young Adult (must have distinct voice); Select Middle Grade; Graphic novels and visually-driven projects
Nonfiction, particularly in the areas of: Narrative non-fiction (biography, current affairs, medical, investigative journalism, history, how-to, music, pop-culture, travel); Cookbooks & culinary projects; Lifestyle (creative life, home, design, beauty, fashion); Business Books (social entrepreneurship, female and/or minority-led businesses, and innovation); Health (especially focused on diet, prevention, and exercise); Parenting; Relationships and Psychology; Mind, body, spirit
Query Jennifer using the online form here.
For more information on querying her, see below.

Kari Sutherland joined the Bradford Literary Agency in 2017 after a decade of experience in publishing from the editorial side. Previously a Senior Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, she has worked with bestselling and critically acclaimed authors on projects such as the #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard.
Kari graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology, which she considers the perfect combination for working with authors on character and plot development. With her editorial insight and experience with the entire publishing process, Kari is passionate about helping to polish each manuscript and equip her clients for success.
Open to genres from picture books through adult, Kari is most interested in finding stories full of heart; ones that carry readers to faraway places or deep into a character’s mind; action-packed page-turners that surprise her; dark dramas with touches of humor; and, above all, a voice that leaps off the page. She is actively seeking diverse voices across all genres.
In children’s books, Kari is interested in character-driven stories, new twists on classic tales, empowering themes, epic fantasy, fresh voices and experiences, inventive mysteries, humor, and magical realism.
In YA, which is near and dear to her heart, Kari is drawn to compelling voices, tight pacing, and clear world-building regardless of whether it’s a space drama, an underground dystopia, a small town, or a big city contemporary. She is open to any genre within YA.
Yasmin the Writer by Saadia Faruqi
represented by Kari Sutherland
Kari is interested in adult fiction including general fiction; upmarket women’s fiction; intergenerational tales; magical realism; historical dramas; and light-hearted contemporary fiction.
A firm believer that truth can be stranger than fiction, Kari is seeking nonfiction in the following categories: quirky topics; history and biography; pop science and psychology; humor; and parenting. Most important to her are a concrete platform, an engaging voice, and well-researched material that will broaden readers’ understanding of themselves, the past, and the world around them.
Kari is not seeking: horror, romance, erotica, memoir, adult sci-fi/fantasy, thrillers, cookbooks, business, spiritual/religious, poetry, or screenplays.
Kari is temporarily closed to queries, but will begin accepting them again after January 20, 2020. After January 20, Query Kari using the online form here.
For more information on querying her, see below.

For querying all agents at the Bradford agency:
For fiction, paste your first chapter and a synopsis into the body of your email.
For picture books, include the entire manuscript in your submission and feel free to submit 2 – 3 PB manuscripts at once. Writer/illustrators or artists seeking representation for their artwork should include a link to your online portfolio and a link to your online dummy. Do not attach artwork to submission.
For nonfiction, include a full proposal and a sample chapter.
Full submission guidelines here.

Literary agent Martha Webb
If you’re interested in getting published, now or sometime in the future, don’t miss our upcoming How to Get Published  workshop with literary agent Martha Webb of the CookeMcDermid agency, Saturday, April 25, 2020, in Guelph. (see here).

In the meanwhile, starting this month, a full range of weekly courses is on offer:
Burlington: Exploring Creative Writing, Thursday afternoons, Jan 23 – March 19. Details here.
Oakville: Writing Personal Stories, Thursday evenings, Jan 23 – March 19. Details here.
Burlington: Next Step in Creative WritingTuesday afternoons, Jan 21 – March 31. Details here.
Burlington: Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings , Jan 15 – March 11. Details here.
Toronto: Intensive Creative Writing, Friday mornings, Jan 17 – March 13. Details here.
    See details of all winter courses here. To reserve a spot, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

A full range of courses will also be offered in the spring:
Author Sylvia McNicoll will be one of the
guest speakers for the Kid Lit coursethis spring
Burlington: Next Step in Creative Writing,  Tuesday afternoons, April 14 – June 23. No class June 9. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Georgetown: Intensive Creative Writing,  Wednesday evenings, March 25 – June 24. No class April 8. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Burlington: Writing Kid Lit, Thursday afternoons, April 23 – June 25. No class June 4. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Oakville: Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday evenings, April 16 – June 25. No class June 4. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Toronto: Intensive Creative Writing, Friday mornings, March 27 – June 26. No class June 5. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Toronto: Welcome to Creative Writing, April 10 – June 19. No class June 5. For details, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Also check out Writing ConflictFight scenes, Dialogue scenes & Love scenes, Saturday, Jan 18, in Oakville (see here), Raising the Stakes: How to Increase Your Story's tension, Saturday, Jan 25, in Toronto (see here) and Saturday, Feb 22, in Kitchener (see here), and Writing & Revising, Saturday, Feb 29, in Mississauga (see here).
 
Jumping off the dock at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park
Plus …
Algonquin Writing Retreat, Friday, June 5 – Monday, June 8, 2020. Four days of luxury and writing at Arowhon Pines Resort in Algonquin Park – one of most beautiful spots in Ontario. This is the area that inspired the Group of Seven; come and let it inspire you, too. Still  room. Details here.

Windsor International Writers Festival, Friday, July 10 – Sunday, July 12. Brian will lead a Round Table critiquing your opening pages on Friday morning, will give a talk about writing query letters, and will meet attendees one-on-one to help them write a query that will get a yes. Details here. More details of the conference here.

Southampton Arts Centre SchoolJoin me in cottage country for a weekend of workshops this summer – How to Build Your Story, Saturday, July 25 {details to come} and How to Write Great Characters, Sunday, July 26 {details to come}.

To reserve a spot in any upcoming weekly course, weekend retreat, or Saturday workshop, email Brian at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
Read reviews of Brian’s courses, retreats, and workshops here.

See Brian’s full schedule hereincluding writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of postings. If you're searching for more interviews with literary agents or a literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post. 

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