May Agent of the Month – Jen Newens – Interview Part two

2023 MAY AGENT OF THE MONTH – JEN NEWENS

At different phases of her publishing career, Jen has been an author, editor, and publisher, giving her experience in all sides of the business. She comes to Martins Literary Management after a seven-year stint as publishing director at West Margin Press, an Ingram Content Group company. There, she acquired a wide range of different genres, but holds a special place in her heart for young people’s literature. She began to acquire graphic novels in 2019 and sees it as an exciting and burgeoning way to tell children’s stories. 

​A subject matter expert in food and drink titles, Jen spent two decades as a cookbook editor and writer (she even went to culinary school!). She’s experienced in working with celebrity chefs, business owners, cooking brands, and food bloggers, as well as accomplished home cooks.

​In her role as Senior Literary Manager, Jen applies her 360-view of the publishing business to MLM, seeking out fresh, original voices and developing exciting new talent. On the children’s side, Jen is interested in picture books with sharp writing and compelling messages; MG/YA stories that resonate with the challenges faced by today’s youth; and graphic novels with quirky narration and original art. In the food and drink space, Jen is keen to find original takes on popular topics, books that reveal a riveting personal story, and books with a health and wellness slant. 

​The following are on Jen’s current wishlist, but she’s always open to hearing new ideas. 

Childrens/MG/YA/Graphic Novels 

•    Books that portray historically excluded voices, disability, neurodivergent characters, LGBTQ topics

•    Regional books with national crossover potential

•    Author/illustrators with strong storytelling skills and a clear vision

•    Children’s activity books

•    Quirky and humorous stories

•    Cat content (she’s crazy for cats)

​​Please submit queries here: http://QueryManager.com/JenNewens

​Follow her on Twitter @JenNewens

*******

BELOW IS PART TWO OF JEN’S INTERVIEW:

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

I just learned that Chat GPT can help find comps. I’m excited to try it. Amazon can be a good tool as well to find books that have been published in the last 3 years and are the same format (e.g., hardcover or paperback) and genre.

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

Follow the instructions on Query Manager and don’t send too much in the initial query. See also answers to question 9.

After you request more, how long do you think it will take to respond?

Since I am a new agent, I’m not sure how to answer this one yet. It will depend on how many projects I have going on and what stage they are in.

Do you have any pet peeves?

Too much pestering. I know that authors are keen to get answers, but an aggressive approach is off-putting.

What are your feelings about prologues?

Prologues serve a purpose in many books, however, I’m not sure they would be appropriate in the kidlit genres I cover. But who knows, it might work.

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

Yes! Jennewens.com

Do you give editorial feedback to your clients?

Yes, with the caveat that the publisher is really the expert. I offer feedback with the intention of helping get a book deal, knowing that there will be further development once an editor is in the loop.

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

Email.

CHECK BACK NEXT FRIDAY FOR PART THREE.

BELOW ARE THE SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR MAY 2023 FIRST PAGE CRITIQUES:

In the subject line, please write “MAY 2023 FIRST PAGE CRITIQUE” Example: Paste the text in the email, plus attached it as a Word document to the email. Please make sure you put your name, the title of the piece, and genre: a picture book, chapter book, middle grade, or young adult, Non-fiction, contemporary, historical, Sci-fi, fantasy, 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).

PLEASE name the Word document file by putting 2023 MAY FIRST PAGE  – Your Name – Title of first page. Thank you.

REMEMBER: ATTACH THE WORD DOCUMENT AND NOT GET ELIMINATED! 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.

MUST USE WORD – I CAN’T OPEN PAGES

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

PLEASE FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES.

DEADLINE MAY 26th – noon EST

RESULTS: June 2nd

CHECK BACK NEXT FRIDAY FOR PART ONE OF JEN’S INTERVIEW.

Talk tomorrow,

Kathy Temean