Wednesday, December 02, 2009

What Stacey Glick wants

by Stacey

As some of you might know, I had identical twin girls 10 months ago, and have 2 "older" girls at home (3 and 4 1/2). So, while I have continued to work throughout my entire pregnancies and maternity leaves, my life has had a lot to do with topics like dirty diapers, play dates, and nursery schools lately. Listening to some of the respondents from Lauren's earlier post, I wanted to give a little insight into what I'm looking for right now. For obvious reasons, I'd like to see more smart, unique, well-told parenting titles. The category is really overcrowded, so it's important that the authors have a strong platform, a fresh message, and a voice that resonates with today's overstressed, exhausted parents. It doesn't have to be practical either. There are some great narrative books out there that aren't in the parenting category per se, but appeal to that market, books like the one I just recommended on our site, One and the Same by Abigail Pogrebin. I'm also always looking for more narrative nonfiction, like a project I represent, The Widow Clicquot, which tells the little known story of the dynamic French woman who created the champagne brand. Another category I'm very fond of both personally and professionally is memoir. Also overcrowded but when it works, it's so satisfying , like Come Back by Claire and Mia Fontaine, which I've blogged about before, and which I sold after sending the proposal to 54 publishers before finding the right one! It helps for memoir to have a platform already in place, like Shreve Stockton's The Daily Coyote, based on her very popular blog. In the practical area, I am always interested in working with how-to authors on craft books and cookbooks. And finally, I've had some good success recently with young adult fiction, and I'd love to see more smart, quality work in that area. I hope to hear from you soon with new submissions!

(Now seems a good time to point your attention to our relatively new sidebar:  "I wish I saw more..."  We'll use it as a way to keep you all up to date on the "Why can't someone just send me a query for X?" conversations that go on 'round the DGLM offices.  Check it out to the right!  UPDATE:  Sorry, I meant to thank Susan at Stony River for the excellent idea!!  -Lauren)

15 comments:

  1. Love the new sidebar - thanks!

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  2. Wow, your life is busy. I noticed the sidebar the other day. Original Parenting really caught my eye. At the moment I am fostering twin three year old boys, along with side job of caring for a four year old and seven month old while putting the finishing touches on the manuscript The Natural Parent-Thoughts on Rearing Adults. If only people realized the child will not grow up to be children.

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  3. How about "Yes, that's my daughter, officer. Now pass me a drink."

    I'm thinking about that for my parenting book. If only I could stop PARENTING so that I could write the proposal!

    :-)

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  4. Query question for Stacey: I sent you a query in April of this year, not realizing that you were away on mat leave. I never heard back from you, but I didn't follow up because I figured you were just a tad busy at home (and I didn't even know you had twins, CONGRATS!!!)

    Now that you are clearly all the way back... does no response mean that you were not interested, or does it mean that the query got lost somewhere along the way, or is my query still in a "to do later" pile? Thanks!

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  5. Thanks for the new sidebar!

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  6. Phew! Forget queries, if you're back at work with ten-month-old twins AND two older kids, you have my sincere admiration. If it ever gets too crazy, read Bruce Stockler's 'I Sleep at Red Lights'. I felt overwhelmed going back to work with two kids. Stockler's book made me feel like a wimp.

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  7. Umm...Stockler and his wife had triplets plus an older kid. Forgot to mention that.

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  8. Thanks for your feedback, and for your sympathy. Most days are about survival, but I just came off one of my best weeks at work in a long time, so there is always hope! Regarding the lost query, please do resend and note the blog reader so I will make sure to see it. Thanks.

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  9. Nicole Sumerau3/1/10 5:15 PM

    I noticed that you wrote you are interested in the possibility of representing young adult fiction and I was wondering you prefer YA fiction in a certain genre? For example, are you willing to work with someone, providing the quality of the work is up to your standards, on a piece that would fall into the now popular fantasy/horror area of YA fiction. If this is an inappropriate question to be asked in a public forum, please forgive my newness to the world of contacting a professional agent. As I have just finished the writing of my first novel and am entering the editing phase, I'm only in the beginning stages of learning how and how not to act (aside from being well-mannered, that is), but I know the blogosphere is wonderful for entering into a quick dialogue. Any response at all would be greatly appreciated, even if it's only to tell me you'd rather not be associated with those of us crazies who prefer our fiction with a fantastical leaning.

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  10. she needs a new job! there's no doubt about that! excellent article!

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