May Agent of the Month – Amy Nielsen – Interview Part Three

Amy Nielsen The Purcell Agency

Amy’s  Wish List

Picture Books

• I’ll be looking for hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson (even subtle) or ones with laugh-out-loud moments written simply to entertain.
• Check out the legendary Robert Munsch and Michael Marchenko for what I’m hoping to see in my inbox.

Middle Grade

• I’ll be looking for fast-paced stories mostly set in a contemporary setting that feature characters that think, act, and talk like real middle graders.

Young Adult

• I’ll gravitate toward contemporary issue-driven plots where teens find themselves in situations they aren’t equipped to handle, but eventually figure it out.

Adult Fiction

• I’ll lean into contemporary women’s fiction where the main characters are shattering glass ceilings despite obstacles, and defying stereotypes.

General Wishes

• As the mother of an autistic child, I’d appreciate any story that features characters across the autism spectrum written authentically and free from stereotypes.

• I’d swoon over a Gilmore Girls retelling with a paranormal or speculative element, anything that could comp my favorite song of all time, “Never Surrender” by Cory Hart or a story set in a coastal boating town.

• I’m also always game for any fairy-tale retelling or re-imagining, especially if pulled into a contemporary setting.

• I would love any age range where a dystopian plot mirrors a current social issue. Think Handmaid’s Tale versus the current political landscape of abortion. Or how the political landscape is impacting marginalized communities such as the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC.

In all age ranges and genres, I’m looking for:

• Succinct and simplistic writing.
• Diverse representation from authors to main characters, including but not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and persons with disabilities.

I wouldn’t be the best fit for:

• Epic fantasy (if your story features a dragon or fae—probably not for me),
• High-concept sci-fi (if most of your story doesn’t take place on Earth—probably not for me)
• Historical fiction (unless it’s the 80s or 90s then bring it on) I’m fine with dual timelines as long as the majority of the plot is in a contemporary setting.
• Erotica. I’m fine with some on-page-steam, but not if the plot centers around it.
• Literary. If your story isn’t genre fiction, it’s probably not for me.

If any of this fits your manuscript, please follow me, and stay tuned for when I’m open to queries! I’d love to eventually see your work in my inbox!

Across all age ranges, I’m looking for pacey, plot-driven, and succinct stories that take place in immersive settings. My favorite genres are:

• Contemporary
• Dystopian
• Horror
• Issue-driven
• Paranormal
• Political
• Romance
• Speculative
• Suspense
• Thriller

2024 Update: I’m leaving my list here, but I am not actively pursuing any more picture book authors. I LOVE you all, but my client list is very full at the moment. If something comes across my desk through a pitch event or referral that fits something I don’t already have, I would consider it. Best of luck to all picture book authors! Keep writing!

• Hyperbolic, zany storylines that teach a life lesson—even subtle
• Laugh-out-loud stories to simply entertain
• Comps to Robert Munsch and Michael Marchenko
• Supplementary educational materials

Middle Grade will make up about 15% of my client list. I’m looking for:

• Characters who think, act, and talk like real middle graders
• MG main characters who have unique hobbies or whose parents have unique careers

Young Adult will make up about 35% of my client list. I’m looking for:

• Contemporary issue-driven plots where teens find themselves in situations they aren’t equipped to handle, but eventually figure it out.
• YA main characters who have unique hobbies or whose parents have unique careers

Adult Fiction will make up about 35% of my client list. I’m looking for:

• Contemporary women’s fiction where main characters are shattering glass ceilings despite obstacles and defying stereotypes
• Male leads who also defy stereotypes.

I wouldn’t be the best fit for:

• Epic fantasy (if your story features a dragon or fae—probably not for me)
• High-concept sci-fi (if most of your story doesn’t take place on Earth—probably not for me)
• Historical fiction (unless it’s the 80s or 90s then bring it on) I’m fine with dual timelines if the majority of the plot is in a contemporary setting.
• I’m fine with some on-page-steam, but not if the plot centers around it.
• Literary (If your story isn’t plot-driven—probably not for me.)
• Nonfiction (I will take the odd NF especially if it’s about social injustice, parenting, and neurodivergency.)

For all queries, I recommend checking out these resources I created so you know what I’m looking for craft-wise.

Ten Steps Authors Should Consider Before Querying

My Top Ten Self-Editing Tips

Polishing Your Submission Packet Before Querying

Fun facts about me:

I spent nearly twenty years on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian both at the elementary and middle school levels. Daily immersion in story took root and I began penning my 2024 Young Adult debut Worth It at my checkout desk.  When my youngest son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I left the library to be home while he was little. That led me to write It Takes a Village How to Build a Support System For Your Exceptional Needs Family and Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder. All three books are published with Wild Ink Publishing.

Now that he’s a big boy, he and I do big things together! We were recently in the upcoming short film about nonverbal autism Mandy’s Voice featuring autism advocate and supermodel Rachel Barcellona and actress Karen Sillas. It’s currently hitting film festivals!

Being a librarian most of my adult life, I’m extremely disheartened at the book-banning epidemic in our country. This inspired me to become the lead anthologist on the upcoming anthology Uncensored Ink: A Banned Book Inspired-Anthology. You can find submission guidelines for it here.

When I was a librarian, I was fortunate enough to also teach Television Production, and one project I always had my students complete was to make a book trailer for a favorite book. This led me to start Mayflower Media to help authors create trailers for their books.

I also run the Author(ish) podcast with author Dana Hawkins where we work to share practical advice and tips to aspiring and emerging authors.

You can find out more about me on either of my websites Big Abilities or Amy Nielsen Author 

When I’m not reading or writing I’m usually cruising the waters of Tampa Bay with my family and our boat dog, Sandy!

HERE IS PART THREE OF AMY’S INTERVIEW:

What are your feelings about prologues?

Funny you asked this. I’m not a fan. That being said, with my own YA debut, my editor asked me to write a prologue. I reluctantly included it, as I trust her. So I think it boils down to an author and editor making that decision together.

Do you have a place where you keep writers up-to-date on what you would like to see? Blog?

You can always find me on the Manuscript Wish List or on my website which is http://www.amynielsenauthor.com.

Do you give editorial feedback to your clients?

I 100% do! I also work as a developmental editor for a publisher. I love to help an author whose work I love get to that next level before we go out on submission.

How do you like to communicate (email vs. phone)?

I am an open book. Email, text, phone, morse code, snail mail, I want my authors to always feel they can contact me day or night with any questions. That’s what I would want.

Once you submit a manuscript to a publisher, how often do you communicate with your client during the submission process?

The Purcell Agency uses a program called Airtable. In real-time, my clients can see which books are on submission, where, and the status. Transparency, to me, means everything. If an author in the middle of the night wants to know what is happening behind the scenes, they can log in and check.

What happens if you don’t sell a book and the author wants to self-publish a book? Would you be okay with that?

100%. I’m here to support my clients in any way possible. If we are on submission and you feel too much time has passed and we haven’t found a home for your work, I’d support them pursuing their publishing dreams in any path forward.

Do you seek help from other agents at your agency to get suggestions on editors and/or publishers to submit to for the clients you sign up to represent?

That’s one of the things I love the most about The Purcell Agency. We consistently communicate about our signed projects. When you sign with one agent at The Purcell Agency, you’re getting us all. It truly is a collaborative process.

If you liked a manuscript, but it wasn’t right for you, would you pass it on to another agent at Purcell Literary?

100%. Three of my signed clients were referrals from other The Purcell Agency agents!

What do you think of digital and audiobooks? Are they part of every sale these days?

It all depends on the publisher and how contract negotiations play out.

Do you handle all foreign/film rights contracts or does your firm have someone else who handles those contracts?

We work with other agencies to assist us in foreign/film rights but can 100% support our authors in those contracts.

Do you see any new trends building in the industry?

I’m fortunately part of a large group of newer agents and the trend is actively pursuing diverse representation. Both in authors and main characters. BIPOC, queer, neurodivergent, disabled, etc. It’s a trend long overdue.

Any words of wisdom on how a writer can improve their writing, secure an agent, and get published?

Okay, I’ll break this down.

Improve their writing: Study the craft. There are so many great resources out there for improving your craft. One of my favorites is Sacha Black’s THE ANATOMY OF PROSE.

Secure an Agent: My best advice for this is polish your query submission. Stick to a standard query, a one page synopsis and polished opening pages. Also query small as opposed to wide. This way allows you to take feedback and revise before sending to other agents.

Get Published: I’m going to quote another agent friend Esty Loveing-Downes—tenacity. And she’s right. The patch to publication boils down to not giving up.

Would you like to attend other conferences, workshops writer’s retreats?

If you check out my website, http://www.amynielsenauthor.com you’ll see an Events tab at the top of all the conferences, workshops and writer’s retreats I’ll be attending. If you have an invite, please feel free to reach out. I love to give back to the writing community!

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should be emailed to https://querymanager.com/query/AmyNielsen

BELOW ARE THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR MAY FIRST PAGES:

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO HAVE  YOUR FIRST PAGE, HERE ARE THE FIRST-PAGE CRITIQUE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES :

PLEASE name the Word document file using 2024 MAY FIRST PAGE  – Your Name – Title of first page. 

1. You must include at the top of the page your name, the title, and the genre. Do not use a header for this.
2. Make sure you include the genre. This will help the agent give you a better critique.
3. This is not an anonymous submission. So please include your name at the top of the page.
4. I still need everyone to use their name, title, and genre in the file name of the attachment.

REMEMBER: I DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS WITHOUT HAVING THE FIRST PAGE PASTED DIRECTLY INTO THE EMAIL THEN THE WORD DOCUMENT ATTACHED. PLEASE PUT 2024 MAY FIRST PAGE IN THE SUBJECT BOX AND SEND IT TO: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com.

Your First Page Word document should be formatted using one-inch margins and 12-point New Times Roman font – double space – no more than 23 lines – only one page. Remember to indent your paragraphs. When Dialog is used “Quotation marks” should be used. When a new person speaks a new line should be used.

PLEASE DO NOT USE A HEADER. Place everything directly on the page. Remember a first Page should have a title, your name, and the genre on the first line. Thanks!

USE WORD OR A PDF – I CAN’T OPEN PAGES

Send to: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com.

DEADLINE May 24th – noon EST

RESULTS: May 31st

CHECK BACK NEXT FRIDAY FOR AMY’S FIRST-PAGE CRITIQUES.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy