Tuesday From The Trenches: Lindsay Leslie

Hello wonderful readers! Can you believe how consistent I'm being with these Tuesday From The Trenches posts?? Neither can I! haha. But believe it, because we are officially scheduled out for the rest of 2021!! How exciting is that?? Interviews and giveaways every week for 6 months straight. And depending on how my life and deadlines look, I might even continue with the weekly schedule through 2022... If not, at least every other week. Because I love these interviews way too much to give them up. Anyways... I digress.

But before I let you jump into this awesome story from Lindsay Leslie, I have to ask... did you see the announcement that Valerie Bolling, Kaitlyn Sanchez, and I are hosting another #KidLitDanceParty?? Because we are and it's going to be awesome. Make sure to register HERE.

And now... join me in welcoming the inspiring Lindsay Leslie to the blog!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Lindsay! I was so excited to see that you recently signed with Charlotte Wenger! I know that you worked with her as an editor, and I’m thrilled to share your story of connecting again down the road with my readers.

Can you share your query stats with us?

Time Spent in the Query Trenches: About two weeks, but there is perspective here. I had just left my first agent and I’m previously published with three picture books under my belt and one on the way.

Number of Agents Queried: 6

Number of Requests for Additional Work/Full Manuscript: 2

Number of Twitter Pitch “Likes”: This time around I did not participate in any Twitter pitch events.

Number of R&Rs: None

Number of Rejections: 5, three of those came after reaching out to say I had an offer of representation

Number of Offers: 1

Agent and Agency: Charlotte Wenger with Prospect Agency

Huge congrats, Lindsay! I know that we don't talk a lot about the process of finding a second agent, so it's nice to be sharing that side of things. I'm so glad to hear that you landed with Charlotte so quickly after jumping back into the trenches. To any readers who are seeking new representation after previous representation, I hope this interview will give you a lot of hope!

Lindsay, how did you keep track of it all? What was your method for organizing queries? Spread sheet? Query Tracker? Etc.

It’s all spreadsheet for me and I make a folder in Outlook for all correspondence.

I'm a big spreadsheet lover myself, so I feel you there. You didn't have may this time, but how did you handle rejections? Did any sting more than others?

I’m used to rejection and have a tough skin. OK, I do a little moping, but I get back out there. I can’t get a “yes” if I don’t keep going.

That's a fantastic point... a "yes" will never come if you don't keep pushing forward. How did you find agents to query/how did you decide who to query?

Through research and any interactions that I’ve had, whether catching them on a webinar or knowing their track record and who they currently represent.

That's wonderful. Lots of great resources available! How did you ultimately connect with Charlotte? Did you cold query? Participate in a twitter pitch event? Or connect in some other way?

My agent was my editor of my first three books: This Books Is Spineless, Nova the Star Eater, and Dusk Explorers. We worked really well together in that capacity. When I found out she had transitioned to agenting, I thought it would be a wonderful and known working relationship. Also, I know the agency and have friends who are represented by them, so I felt this decision would be an absolute win-win.

That is such a unique experience and I love it so much! How wonderful that you can transition from an editor/author relationship to an author/agent relationship and go into it knowing what to expect.

How much time passed between querying your now agent to getting “the call”?

About a week, if I recall correctly.

Wow, that is fast! I love when the waiting isn't too excruciating... But then again, even a day can feel like a year when your in the trenches.

Can you tell us more about “the call”? How did you know Charlotte was the right choice?

The call was like catching up with an old friend. There was an absolute comfort and transparency. I didn’t feel like I was intimidated in any form or fashion. I also knew in my gut that Charlotte would go to bat for me and that she really connects and enjoys my work.

That is so so wonderful. I am loving that you knew Charlotte already and had that comfort level. I am thrilled to see all you do together.

Could you tell us a little about your book that landed your agent?

There are two that she really enjoyed and they are on submission right now. Both are picture books. One is more conceptual in nature and focuses on a growth mindset. The other is a traditional narrative focusing on the pains and pleasures of growing up.

Those both sound wonderful!! And best of luck on submission... that is a whole different ball game and stressful in its own way.

If you could give querying authors a piece of advice, what would that be?

I’d say it’s hard to know what the right fit would be until you’ve been in an agent/creator relationship before, and you don’t really know how it will all go until you are in it. I think my best advice is to be clear as to your expectations of the relationship and to understand how those line up with what the agent is thinking. And communicate! Keep communicating. This is a partnership and both sides should be reaching out and touching base.

That is truly fantastic advice! I couldn't agree more. There is a lot of "unknown" in an author/agent relationship and making sure your visions line up and that communication is strong is absolutely essential. Wonderful advice, Lindsay! Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?

The process of finding and connecting with an agent seems so mysterious. I guess it’s because there is no one way to do it. Your journey is yours. Just keep learning along the way about yourself and what you need in a client/agent relationship. I think that is the key. You may not get it right the first time, but you are learning and that’s what is right.

I love that! Before I let you go... where can we connect with you online?

I’m mostly on Twitter at @lleslie. You can also find me on Instagram (@lindsaylesliewrites) and at my website: www.lindsayleslie.com

Thanks so much for joining us today! I’ve had a blast chatting and learning more about your journey. Best of luck on this journey! I can’t wait to see more of your books in the world.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY!!!

Lindsay is offering a PB Critique to one lucky winner! Just retweet THIS tweet, Follow Lindsay on Twitter, and Follow Kailei on Twitter!

Make sure to enter, KidLit friends! Lindsay's books are wonderful, and you'd love her eyes on your work!

About Lindsay Leslie

A diary keeper, a journalism major, a public relations executive, now a children’s author—Lindsay Leslie has always operated in a world of written words. She likes to bring her unique outlook on life, quirky humor, and play with words to the page in picture books. Lindsay is the author of This Book Is Spineless, Nova the Star Eater, and Dusk Explorers. (Page Street Kids), and the upcoming SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A LIBRARY (Capstone Editions/August 2021). She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, two kiddos, two fur-beasts, a guinea pig, and a tortoise.

About Kailei Pew

Kailei Pew is a wife, mother, and picture book author represented by the amazing Emily Forney of Bookends Literary. She is an active member of SCBWI, a 2019 Write Mentor Mentee, and a finalist in Susanna Leonard Hill's 2019 Holiday Writing Contest. She loves writing picture books that help kids see they can do anything they set their minds to.

Kailei can't wait to get her stories into your hands.

Tuesday From The Trenches: Juli Beck

Hello wonderful readers!! Welcome back to Tuesday From The Trenches! I am THRILLED to tell you that we are fully scheduled through the end of the year. I'll be sharing a new author interview every Tuesday through the rest of 2021! These authors range in time wading through the query trenches from 1 Month to 15 YEARS and I am just so excited to share every single story. I hope they inspire you all to keep pushing along and keep putting yourself out there. You only need one yes!

Today, I'm excited to share Juli Beck's story with you all. I love this story and I love that she is hosting a giveaway specifically in honor of PRIDE Month. As we round out these last two days of the month, I hope you know that I stand as a true ally to all of my LGBTQ+ friends and hope you can find a safe place in me if ever you need it.

Read through to the end to find details on Juli's giveaway.

And now... here's Juli!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Juli! I was so excited to see that you recently signed with Hannah! I’m thrilled to share your story with my readers!

Thank you! I am so excited to share as well!

Can you share your query stats with us? (as far as you know/remember. It’s okay if some of these numbers are zero):

Time Spent in the Query Trenches: From first query ever to last, it was 1 year 11 months, 15 days. I took a few breaks in between to work on craft and queried multiple PBs.

Number of Agents Queried: 47

Number of Requests for Additional Work/Full Manuscript: 6 across 4 different MSs

Number of Twitter Pitch “Likes”: In ~10 Twitter pitch events, I received 8 agent likes, 8 editor likes.

Number of R&Rs: 1

Number of Rejections: 46

Number of Offers: 1!

Agent and Agency: Hannah VanVels at Belcastro

I love that you know the very specific year, month, day of time! That is amazing. I also think it's so wise to take time to work on craft between query batches. I did that myself and really saw a difference in my responses. How did you keep track of it all? What was your method for organizing queries? Spread sheet? Query Tracker? Etc.

Query Tracker was my serious tracking tool. But for fun, I made my own little color coded visual query tracker that stayed on my refrigerator! (R = rejection, PR/FR = partial/full request, O = offer, Q = query, RR = revise & resubmit)

That is so fun!! I love the hand drawn, color coded visual! But also using query tracker. I haven't had a lot of guests on the blog who used it, so it's fun to hear of someone else who did (I loved it myself, paired with an excel sheet).

How did you handle rejections? Did any sting more than others?

What helped me the most to handle rejections was knowing that in the end, an agent is making a business decision and that does not make my story or my writing are any less valid.

I think the earliest queries stung the most because I started querying WAY too soon (like only one “polished” PB, no critique group too soon!). And when I was in that place of still developing as a writer, I didn’t have the perspective or information that I did at the later stages of querying.

I feel that querying too soon thing. But perhaps it's all part of the process! haha. How did you find agents to query/how did you decide who to query?

I found many agents via Query Tracker or through a deal announcement on the free PW Children’s Bookshelf newsletter. I decided who to query using the Manuscript Wishlist website, searching the #MSWL hashtag on Twitter, and by directly researching the agent on their personal or agency website. If they had a public Publishers Marketplace page, I’d check that out too!

I love all those resources! There truly are so many places to find agents. How did you ultimately connect with Hannah? Did you cold query? Participate in a twitter pitch event? Or connect in some other way?

We ultimately connected through #PBPitch, though it was not my first time querying Hannah!

That's so great!! I am also a pitch party success story myself, so I'm a big believer in putting yourself out there. Could you tell us a little about your book that landed your agent?

I think that #PBPitch for it sums it up best:

LITTLE CHEF x MASTER CHEF JR.

For Passover, Maya gets sugar-coated rotten reviews from the ultimate food critics — her family. When matzo meal turns to matzo mess, she learns that a true chef’s talent can shine even in the toughest moments.

That sounds absolutely amazing!! I can't wait to hear where it takes you!! If you could give querying authors a piece of advice, what would that be?

1. Consider setting yourself a checklist or goal for what “query-ready” looks like to make sure you aren’t querying too soon.

2. Practice self-compassion. If you are ever in a spot where you receive a rejection and think “I give up” or “I’m a terrible writer,” ask yourself, “What would I tell a friend of mine saying that?”

That is really great advice, Juli! I think we are hardest on ourselves for sure.

Where can we connect with you online?

You can find me on Twitter @juli_writes!

Is there anything else you'd like to say to our readers?

To all the writers in the query trenches, I am cheering you on! Hitting “send” on a query is a huge achievement. Not only does it mean you’ve written a book (!!!), but it also means you are putting yourself out there—and that can be one of the hardest things to do.

So true. Readers, you should be truly proud of yourselves.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Juli! I’ve had a blast chatting and learning more about your journey. Best of luck on this journey! I can’t wait to see your books in the world.

Thank you again for having me, Kailei!

Would you like to offer a giveaway with your interview?

In honor of PRIDE month, I would love to offer a query critique to a fellow queer author.

Wow, thanks so much, Juli!! And happy PRIDE month!

To allow for all to enter in a safe way without the potential of publicly outing anyone who is not ready for that, we will not be hosting this giveaway on Twitter like we have in the past. Instead, please enter by filling out this Google Form HERE.

NOTE: This giveaway is ONLY open to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Please only enter if you are LGBTQ+. Happy Pride!

About Juli Beck

Juli is a kid lit author and an aspiring fancy-braided challah baker. She currently works as a copywriter, though she used to work as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). This is where she discovered her love for picture books and began to write her own. She is a member of SCBWI, 12x12PB, and ASHA (American Speech-Hearing Association).

About Kailei Pew

Kailei Pew is a wife, mother, and picture book author represented by the amazing Emily Forney of Bookends Literary. She is an active member of SCBWI, a 2019 Write Mentor Mentee, and a finalist in Susanna Leonard Hill's 2019 Holiday Writing Contest. She loves writing picture books that help kids see they can do anything they set their minds to.

Kailei can't wait to get her stories into your hands.

Tuesday From The Trenches: Jyothi Nookula

Hello wonderful KidLit friends! I am so excited to be back at Tuesday From The Trenches and I have some wonderful stories to share with you! We have stories of authors who landed an agent after only a month in the query trenches all the way up to authors who spent 15 years querying. Each story is unique and there is no "wrong" path. So don't give up! You never know when your yes will come.

I'm excited to welcome Jyothi Nookula to the blog today and hope that you love her story as much as I do!

Thank you so much for joining us today, Jyothi! I was so excited to see that you recently signed with Joyce! And I’m thrilled to share your query story with my readers.

Can you share your query stats with us?

Time Spent in the Query Trenches: 2 months

Number of Agents Queried: 7

Number of Requests for Additional Work/Full Manuscript: 5

Number of Twitter Pitch “Likes”: 7 agent likes, 3 editor likes

Number of R&Rs: 1

Number of Rejections: 4 (including passes after I received my agent’s offer of representation)

Number of Offers: 3

Agent and Agency: Joyce Sweeney from The Seymour Agency

WOWZA! 3 offers in only 2 months. That is amazing and definitely unique! You didn't have a lot of need to organize your queries, since you didn't have a ton, but I'd still love to know... How did you keep track of it all? What was your method for organizing queries? Spread sheet? Query Tracker? Etc.

I’m old school when it comes to keeping track of things- spreadsheet is my way to go. I created a few columns representing wishlist summary, status, request for additional manuscripts and a few other standard details.

Spreadsheets seem to be the most common method of choice. I did the same. Again, you didn't have many, but I know that every rejection, big or small, can hurt. So how did you handle rejections? Did any sting more than others?

I’m a pretty hardened shell. As a computer scientist with some pretty stellar credentials, I was rejected at 200 job interviews! So rejections don’t sting me much. But I also have to say that the side effect of a hardened shell is that successes don’t excite me as well. Don’t get me wrong- I’m happy when something good happens, but that’s pretty much about it. I don’t feel like screaming from the rooftops or such.

That is super interesting. And 200 job interviews?? Wow! I'm glad you didn't give up.

How did you find agents to query/how did you decide who to query?

For a very long time, I didn’t believe in my stories. I never thought anyone would be interested in what I had to say. So, I didn’t bother thinking about querying. After joining the CBA writing course, I found a great support system- I made friends who encouraged and supported me. Their honest feedback and faith in me built my confidence. I honestly wouldn’t be where I’m without them!

There was a pitch party on Twitter (PBPitch) and my writer friends were excited. I thought to myself “what do I have to lose other than 280 characters”. So, I joined them. I polished my pitches and participated. I was so focused on boosting my friend’s pitches and had a very critical product launch at work (and remember I always thought my stories didn’t matter?) that I forgot to check for likes. When friends started congratulating me on messages is when I went and checked to find agent and editor likes!

The interest I experienced during the event changed me- I became aware of wish lists. I mostly queried to agents who expressed interest during pitch events (PBPitch and PBParty), but I made sure I read their wish lists and identified manuscripts in my portfolio that might interest them.

I think imposter syndrome is so common, so I know that feeling of not believing in yourself, but I"m so glad you worked through it! The world needs your stories. And that is amazing that you didn't even notice the likes coming in. Glad your friends helped you see them! haha. That all sounds very exciting! How did you ultimately connect with Joyce? Did you cold query? Participate in a twitter pitch event? Or connect in some other way?

I’m a PBParty success story. I was a PBParty finalist. I had my eyes on Joyce for quite a while but she was closed to submissions then. When I read on Twitter that she was one of the agents participating in PBParty, I was filled with hope. I could hardly sleep the night of the showcase. I woke up at 5.30am PST to check in and saw that Joyce ‘liked’ my entry. I was so excited that I woke up everyone at the house, including my 19 month old daughter (which didn’t bode well for me on hindsight!)

SO neat! I'm super excited because I believe you are my first PBParty Success Story on Tuesday From The Trenches. I love hearing about how taking every opportunity opens doors! And what excitement in your house that night!

How much time passed between officially querying Joyce to getting “the call”?

Joyce was blazing fast. I sent her my manuscript on the very same day she ‘liked’ my entry. Within a day, she asked to see additional manuscripts and after 3 days, I was on a call with her!

It all felt very surreal. I felt like I was on a rocket ship blazing into the milky way!

I adore fast turn arounds! The waiting game is SO hard, but so common. You lucked out with that fast turn around! Can you tell us more about “the call”? How did you know Joyce was the right choice?

Joyce makes you feel comfortable instantly. She is very personable like that. I was all nervous and jittery but once she started speaking, I was immediately put at ease! We had a natural conversation, like I would have had with a friend over a cup of coffee.

I wanted someone who values the culture and diversity I bring. Joyce instantly understood what I was trying to do with my stories- in fact she summed it up better than I ever did. She has created this amazing community of author/illustrators that I immediately wanted to be a part of it.

Joyce encouraged me to explore topics that I was unsure of, advocated for me, and brought so much positivity that I knew in my heart that she was the right agent for me!

I love that so much. How important to find an agent who values you, understands you, and will advocate for you. Could you tell us a little about your book that landed your agent?

“Dance Little Seed” is a picture book inspired by a true story. A young girl loves to dance bharatnatyam and is excited for the dance competition coming in a few months. After a tragic accident, she is fitted with a prosthetic foot. Unable to walk, her dancing dreams are shattered. Just when she’s ready to give up on dancing, she discovers a glimmer of hope in an unexpected source that helps her sprout and bloom.

Oh Jyothi, that sounds absolutely amazing!! I can't wait to see it on my shelf.

If you could give querying authors a piece of advice, what would that be?

Apply the formula that we use for querying letters: Hook, Book, Cook to your journey as well.

Hook: Pause for a moment and ask yourself the question “why are you writing picture books?” Be deliberate in getting specific. I take inspiration from my day job where I develop technology products. It’s really hard to create a product if you have a too vague problem or if you’re trying to solve many things. Finding your specific purpose will help you in writing. I have my mission statement and goals written down. Every time I write a new manuscript, I pause and reflect on its purpose and how it relates to my mission and goals. Your mission and goals can evolve over time, but the key is deliberate reflection.

Book: Spend time learning the craft. Sign up for writing classes to improve your craft- I found SCBWI, Writing Barn, Mira Reisberg’s CBA courses, Story Teller Academy, Katy Flint’s writing course and a few others helpful in my journey. Read a lot of picture books- both good and bad. Analyze story arc, character development, hook, length, tension, pacing, back matter, etc. There is no shortcut, really. Honing and perfecting the craft takes time. Soak yourself in the knowledge and nurture it. It will eventually bloom.

Cook: Take your time to start querying. Don’t feel the peer pressure- everyone is on their own timeline. I can’t help but draw an analogy to potty training (I’m dealing with this stage right now, so that’s on top of my mind!)- you got to do it when you’re ready. Too soon, and it’ll be an uphill battle.

Wow, I feel that last analogy extra hard this week (Did I try to potty train my daughter before SHE was ready... yes, yes I did). But I love all of that so much. I know I was one to try to jump the gun and rush my way through. It was only once I slowed down and took my time to really learn the craft and let stories sit that I found success.

Before I let you go...where can we connect with you online?

I would love to connect on Twitter: @JyothiWrites

I’m working on my website https://www.jyothinookula.com/

Thanks so much for joining us today, Jyothi! I’ve had a blast chatting and learning more about your journey. Best of luck on submission! I can’t wait to see your books in the world.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY!

Jyothi is giving a winner their choice of a query critique, Twitter pitch critique or PB non-rhyming MS critique. Just retweet THIS tweet and follow both Jyothi and Kailei to enter. Winner will be announced on Twitter 6/21.

Thank you, dear readers for joining us today!! I can't wait to see where Tuesday From The Trenches takes us for the rest of this year!

About Jyothi Nookula

Growing up in India, Jyothi read chandamama stories (local folktales). Something about the stories, drew her in. When Jyothi first started writing for picture books, her opening was always “Once upon a time”. She has come a long way since then! Jyothi works on machine learning and artificial intelligence in the day and writes picture books in the night. Jyothi is a Children’s Book Academy graduate, an active member of SCBWI, and a participant in Julie Hedlund's 12x12 Picture Book challenge. She is represented by the superstar agent Joyce Sweeney.

About Kailei Pew

Kailei Pew is a wife, mother, and picture book author represented by the amazing Emily Forney of Bookends Literary. She is an active member of SCBWI, a 2019 Write Mentor Mentee, and a finalist in Susanna Leonard Hill's 2019 Holiday Writing Contest. She loves writing picture books that help kids see they can do anything they set their minds to.

Kailei can't wait to get her stories into your hands.