Natalie Lakosil, Agent
Natalie is an agent at the Bradford Literary Agency. An honors graduate of the University of San Diego, California, Natalie holds a B.A. in Literature/Writing. After nearly four years at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency and a brief dabble in writing author profiles and book reviews for the San Diego Union Tribune, Natalie joined the Bradford Agency in February of 2011.
Natalie is drawn to talented, hard-working new authors with a fresh, unique voice and hook. Her specialties are children’s literature (from picture book through teen and New Adult), romance (contemporary and historical), cozy mystery/crime, upmarket women’s/general fiction and select children’s nonfiction. Her interests include historical, multi-cultural, magical realism, sci-fi/fantasy, gritty, thrilling and darker contemporary novels, middle grade with heart, and short, quirky or character-driven picture books. She is always drawn to an open and positive attitude in an author, professionalism, good grammar, and fantastical, beautifully written, engaging and sexy plots.
Below is Natalie Lakosil’s Interview – Part One
How important is the query letter?
Very! Most of my new clients are found through submissions. Does it have to be perfect? No; but does it have to clearly be something that I’m interested in? YES.
Any tips on how an author can get you to ask to see more?
The query is like the aroma of fresh bread…make me want to walk into that bakery! Keep it short; don’t feel the need to tell me everything that happens – outline the hook. What makes your book stand out?
How far do you normally read before you reject a submission?
That depends; I read as far as I need to have an answer. Most of the time, that’s within 15 pages if I’ve requested – it’s the first three lines from a query letter.
Would you lose interest in a submission if the writer missed correcting a few misspelled words?
Within the query letter and opening pages, I’d be pretty hesitant; it would need to be truly amazing. If there were a few typos or grammatical errors in a full, no.
Do you let people know if you are not interested in what was sent?
Yes; I respond personally to anything I request, and we do have a form pass for submissions rejected at the query stage.
Have you noticed any common mistakes that writers make?
Over-writing, and/or critiquing the first 30 pages to death and having a manuscript that doesn’t live up to that promise. Having a book that’s not long enough or too long for the genre.
Any pet peeves?
Strange or improper email greetings. Self-deprecating query letters.
Do you give editorial feedback to your clients?
Yes!
Do you have an editorial style?
I’m fairly involved, though I always strive to edit within a writer’s unique voice.
How many clients do you have?
Thirty-four – all listed on my blog: http://www.adventuresinagentland.com/p/my-clients_2.html
Natalie is not looking for: Inspirational novels, memoir, romantic suspense, adult thrillers, poetry, screenplays.
Blog: www.adventuresinagentland.com
Twitter @Natalie_Lakosil
INTERVIEW PART TWO: Next Friday
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES For FIRST PAGE CRITIQUES:
In the subject line, please write “July First Page Critique” and paste the text in the email, plus attached it as a Word document to the email. Please make sure you include your name, the title of the piece, and whether it’s a picture book, middle grade, or young adult, etc. at the top on both the email and the Word document (Make sure you include your name with the title of your book, when you save the first page).
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. Send to: kathy(dot)temean(at)gmail(dot)com.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES: Your submission will be skipped over if you do not follow the directions for both the pasted email and the attached Word doc. This is where most people mess up.
DEADLINE: July 21st.
RESULTS: July 29th.
Please only submit one first page a month. Thanks!
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Writing and Illustrating 
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