We're back!  Abigail sits down with Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. This is an especially interesting conversation on first chapters since the first chapter of HPCOS is also the first chapter in the sequel to middle grade fantasy phenomenon, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. In it, they discuss the big picture for HPCOS using Paula Munier's seven key questions to analyze a first chapter—shortly followed by a debate: Does the the story event in the first chapter of COS work as a scene or a beat? And if it's a beat, does it take two chapters to cover the first scene in HPCOS? This episode is a testament to why discussions about how a story (and a first chapter!) works are so important—by sharing our different perspectives, we continue to grow as writers, editors, publishers, literary agents, and storytellers.  What do you think makes up the first scene in HPCOS? If you don't remember, feel free to read the first two chapters of HPCOS, and then join us in this lively conversation.     P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY Savannah provides a wealth of knowledge and practical tips on writing every week.  LISTEN HERE: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/podcast   Connect with us: Twitter: @abigailkperry @savannahgilbo Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/

"Working with a book coach is an investment, and there's no guarantee. No book coach is going to say, ‘I guarantee that you will get an agent and a book deal.’ That would be dishonest. They can't do that. So you're paying money to give yourself the best shot.” – Jennie Nash, Book Coach and Founder of Author Accelerator  Abigail K. Perry sits down with leading book coach and the founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash. Together they discuss what exactly a book coach is, when a writer should hire one, and why a writer can benefit from investing in a book coach before they finish their first draft. Jennie sheds light on some systems she has used to help writers land major New York agents and hit the bestseller list—and why they work. She also shares some of the inside questions and strategies she uses to mentor writers during the writing process—and even after it—and some new developments happening through Author Accelerator. Jennie also talks about the upcoming Manuscript Incubator for writers. She's honest about what it entails and what to expect, and shares details that can help a writer decide if it's for them or not.    Read the Books in this Episode: Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book (and Jennie’s other books)    Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry | @jennienash Instagram: @abigailkperry | @jennienashbookcoach Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | www.jennienash.com | www.authoraccelerator.com

"I love books that sort of  take you through the pain of living in some way. Life inherently has tragedy and hardship. And I love books that take you to that, but also give you an opportunity to see a way out and to see hope in even dark places."  – Michelle Brower, Literary Agent at Trellis Literary Management  Abigail K. Perry sits down with literary agent and co-founder of Trellis Literary Management, Michelle Brower. Together they discuss how Michelle and her co-founders formed Trellis (and in a pandemic, no less!), and why they are determined to create a great sense of community and encourage cross pollination within it.  Michelle also shares invaluable writing tips on the craft, some including: ways to test out your POV, what makes a great book club pick (and the kind of book club picks on her list!), and strategies writers can use to write through the middle of their book.   As always, Michelle shares her #MSWL — with comps!        Read the Book(s) in this Episode: The Collected Regrets of Clover   Find Us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry | @michellebrower Instagram: @abigailkperry |  Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://www.trellisliterary.com/michelle-brower 

QUICK NOTE! THE BOOK VS. THE AUTHOR As much as I love the HARRY POTTER series, I am saddened by and do not condone JKR’s attacks on the trans community.  It’s this reason that, for these first chapter episodes featuring the Harry Potter books, I choose to separate my love for the books from the author’s public actions.  I decided to do this because the series has taught me indispensable lessons about great storytelling, and I believe such examples can also benefit burgeoning writers.  However, if you aren’t comfortable separating the books from the author, you are welcome to pass over this episode without judgement. I do not want anyone here to ever feel unwelcome, and I respect and understand your decision.   EPISODE DISCUSSION Abigail sits down with certified book coach and editor—and fellow Harry Potter nerd and superfan!—Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE. To do this, Abigail and Savannah share their thoughts on how the first chapter, divided into two scenes, sets up expectations and engages its target readers. Abigail and Savannah use the seven key first chapter questions to review the story’s big picture, and then zero-in on the scene structure and compare their notes on each scene’s five commandments.   Although writers should never use the Harry Potter series as a comp, there’s a lot to learn from how the books skillfully tell and execute story.   Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY Savannah provides a wealth of knowledge and practical tips on writing every week. If you want to improve your craft on writing, subscribe to Fiction Made Easy today!  HERE: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/podcast   Find us: Twitter: @abigailkperry @savannahgilbo Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/

"I'm becoming more intentional about my dreams because my purpose didn't just die when I became a mom,  it actually became more realized. Being a mom was just part of my purpose. It's part of the path. I meant to be a mother to these three kids, but I'm also meant to write these stories.”  – Tee Moore, Author  Abigail K. Perry sits down with author Tee Moore (rep. by Jemiscoe Chambers-Black, Andrea Brown Literary Agency) to discuss her writer’s journey turned life as a career author and how to find a literary agent. Tee shares important questions writers should ask themselves before they query a literary agent, and how to determine if a literary agent is the best fit for you and your professional writing career.    Tee also emphasizes the importance of building a writing community, and suggests ways to find your own. She also advocates for big dreams and encourages writers, especially writers who are also parents, that they can (and suggest ways to) do it all.     Tee’s Books: After the Storm Film Makers My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams   Tee’s Agent: Jemiscoe Chambers-Black of Andrea Brown Literary Agency   Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @TanisiaTeeMoore  Instagram: @abigailkperry | @tee_moore_writes Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://tanisiamoore.com

"I'm here to answer any questions and help create a strong positioning for the work. Whether that means, figuring out how the creator needs to receive feedback, that they can best process the information or adjusting to their communication style so that they can process the information that's what I'm here to do."  – Stephanie Winter, P.S. Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Stephanie Winter to discuss her manuscript wishlist with a special focus on millennial fiction. Stephanie also shares how she sees voice and style as different elements in storytelling, and explains in detail how to recognize and develop each. Stephanie then explains what she looks for in the first pages of a book and how she enjoys manuscripts that ground her in character through action. Additionally, Stephanie sheds light on how she works as an editorial agent, what makes her unique as an agent, what an associate literary agent is, and how literary agents commonly work with editors—plus more!   Stephanie’s MSWL: Fiction: Action/Adventure, Children's, Commercial, Family Saga, General, Graphic Novel, Humor, LGBTQ, Middle Grade, Mystery, New Adult, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult Non-Fiction: Crafts/DIY, Humor, Journalism, LGBTQ, Pop Culture, Psychology, Science, Travel Favorite sub-genres: Contemporary Romance, Fashion, Feminism, Illustrated, Magical Realism, Multicultural, Multiple POV, Pop Psychology, Psychological Thrillers, Relationships, Self-help, Social Issues, Speculative Fiction, Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction, upmarket genre fiction   Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @readbystephanie  Instagram: @abigailkperry | @readbystephanie  Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://www.psliterary.com/who-we-are/    Read the books discussed in this episode: Grady Hendrix books Courtney Summers books  People We Meet on Vacation  Self Care The Herd Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me   And NEW RELEASES represented by Stephanie: The Embroidered Closet The Case or Cancel Culture 

"You can't really pick what you're going to represent or what you're going to pitch based on  what people are excited about today. You need to be thinking about what's going to be happening three years from now or four years from now.”  – Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, Westwood Creative Artists  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Emmy Nordstrom Higdon to discuss their career shift from a bookseller to a literary agent—and why both taught them how to predict the market. They also share their love for books by underrepresented authors in traditional publishing, especially identity-driven stories in upmarket and literary fiction and nonfiction across all ages.    Emmy loves weird, bizarre books and wants more of those in their inbox. Emmy talks about FOLD and why the focus of this festival is literary diversity, and how they try to lift up books that are unrightly marginalized by barriers in traditional publishing.  Emmy also shares the two main questions they ask authors that they are interested in representing, and what they consider when they put a book out on submission.     About Emmy:  Emmy holds a PhD in justice-oriented social work with a focus on critical animal studies from McMaster University, with additional peer-reviewed publications in public health and psychology. They even studied professional circus arts in a former life, but fell in love with the publishing industry while working as an indie bookseller at Another Story.  Emmy brings a deep appreciation and unique perspective to their work as an agent. They are a member of the planning team for FOLD, the Festival of Literary Diversity. Emmy is a queer, trans, non-binary colonizer originally from (Newfoundland), and lives with their partner, a Deaf Dalmatian, and two formerly feral Maine coon cats.  Emmy primarily represents authors of upmarket fiction and narrative nonfiction, across age ranges. They specialize in identity-driven stories based on lived experience, particularly from LGBTQ2S+ and disabled or chronically ill authors. They prioritize queries from trans and/or non-binary, Black and/or BIPOC, and/or disabled authors. Their clients can be found on social media as the #SpineSquad.   Emmy’s MSWL: Fiction: Children's, Commercial, Crime, Family Saga, General, Graphic Novel, Horror, LGBTQ, Literary, Middle Grade, Mystery, Picture Books, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adul Non-Fiction: Journalism, LGBTQ, Psychology, Science, True Crime (currently only accepting non-fiction queries from authors traditionally under-represented in publishing) Favorite sub-genres: Diversity, Feminism, Gothic Horror, Narrative Nonfiction, Psychological Thrillers, Social Issues    Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @emmy_of_spines Instagram: @abigailkperry  Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://wcaltd.com/emmy-nordstrom-higdon/    Read the books discussed in this episode: BUNNY SATELLITE LOVE GINGERBREAD ON THE COME UP

"I think it's really just  grounding your reader in the story, making sure that they are right up front aware of who this character is or what they  want and what their goal is, you want to make sure you're grounded in the character and even a little bit of the world, too, so you know where your character is coming from, and then obviously use that to make a reader laugh or cry or pull at their heartstrings.” – Tara Gilbert, Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Tara Gilbert to discuss the difference between Middle Grade and Young Adult novels and graphic novels, her love for character-driven stories with character arcs that touch a reader’s emotions, her MSWL, and other invaluable publishing and writing insights.      Tara also gives an inside scoop about the types of sub-genres she enjoys reading, examples from some of her favorite books and authors (which would be great comps for her!), and her special interest in books about groups of people.    About Tara: Tara joined The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency as an Associate Literary Agent in 2020. She has been a part of the publishing industry since 2017, previously working as an Associate Agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency and as an intern with Entangled Publishing. Tara spent over a decade learning the art of negotiation as a staffing professional in the aerospace industry before finding her passion as a literary agent. When Tara isn't reading manuscripts and working with her clients, she is usually caught wandering around Portland with her partner or loving on her fur-babies.   Tara’s MSWL: ​Middle-Grade (ages 9-13) Funny, heartfelt stories—best friends stories, family stories, and anything that will make me laugh and cry Books with a literary bent​ Young Adult (ages 14-19) Books with a literary bent to their prose unless it's romance or a funny contemporary Light-hearted comedy to really dark, gory stuff. Adult Fiction Dark speculative fiction with a literary bent is my favorite. Funny, heartfelt RomComs, and dramatic, emotional romances.  Upmarket Fiction and some Literary Fiction, especially if they contain magical elements. Historicals, but would prefer to see historicals about and from underrepresented communities (LGBTQ+, POC, neurodiverse). Will consider fantasy and sci-fi, but need to be grounded   Artists/Illustrators Visit Tara’s Pinterest to get an idea of the types of illustrators she’s looking for  Non-Fiction YA and MG from diverse backgrounds Metaphysics, spirituality, witchcraft, crystals, tarot, etc. LGBTQIA+ topics Need a strong platform (social media/blog)     Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @Literary_Tara Instagram: @abigailkperry @literary.tara Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | www.taragilbert.com     Books discussed in the episode: THE RAVEN’S CYCLE SIX OF CROWS THE SECRET OF THE RAVENS SUMMER SONS THE HOUSE IN THE CERULEAN SEA UNDER THE WHISPERING DOOR V. E. SCHWAB BOOKS TRULY DEVIOUS

"Stories are what get us through, stories are how humans have encouraged one another to survive the dark times and given pointers about how to survive the dark times.” – Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Paula Munier to discuss her manuscript wishlist and valuable publishing insights, some including: what’s selling in the 2022 market, why there’s no such thing as an original story (and how to make your story unique), how to identify and capitalize on the selling points of a story, how to pitch a book, the kind of stories all people want, and the best thing you can do to make your story better—and sell it.    About Paula: Paula Munier is a senior literary agent and the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Mercy Carr mysteries.  A Borrowing of Bones, the first in the series, was nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award and named the Dogwise Book of the Year. Blind Search was inspired by the real-life rescue of a little boy with autism who got lost in the woods. The Hiding Place debuted in March, 2021. Her latest Mercy Carr mystery, The Wedding Plot, releases July 19, 2022 through Minotaur Books. Paula credits the hero dogs of Mission K9 Rescue, her own rescue dogs, and a deep love of New England as her series’ major influences. Paula has also written three popular books on writing: Plot Perfect, The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings, and Writing with Quiet Hands, as well as Fixing Freddie and Happier Every Day.  She lives in New England with her family and Bear the Newfoundland-retriever rescue, Bliss the Great Pyrenees-Australian cattle dog rescue, pandemic puppy Blondie, a Malinois rescue (much like Elvis in her books), and Ursula The Cat, a rescue torbie tabby who does not think much of the dogs.   Paula’s MSWL:  Crime Fiction Women’s Fiction and Book Club Fiction Nonfiction High-concept Science Fiction and Fantasy Crossover YA Paula is closed to Unsolicited queries.   Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @PaulaSMunier Instagram: @abigailkperry @paulasmunier Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://paulamunier.com    Read the books discussed in this episode: THE MERCY CARR SERIES GONE GIRL EAT, PRAY, LOVE ALICE HOFFMAN

Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND by Farah Jasmine Griffin.  In this special BONUS episode, Abigail uses the five commandments to analyze the structure in the first scene, and seven key questions every reader can use to determine if the first chapter will hook its readers.   READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND is a great example of how to start a memoir that blends  other elements of nonfiction books like history and art.  The goal of these bonus episodes is to provide writers with tools and examples to help them craft the best first chapters for their book before querying a literary agent.    THE CHANDLER LEGACIES FIRST CHAPTER ANALYSIS (DOWNLOAD COMING SOON!): The Five Commandments: Scene Structure  Inciting Incident Turning Point Crisis Question Climax Resolution 7 Key First Chapter Questions (Beyond Structure): *taken from THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS by Paula Munier* What kind of story is it? What is the story really about? Who is telling the story? Which character should they care about most? Where and when does the story take place? How should they feel about what’s happening? Why should they care what happens next?   About Jasmine Griffin Jr.: Farah Jasmine Griffin is the William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature and African American Studies at Columbia University, where she also served as the inaugural Chair of the African American and African Diaspora Studies. Professor Griffin received her B.A. in History & Literature from Harvard and her Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale. She is the author or editor of eight books including Who Set You Flowin?: The African American Migration Narrative (Oxford, 1995), If You Can’t Be Free, Be a Mystery: In Search of Billie Holiday (Free Press, 2001), and Harlem Nocturne: Women Artists and Progressive Politics During World War II (Basic Books, 2013).   THE CHANDLER LEGACIES Blurb: Farah Jasmine Griffin has taken to her heart the phrase "read until you understand," a line her father, who died when she was nine, wrote in a note to her. She has made it central to this book about love of the majestic power of words and love of the magnificence of Black life. Griffin has spent years rooted in the culture of Black genius and the legacy of books that her father left her. A beloved professor, she has devoted herself to passing these works and their wisdom on to generations of students. Here, she shares a lifetime of discoveries: the ideas that inspired the stunning oratory of Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X, the soulful music of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, the daring literature of Phillis Wheatley and Toni Morrison, the inventive artistry of Romare Bearden, and many more. Exploring these works through such themes as justice, rage, self-determination, beauty, joy, and mercy allows her to move from her aunt’s love of yellow roses to Gil Scott-Heron’s "Winter in America." Griffin entwines memoir, history, and art while she keeps her finger on the pulse of the present, asking us to grapple with the continuing struggle for Black freedom and the ongoing project that is American democracy. She challenges us to reckon with our commitment to all the nation’s inhabitants and our responsibilities to all humanity.   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry | @FJasmineG Instagram: @abigailkperry | @farahjgriffinbooks Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.farahjasminegriffin.com      Read the books discussed in this episode: READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS

"If you don't know how to write characters that  have problems and issues and you're actually not writing any human that's realistic, cause we're all at fault at some point, and you should always take that into consideration.” – Katie Shea Boutillier, Donald Maass Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Katie Shea Boutillier to discuss her manuscript wishlist and other publishing insights, like: the importance of audio rights and how, as Rights Director, she sells them for clients, when a book works better as YA or Adult, why Katie loves imperfect characters and big hooks (with examples), and how an author can define and develop their voice.     Katie especially loves coming-of-age fiction and contemporary realistic for adults and young adults. She shares several examples of books that model her tastes, all of which are linked below.   About Katie: Katie Shea Boutillier has been a literary agent at the Donald Maass Literary Agency since 2011. In addition to advocating for her clients, she is the agency’s Rights Director handling translation, audio and selected film/TV rights.  Katie has a soft spot for coming-of-age fiction. She loves books that present big hooks, imperfect characters, and strong voices. Katie is committed to help achieve her clients’ long-term career goals. She lives in the Jersey suburbs with her family.  Katie was closed to queries from July 2021 to March 28, 2022—and she is now OPEN to queries! If you queried Katie during that time frame, it was deleted. Please make sure to re-query her!   Katie’s MSWL: Commercial Adult Fiction Young Adult Fiction Upmarket Women’s Fiction Psychological Suspense  Speculative Fiction Horror Special Interest In: Coming-of-age fiction with characters that have layers Contemporary Realistic  Stories that make her cry at the end  Modern stories with things happening today, with modern technology  Big hooks, Imperfect characters, Distinct and strong voice   Find us on/at:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @AgentShea Instagram: @abigailkperry @ksboutillier Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | http://maassagency.com/katie-shea/   Read the books discussed in this episode: RED, WHITE, AND ROYAL BLUE ROOM BEST DAY EVER  I DON’T FORGIVE YOU THE ROUGHEST DRAFT  WE ARE THE ANTS HORROR HOTEL  HOWL ALL THE DIRTY SECRETS  MONARCH RISING  THE SECRETS OF CEDAR FARMS

"Every time you pick up a good book, you enter someone else's mind, you see the world through their lens. And that's deeply exciting for me. I also think it allows for empathy, and empathy and kindness are the core components of a successful civilization.” – Tanya McKinnon, McKinnon Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Tanya McKinnon to discuss her career and expertise with serious nonfiction, literary fiction, children’s books, and graphic novels. They discuss how books work as vehicles to understanding human motivation, and why they encourage us to become empathetic.  Tanya also shares why she pushes her clients with a rigorous in-house editorial process before going to market. She talks about how she fights for her clients, why serious nonfiction isn’t as different from fiction as some people think, and what literary fiction allows readers to do in comparison to plot-driven fiction.   Tanya is looking for books that push her beyond the boundaries of where she currently is. She has a special interest in multicultural and African-American work, and work about the American experience. She believes that women of all races are central to these stories.      About Tanya: Tanya McKinnon is the principal literary agent and founder of McKinnon Literary Agency. Since establishing the agency in 2014, she has seen the publication of numerous New York Times bestsellers as well as numerous award winners and commercial successes. Tanya has worked various roles in publishing, including time as an editor, which deepened her love of accessible idea-driven nonfiction with the power to transform culture. Tanya’s various sides of the industry have led her to view the agent-author relationship holistically, and she works closely with clients as an editorial agent.  Tanya has an MA in cultural anthropology and teaches a course on writing for children in the Publishing Certificate Program at City College.    Tanya’s MSWL: Serious nonfiction Literary fiction Children’s books Graphic novels  Special Interests: Particular interest in multicultural and African-American work Writers who confront the chaos of reality Work that takes her beyond the boundaries of where she currently is Nonfiction categories: history, sociology, psychology, anthropology, medicine, cultural criticism, popular culture, journalism, and sheer whimsy  Literary fiction: character-driven and an engrossing, strong voice   Find us:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @TanyaMcKinnon1 Instagram: @abigailkperry @tanyamckinnon Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | www.mckinnonliterary.com   Read the books discussed in this episode: THE SHOCK DOCTRINE  DAD BAKES THE ME I CHOOSE TO BE READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND

“I'm rooting for Beth, as she prepares to submit her essay for consideration...There's this sense of, I may be insecure, but at the same time reminding yourself that you have value and you have worth…and can stand up for yourself.” – Abigail K. Perry on the first chapter in THE CHANDLER LEGACIES by Abdi Nazemian Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at THE CHANDLER LEGACIES by Abdi Nazemian, a YA book and author represented by literary agent John Cusick.  In this special BONUS episode, Abigail uses the five commandments to analyze the structure in the first scene, and seven key questions every reader can use to determine if the first chapter will hook its readers.   THE CHANDLER LEGACIES is a great example of how to start a YA fiction book, and why YA fiction is about more than the life of a teenager (even though it’s about this, too!).  The goal of these bonus episodes is to provide writers with tools and examples to help them craft the best first chapters for their book before querying a literary agent.    THE CHANDLER LEGACIES FIRST CHAPTER ANALYSIS (DOWNLOAD COMING SOON!)   About Abdi Nazemian: Abdi’s first novel, THE WALK-IN CLOSET, was awarded Best Debut at the Lambda Literary Awards. He has written three young adult novels, all published by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins: THE AUTHENTICS (2017), LIKE A LOVE STORY (2019), and THE CHANDLER LEGACIES (2022). LIKE A LOVE STORY won a Stonewall Honor and was chosen by Time Magazine as one of the 100 best young adult books of all time. Learn more about Abdi here.     THE CHANDLER LEGACIES Blurb: Beth Kramer is a “townie” who returns to her sophomore year after having endured a year of tension with her roommate, Sarah. But Sarah Brunson knows there’s more to that story. Amanda Priya “Spence” Spencer is the privileged daughter of NYC elites, who is reeling from the realization that her family name shielded her from the same fate as Sarah. Ramin Golafshar arrives at Chandler as a transfer student to escape the dangers of being gay in Iran, only to suffer brutal hazing under the guise of tradition in the boys’ dorms. And Freddy Bello is the senior who’s no longer sure of his future but knows he has to stand up to his friends after what happened to Ramin. At Chandler, the elite boarding school, these five teens are brought together in the Circle, a coveted writing group where life-changing friendships are born—and secrets are revealed. Their professor tells them to write their truths. But is the truth enough to change the long-standing culture of abuse at Chandler? And can their friendship survive the fallout?   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry | @Abdaddy Instagram: @abigailkperry | @abdaddy Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.abdinazemian.com    Read the books discussed in this episode: THE CHANDLER LEGACIES Represented by John Cusick  THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS  

“Without any kind of moralizing or didacticism, I think that what kidlit provides is a space for young people to grow their own sense of themselves and their role in their community and their role in the world.” – John Cusick, Folio Literary Management Abigail K. Perry sits down with John Cusick to discuss his love for kidlit. John shares how he got into agenting and why his role differs from an editor’s role. He also discusses what makes a manuscript stand out at the query and commercial level, and uses examples to model what the typical author-agent relationship looks like as they bring a book together.  John specializes in books for young readers, and reveals the expectations and restrictions of these books—and why they are more than “a book about a teenager.” John brings a special level of passion, mentorship, and sophistication to the agenting role, and encourages writers to view writing as a blend of passion and business.  John wants to see authors push boundaries and make readers feel something, and believes kidlit gives young readers a space to grow and can make big impacts on lives.  About John: John Cusick is the Senior Vice President and a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. He represents a diverse list of award winners and New York Times bestsellers, and his focus is middle grade and young adult novels, as well as genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, horror) in the YA-adult crossover space. John graduated Wesleyan University in 2007 with a double major in English and Russian Literature. After working as a freelance writer, bookseller, dog walker, cashier, and radio host, he became a literary agent’s assistant and quickly began building his own list. Around the same time John also became an author. His published books include the young adult novels, Girl Parts and Cherry Money Baby, and his middle-grade novel, Dimension Why. John brings both a creative and commercial sensibility to his agenting style. He is an editorial agent who works closely with his clients, whether it’s developing a debut project or helping a seasoned author take that next step. John's goal is to match writers with their dream editor, secure the best deals possible, facilitate the exploitation of dramatic (film and TV) rights in his clients’ work, and grow authors’ readership over long careers. John is passionate about helping clients achieve their full potential, and is looking for dedicated, original, fervent, and visionary creators with unique voices that push boundaries.   John’s MSWL: GENRES YA Middle Grade Children's Picture Book Graphic Novels General fiction Suspense/thriller Fantasy/Science fiction Children’s books Horror  DRAWN TO Contemporary realistic stories with strong hooks Fresh fantasy and speculative fiction set in our world and others Funny, quirky, spooky, as well as joyful and uplifting stories Diverse books and #ownvoices projects Proactive protagonists, kids and teens chasing a dream or a hero who swings in with a song in their heart and a knife in their teeth   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @@johnmcusick Instagram: @abigailkperry @johnmcusick Website: www.abigailkperry.com  | https://www.foliolit.com/agent/john-cusick    Read the books discussed in this episode: DUMPLIN’ ASH PRINCESS GORGEOUS GRUESOME FACES GIRL PARTS CHERRY MONEY BABY DIMENSION WHY 

“Regardless of what POV you choose, a strong voice is necessary for great books, and it’s not uncommon for an agent or editor to pass on a story that lacks a defining voice, or embrace one that is exceptional. ” – Abigail K. Perry on the first chapter in TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah  Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah, a book and author represented by literary agent Jessica Faust.  Next to a query letter, the most important pages a writer needs to master in order to hook a literary agent are their first pages and first chapter. These set the expectations for the book and the quality of the writing and storytelling. Kia Abdullah is a wildly talented writer and storyteller, which Abigail attests through her analysis of the first pages and chapter of TAKE IT BACK. (Spoiler alert: the whole book is suspenseful and great!)  In this special BONUS episode, Abigail uses a scene analysis template and seven key first chapter questions every reader can use to determine the quality of a first chapter. She uses TAKE IT BACK as an example, and plans to provide this analysis in a download SOON.  The goal of these bonus episodes is to provide writers with tools and examples to help them better the first chapters of their books before querying a literary agent.    TAKE IT BACK FIRST CHAPTER ANALYSIS (DOWNLOAD COMING SOON!):     About Kia Abdullah: Kia Abdullah is an author and travel writer from London. Her novels include Take It Back, a Guardian and Telegraph thriller of the year, Truth Be Told, which was shortlisted for a Diverse Book Award, and Next of Kin, Times Book of the Month Sep 2021. Kia has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Financial Times, The Times, The Telegraph and the BBC, and has received a JB Priestley Award for Writers of Promise (Royal Literary Fund, 2020). She is also the founder of Asian Booklist, a nonprofit that advocates for diversity in publishing.   Take It Back Blurb: The victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities who accuses four boys of something unthinkable. The defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hard-working immigrant families, all with corroborating stories. Whose side will you take? Former barrister Zara Kaleel, one of London’s brightest young legal minds, takes up Jodie Wolfe’s case; she believes her, even if those closest to Jodie do not. Together they enter the most explosive criminal trial of the year in which ugly divisions within British society are exposed. As everything around Zara begins to unravel, she grows even more determined to get justice for Jodie. But at what cost?   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry | @KiaAbdullah Instagram: @abigailkperry | @KiaAbdullah Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.kiaabdullah.com    Read the books discussed in this episode: TAKE IT BACK (Represented by Jessica Faust)THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS    Other Resources: Scenes vs. Chapters Article by Savannah Gilbo Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo  

“Authors who are marginalized are writing to a marginalized audience. And I think it's time that they be given the voice to write to all audiences. I'm really making it a mission to do that.” – Jessica Faust, Principal Literary Agent and Founder of BookEnds Literary    Abigail K. Perry sits down with Jessica Faust to talk about her mission to bring more marginalized voices into publishing. She also shares her goals as a leader, including how she mentors the team at BookEnds so that they can continue to make real change in publishing.  Jessica’s MSWL leans heavily towards Upmarket and Women’s Fiction these days, although she has a variety of genres she’s interested in (see below). On the craft of writing, Jessica discusses why every book needs a plot twist—but not in the way every writer thinks.  Additionally, Jessica emphasizes how the author-agent relationship is a business partnership, and that communication is key to a long-lasting career. She sheds light on what success means to different authors, how she helps her clients and agents define and gain their definition of success, and why some of her proudest moments in agenting aren’t bestsellers, but authors she’s helped build a sustainable career in writing.      About Jessica: As owner and President at BookEnds, Jessica Faust is honored to spend every day with some of the most talented authors and agents in the business. From BookEnds’ inception in 1999, Jessica has always believed that her number one job is to be an author advocate. As BookEnds has grown, she now adds agent advocate to that responsibility. In addition to constantly growing BookEnds in new and innovative directions, Jessica represents many bestselling and award-winning authors. Her focus is on bringing more underrepresented and marginalized voices into publishing and her areas of expertise include mystery, suspense, upmarket, literary, and women's fiction. In nonfiction, she’s seeking books and authors who will make her a better person and a better leader.  Jessica began her career as an acquisitions editor at Berkley Publishing, Macmillan, and Wiley. In addition to nearly 15 years of blogging, Jessica has a regular role on the BookEnds YouTube channel, has taught at New York University's Continuing Education Program, written a publishing column, and has been honored by a number of different publishing organizations. Jessica hosts workshops and speaking engagements throughout the world and is a member of AALA.   Jessica’s MSWL: Fiction: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Women’s Fiction, Young Adult Favorite sub-genres: Business, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary YA, Cozy Mystery, Domestic Suspense, Magical Realism, Psychological Thrillers, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Upmarket Women's Fiction, historical mystery, historical romance   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @BookEndsJessica Instagram: @abigailkperry @jfaust_bookends  YouTube: BookEnds Literary Website: www.abigailkperry.com | bookendsliterary.com/myauthors/jessica-faust/    Read the books discussed in this episode: ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE THIN ICE LEAVING TIME TAKE IT BACK  FIREFLY LANE THE PUSH  PROFESSIONAL TROUBLEMAKER

“I think the reason to start here was because this is the inciting incident that led to all the madness that is going to unfold.” – Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman, Authors of GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES   Abigail K. Perry sits down with co-authors Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman to discuss the first chapter of their debut novel, GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES. Abigail considers their book one of the most chilling and stunning debuts she’s read in the last few years, and particularly marvels at Tracy and Wendy’s execution of the prologue and first chapter that start the story. Tracy and Wendy share how everything takes editing, and how to apply story essentials in the first pages of a book.     About Tracy and Wendy: Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman have been great friends for nearly twenty-five years. Their debut novel, GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES, is a dark, suspenseful journey into the cutthroat world of college admissions.  Earning starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal, it’s currently in development as a limited TV series with Discovery+. Tracy and Wendy both live in Seattle and between them they have two husbands, four kids (three of whom have survived the college admissions process without a single parent landing in jail), two dogs, and a cat.   GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES Blurb: Three women, three daughters, and a promise that they'll each get what they deserve... College admissions season at Seattle's Elliott Bay Academy is marked by glowing acceptances from top-tier institutions and students as impressive as their parents are ambitious. But when Stanford alerts the school it's allotting only one spot to EBA for their incoming class, three mothers discover the competition is more cutthroat than they could have imagined. Tech giant Alicia turns to her fortune and status to fight for her reluctant daughter's place at the top. Kelly, a Stanford alum, leverages her PTA influence and insider knowledge to bulldoze the path for her high-strung daughter. And Maren makes three: single, broke, and ill-equipped to battle the elite school community aligning to bring her superstar down. That's when, days before applications are due, one of the girls suffers a near-fatal accident, one that doesn't appear to be an accident at all. As the community spirals out of control, three women will have to decide what lines they're willing to cross to secure their daughters' futures...and keep buried the secrets that threaten to destroy far more than just college dreams.   Find us on our socials:  Twitter: @abigailkperry @katzndobs Instagram: @abigailkperry @katzndobs Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.dobmeierkatzman.com    Read the book discussed in this episode: GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES Represented by Carly Watters