PITCH OPPORTUNITY: Agent of the Month Kaitlyn Sanchez – Interview Part One

Everyone has a great opportunity this month. Kaitlyn Sanchez from Context Literary Agency is February’s AGENT OF THE MONTH. Kaitlyn is closed to submissions, but starting today everyone has the opportunity to pitch their story to her in the comments section. (If you don’t see the comment section, scroll all the way down below my sign off and underneath the customized buttons, then look for a line that shows the amount of comments. Click that and it will open up with the comments. If you never have left a comment you will have to wait for me to approve it before it will show up.)

If your pitch sounds interesting, Kaitlyn will reply to your pitch and you will send her a short description, short bio, and 5 – 10 pages of text to me to pass on. 

There will still be four first page critiques at the end of the month, taken from the requested submissions. Please read all the details at the bottom of this page in the Submission Guidelines.

Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children’s, Commercial, Historical, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, Mystery, Picture Books, Short Story, Thriller, Young Adult

Non-Fiction: Biography, Illustrated

Kaitlyn says she is incredibly eclectic and pretty dichotomous. On one side, she really connects with emotional writing and, on the other, very funny stories. She loves Both! In her eye creators who can do this are magicians. In all categories, she is always looking for diversity all in forms, including but not limited to BIPOC, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+.

For picture books, she enjoys representing author-only and author-illustrators as well. For style, she likes them all: character-driven, concept, and any creative new formats ideas you might have! Kaitlyn connect with poignant, lyrical writing (rhyme and non-rhyme) just as much as laugh out loud funny, and of course, the best are those magical books that mix humor and heart. She  also enjoys nonfiction STEAM books and super interesting picture book biographies especially ones about underrepresented people.

For chapter books, middle-grade, and young adult stories, She leans toward historical fiction, mysteries, magical realism (high fantasy isn’t generally her thing, but she always enjoys a little magic), humorous, and friendships stories. Also, she is super interested in scary stories that aren’t gruesome. Note: Kaitlyn generally leans toward PG and PG-13, though some intensity here and there is fine.

She loves working with artists, so I’m always on the lookout for great portfolios, author-illustrators, and graphic novelists.

Kaitlyn says she is an editorial agent and always works with her clients to make sure they’re putting out their best work. She is highly communicative and invested in every aspect of helping her clients have a strong and happy career.

Kaitlyn is currently closed to submissions.

Agency Website: https://www.contextlit.com/

Kaitlyn’s Website: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynLeann17/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-sanchez-8b570952/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaitlynLeann17?

HERE IS PART ONE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH KAITLYN (DON’T MISS the Three Query Letter examples Kaitlyn Shared Below:

When did you decide you wanted to become an agent?

When I think about it, it feels like I’ve always been an agent because it’s like a found what I was meant to do, but in reality, it all began in the fall of 2019. I had just completed running my second blog contest. Connecting the winners with people in the publishing industry who could help them get their book into the world made me so happy. I already loved being in many critique groups for picture book writing, and it just hit me: “This is what agents do! They edit beautiful stories and help connect authors/illustrators to the people who can help bring the books into the world.” I was lucky that at the time that I was critique partners with James McGowan and Andrea Walker who were both interns at awesome literary agencies, and they really helped guide me.

How did you get the job with Context Literary Agency?

This is one of my favorite stories! When I was looking for an agency, I sent an email asking Liza Dawson if she was looking for an agent. She let me know that I impressed her, but she wasn’t looking and then asked if I had met Tamar Rydzinski because she thought we might be a good fit. So, of course, I sent an email to Tamar, and the rest is history! Needless to say, Liza is amazing at connecting people! I will always be so grateful that she thought of the wonderful connection.

Do you work from home or does Context have a physical office?

Great question! Tamar Rydzinski began Context Literary Agency in 2019 with the idea that agents could work from anywhere, and we do! I’m in California, Tamar and Jessica are in NY, and Crystal and Monica are in Texas.

Do you have a limit on number of clients you will represent? 

I don’t have a limit on the number of clients I will represent; it’s more about who inspires me.

Any story or themes you wish someone would submit?

• A cool MG or YA mystery/suspense, like One of Us is Lying or A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
• Something fun, akin to Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life
• The next Burden of Truth (or other super cool Erin Brockovich-style story) for kidlit
• A cool sports story; if someone can get the same funny and heartfelt vibe of the movie Little Giants into a new MG, I’d be so in!
• Something beautiful with different points of view, like Refugee

Which do you lean more towards: Literary or Commercial?

I lean more literary. I definitely represent some fun, commercial books, too, but I tend to lean more toward heartfelt, lyrical writing.

If someone submitted something that was not right for you, but was nicely written, would you pass it to another agent if you thought they might like it?

Definitely!

What do you like to see in a submission?

I like to see a personal connection with me; why did you choose me? Then, a short pitch and any awesome bio information.

How important is the query letter?

For picture books, I tend to read the pages first, but for anything longer, the most important part of the query is the pitch.

Would you have a sample of a good query letter or a link to one you saw on the Internet that would help writers?

Of course! Check out the following three wonderful queries! I checked with the authors, and they all approved of their queries being shared. Notice for all of these queries, the authors started with a lovely personal connection, shared about their honors, and provided amazing pitches and stellar bios.

*******

Dear Kaitlyn,

Congratulations on your new associate agent position. I’ve waited patiently for you to open for submissions, and am rejoicing that the day has come. We both approach this business with the same kindness, commitment, and quest for excellence. I feel we would be a terrific team. Then, he gave a fantastic pitch, wonderful comps, and a great bio!

I would like to share a manuscript that has just received the honor of runner-up for the SCBWI Ann Whitford Paul-Writer’s Digest ;Award for most promising new picture book manuscript.

When the zookeeper gets sick, the librarian offers to help. What does he do? Places the animals up on a shelf, of course! This sets into motion a hilarious chain of events where other workers put their own misguided spins on each other’s jobs. Now, they must find the right helper to keep the town from tumbling into complete chaos!

If the Librarian Ran the Zoo is a quirky 480 word picture book with themes of helping, making mistakes, community jobs, and problem solving, told in a cumulative format similar to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Perfect for readers who enjoyed Great, Now We’ve Got Barbarians by Jason Carter Eaton, and This Book Will Not be Fun by Cirocco Dunlap.

I most recently worked as a youth specialist with the Henderson Public Libraries, but never once tried to take over a zoo. A former Broadway performer and teacher, I am published by Cricket Media, and have work included in several poetry anthologies alongside such authors as Jane Yolen. I won a Writing with the Stars mentorship, and am an active member of SCBWI.

I am devoted in every way to making writing a career. I write both picture books and chapter books, and would be happy to share more manuscripts if you are interested. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

David McMullin

*******

Dear Kaitlyn,

Congratulations on your new career path! I am especially excited to see a fellow rhyme writer joining the agent ranks! I would love it if you would please consider representing my picture book manuscript, BRAINSTORM.

Your thinking is cloudy —gloomy and gray. But wait! A BRAINSTORM is headed your way. What begins as the tiniest drop of a thought — kerplink! — soon swells into a whirlwind of words, pictures, and ideas spilling down — Plunk! Plonk! Splat!  For fans of WHAT IF? by Samantha Berger and WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AN IDEA? by Kobi Yamada, BRAINSTORM takes us inside the mind of a young writer caught in a downpour of creativity.

BRAINSTORM is a 271-word rhyming concept picture book targeted to children in grades K-3 who are beginning to learn how to shape and sharpen their idea-generation and storytelling skills. It includes back matter for parents, teachers and librarians who can use this book to help encourage kids to have fun playing with new ideas!

I am a journalist turned children’s book author and poet and a member of SCBWI, 12×12, Women Who Write and the Poet’s Garage, an invitation-only critiquing community for children’s poets. I was a 2019 #PBChat Mentorship Recipient (chosen by Lori Degman), a #PBParty finalist in 2019 (for my story about villainous vegetables), and First Place winner of Susanna Hill’s 2019 Holiday Contest (with my rhyming story “The Greatest Latke Topping”). I was also a selected mentee at the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature conference in 2018 and 2019. My poems have appeared in Honeycake magazine and in the book Chicken Soup For the Soul: The Magic of Cats (out in July!)

Below please find the full text of BRAINSTORM. I have additional manuscripts available upon request.

Thank you for your consideration and congrats again!

All the best,

Rebecca Gardyn Levington

*******

Dear Kaitlyn,

I’m so excited you commented on my Mixed-Up Files Pitch. I watched your agent session with Manuscript Academy and was planning on querying you when you opened.

Sahara Rashad has a plan for everything—everything except what to do when she flies to Cairo and discovers her uncle’s marrying a witch!

The twelve-year-old from Queens was sure her Ten Reasons the Rashad Family Should Go to Disney World list had convinced her father to take them on the ultimate American vacation. Finally, she’d prove to the school jerk that “her people” do visit Disney. Instead, her dad announces they’re flying to Egypt for her uncle’s wedding—news that sends Sahara reeling. But from the moment she arrives in Cairo and meets her eclectic extended family, she feels a familiarity she can’t explain. For logical-minded Sahara, it makes no sense to feel at home when she’s thousands of miles away from it—nor does it make sense that the hamsa necklace she inherited from her mom is thrashing in the middle of the night like it’s possessed.

And that’s before she even meets the shady sharp-tongued and pretentious bride her cousin swears is El Ghoula—a dangerous witch. Sahara doesn’t buy she’s the broomstick-flying kind, but she definitely doesn’t want her uncle marrying someone so awful. She races to expose el ghoula before the wedding, and as she is about to discover, stop her from stealing an enchanted jinni lamp (Wait, what?) the women in her family have guarded for one thousand years. If she doesn’t, her family’s legacy and all of Cairo are doomed.

SAHARA AND THE AMULET OF THE FOUR is a 68,000-word upper middle grade fantasy with series potential. It will appeal to readers drawn to ARU SHAH’s folklore-inspired adventures and A THOUSAND QUESTIONS’ exploration of the complex dynamics between second-generation Americans and their families/homelands. Though most of the novel is told from Sahara’s POV, ancestor Morgana’s tale is woven in, sneak-peeking magical family secrets not yet uncovered by Sahara.

I am a member of SCBWI and a 2020 Author Mentor Match mentee. My manuscript was longlisted for the 2021 WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award and received interest from editors at Penguin Random House and Harper Collins. I can provide more information upon request. SAHARA was inspired by the folktales I heard growing up and my experience as a second-generation Egyptian American.

Thank you for your consideration,

Nedda Lewers

Do you have any tips on how to find comps to use in a submission query letter?

I don’t think there’s an easy trick to finding comps. Like most advice in this industry, the best way to find comps is to read, talk, and listen. Read in your genre and talk and listen on social media and to your critique partners, librarian, and local books store. A good way to stay in the know about what’s selling is to read awards lists and Publishers Weekly Children’s Bookshelf emails, which announce kidlit deals.

Any tips on how an author can get you to ask to see more?

I wish there was something magical I could give here, but know your craft, know your voice, and send me something unique to you!

PLEASE CHECK BACK NEXT FRIDAY FOR PART THREE OF KAITLYN’S INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY PITCH Submission Guidelines

February AGENT OF THE MONTH, Kaitlyn Sanchez is closed to submissions, but wants to give everyone an opportunity to pitch your story to her. You will do this in the comment section. (If you leave a pitch and have never commented before you will not see your comment right away. I have to approved them before they show up and I am not sitting by my computer all day long).

Here are the guidelines:

1. You can pitch a picture book, middle grade, young adult book or graphic novel. 
2. The work must be complete. 
3. The pitch must be 60 words or less. 
4. You can leave a pitch in the comment section on the February 11th. The February 4^th post is now closed.  
5. The deadline to leave a pitch in the comment section of February 11th post is February 15th 11:59 PM (EST). FEBRARUARY 4th is closed, so ONLY LEAVE A PITCH using Feb. 11th post. Cut off is on the 15th.
6. If Kaitlyn responds to your pitch, make sure you send kathy.temean@hotmail.com an email titled “FOR KAITLYN SANCHEZ REQUESTED MATERIALS” include a short description, short bio, and 5 – 10 pages of text. I will forward this to Kaitlyn.
7. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT REQUESTED MATERIALS is February 16th. No one is going to chase you down for this.
8. Kaitlyn will get back to the people she chose as she normally does and will chose 4 first pages from those submissions to critique for the last Friday of the month – February 25th. 
9. Anyone who doesn’t want to participate in the first page critique should indicate that when you submit to Kaitlyn.
10. Please remember, only the pitches that Kaitlyn comments on should be sent in. Let’s be respectful of her time and the fact that she’s doing a special event just for us, even though she’s closed to queries. 
11. If you choose to pitch, be sure and click the “Notify Me Of Follow-Up Comments By Email” box so you’ll know if you received a response from Kaitlyn.

CHECK BACK NEXT FRIDAY TO READ PART TWO OF MY INTERVIEW WITH KAITLYN.

CAN YOU DONATE?

Back in 2020, I asked for help to keep the blog up and running, since I have too much content on Writing and Illustrating and now they are charging me for a Business account, which is hundreds of dollars a year. I am hoping some of you could make a donation to assist keeping this up.

USE PAYPAL – kathy.temean@gmail.com (send money to a friend)

Or mail check to:

Kathy Temean
203 Stowe Ct.
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062

Thank you for supporting Writing and Illustrating!

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy