Please note: This episode contains mentions of alcoholism, recovery, and sobriety.

We are so happy to welcome author Jessica Guerrieri and agent Ismita Hussain (Great Dog Literary) to the podcast.

They're a great example of what to look for in an author-agent relationship--they're creative, collaborative, supportive, and successful (Jessica's debut book club fiction, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, comes out 2025 with HarperCollins).

We also discuss re-querying, facing rejection, and the healing power of storytelling and personal narrative.

Meet with Ismita here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/ismita-hussain

Find the transcript and show notes here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-ismita-hussain-jessica-guerrieri

00:44 Introducing Jessica Guerrieri

00:54 Ismita Hussain's Journey from Healthcare to Literary Agent

01:55 Jessica Guerrieri's Writing Journey and Sobriety

03:04 The Power of Perseverance: Jessica Guerrieri's Path to Publication

04:18 The Editorial Process: From Query to Preempt

06:58 Understanding the Preempt and the Publishing Process

10:50 Revising with Resilience: Jessica Guerrieri's Approach to Feedback

17:13 Building Trust and Thickening Skin in the Publishing World

21:31 Looking Ahead: Plans After the Book Deal

22:02 Embarking on a Unique Memoir Journey

22:13 Exploring Motherhood and Recovery

22:48 The Power of Sharing Personal Stories

27:02 The Role of Fiction and Nonfiction in Recovery

29:42 The Importance of Representation in Literature

39:57 The Value of Specificity in Storytelling

43:15 The Memoir Market and Connecting with Agents

We are so grateful to Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, agent at Westwood Creative Associates, who has offered to teach a free workshop for you all about the elements of querying—interest, emphasis, tension—that keep a busy agent reading in 2024.

Get your free ticket (or replay ticket!) here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/emmy

The event is Tuesday, May 7, 8:30pm ET—and comes with a replay, in case you can’t make it live.

This workshop is appropriate for all experience levels—whether it’s your first query or your 100th draft, come for the 101 basics, the checklists, the how-to’s—and leave with a real understanding of how you can use these skills to give an agent a 360 “I can’t wait to read more” reading experience.

Emmy (they/them) represents across age categories + genres, specializing in identity-driven works. They work in both fiction and non-fiction, from PB to adult, including commercial, upmarket, book club & literary. They specialize in contemporary books grounded in reality, with and without speculative elements. Mystery, thriller, suspense, romance, romcom, women’s fiction, LGBTQ2S+, magical realism, fabulism, horror, graphic, narrative non-fiction, true crime, religion + spirituality, humanities + science.

We are thrilled to introduce Ali McLafferty, author, teacher, and most recent winner of the as-yet-untitled (Manuscript) Academy Awards.

Ali was nominated by agent Melissa Edwards (Stonesong Literary) for this gorgeous fantasy novel that brings up a lot of issues in our world as well.

We discuss how she polished her query, how many drafts she did of her first page--and what she learned along the way.

Learn more about Ali at https://www.alimclafferty.com/.

Full transcript at https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-ali-mclafferty

TIMESTAMPS:

Feedback on Ali's query letter and first page (00:10:09) Julie and Jessica provide feedback on Ali query letter and first page, discussing its strengths and areas for improvement.

Ali's revision process for the query letter (00:15:24) Ali discusses her process of revising the query letter, including feedback from friends and an editor, and the changes she made.

The query letter (00:20:22) Discussion on the effectiveness of the query letter's opening and structure, focusing on the emotional impact and the feedback received.

First page of the manuscript (00:21:44) Analysis and feedback on the opening page of the manuscript, highlighting its grounding effect and the portrayal of the character and setting.

Writing process and first draft (00:24:04) Discussion about the unique experience of the book's creation, the absence of significant revisions, and the influence of personal connection and understanding of the material on the first draft.

Genre and target audience (00:35:28) Challenges in defining the genre and target audience for the book, particularly in conveying the blend of fantasy and imagined scientific systems, and the potential for pitching to adult audiences.

Rejection and perseverance (00:34:15) Acknowledgment of the emotional impact of rejections and the importance of perseverance, as well as the advice on finding rewards in the process and maintaining determination.

Pitching and query letter adjustments (00:38:05) Consideration of pitching the book as adult fantasy and the potential adjustments for the query letter to cater to an adult audience without compromising the narrative drive.

Author's website and future queries (00:39:25)

Advice for Writers (00:41:49) Ali shares her advice for aspiring writers, emphasizing the joy of writing and the importance of perseverance.

Touching Moments (00:44:03) Ali recounts a touching moment when her husband was moved by a part of her first book, emphasizing the impact of writing on loved ones.

We love this creativity-packed episode with Melissa Vogan (née Melissa Warten), former editor at Macmillan, current editor at Epic For Kids.

We discuss:

*“Just enough” art notes - and how they’re useful for every genre

*How you can guide the focus of your reader through sensory language

*How to get to the heart of your story

*How to disagree with an editor or agent's feedback

*How to create your first visual work after writing only text-based projects

And much more!

Transcript and timestamps here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-melissa-vogan

Book a consultation with Melissa here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/melissa-warten

Melissa Vogan (Warten) is an editor at Epic for Kids, the leading digital reading platform for children, where she works on IP comics development projects for readers ages 12 and under, including the smash hit series Cat Ninja. Prior to Epic, she spent more than five years on the editorial team at Farrar Straus Giroux Books working on picture books, middle grade, young adult, and select nonfiction and graphic novel projects.

Her notable editorial work includes the popular Cat Ninja and Bright Family franchises, New York Times bestselling titles We Hunt the Flame and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal, and award-winning titles by Maurene Goo, Barbara O’Connor, Sarah Allen, Hanif Abdurraqib, Tegan and Sara Quin, and Tillie Walden. Melissa is a graduate of Boston College and the Columbia Publishing Course. Find her on Twitter: @melissa_warten

You may remember Julia Alexandra from our episode in the fall when we went over three query versions with her (good, better, best): Well, she now has an agent! Ellen Goff (HG Literary) joins us with Julia to discuss balancing plot, character, and world--if your fantasy novel will hold up without your fantasy elements, which we're now calling "The Goff Test"--and how you can optimize your queries for your most likely success.

Julia now not only has an agent but a book deal as well!

Listen to her earlier episode here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-julia-alexandra

Learn more about Ellen here: https://www.hgliterary.com/ellen

If you've ever had trouble with point of view in your work, wait until you hear the advanced logistical world author Nia Davenport had to navigate for her new novel, Out of Body, which she pitches as Freaky Friday meets Get Out.

Not only does she have best friends, crushes, confused parents, and a villain on the loose--but she weaves it all into a story of identity, personal growth, and becoming an adult in a world where adults can't be trusted.

This is a great work to study if you're struggling in any of these areas--plus, it's FUN. It's a new twist on something familiar, that formula so many in publishing love.

Full transcript here: http://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-nia-davenport

Learn more about Nia here: https://www.nedavenport.com

TIMESTAMPS:

**Character development and world-building (00:03:29)**

Nia explains how she visualizes her character's journey and the unfolding of the plot like watching a movie.

**Creating mystery in the opening chapter (00:06:12)**

Nia discusses the decision to keep the first chapter mysterious and how it sets the tone for the story.

**Maintaining character voice in different bodies (00:07:39)**

Nia talks about the challenge of maintaining the character's voice regardless of the body she is in.

**Nia's publishing journey (00:10:25)**

Nia shares her journey from teaching to becoming a writer and the process of finding her agent, Caitie Flum.

**Advice for aspiring writers (00:17:54)**

Nia advises writers to breathe, take it slow, and keep perfecting their craft, emphasizing the importance of perseverance.

**Developing character relationships (00:19:18)**

Nia explains the power dynamic and genuine friendship between the characters Megan and Elsie.

**Magic and Technology in the Story (00:22:54)**

Nia discusses the use of magic and technology in her book, playing with the reader's perception.

**Empathy and Societal Conversations (00:27:22)**

Nia discusses the current generation's ability to have conversations about socio-emotional health and empathy.

**Tension and Gaslighting (00:34:20)**

Nia discusses the theme of gaslighting and the decision to leave the protagonist feeling isolated for a significant portion of the book.

**Testing Safety and Vulnerability (00:36:33)**

The protagonist's actions to test the safety of the people around her and the vulnerability of teenagers.

**Identity, Race, and Kindness (00:39:09)**

Nia talks about the theme of identity, race, and the importance of choosing kindness and compassion.

**Writing Difficult Subjects (00:41:18)**

Nia advises writers to write what they love and are passionate about, rather than trying to fit into trends.

**Inclusivity in Publishing (00:43:33)**

Nia encourages writers to find a supportive writing community and emphasizes the importance of diverse voices in traditional publishing.

Tennessee, 1960. One extraordinary team of women--and the first all-Black women’s track team--found glory at the Olympic games in Rome. Here in America, their success was "an impossible dream come true."

Now, author Aime Alley Card tells us her personal connection to the team, how she did her astonishing amount of research, and how she found agent Leticia Gomez to represent the work, now available from Lyons Press: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-tigerbelles-the-american-team-that-changed-the-face-of-women-s-sports-aime-alley-card/18574403?ean=9781493073887

Learn more about Aime here: https://www.aimecard.com

Learn more about Leticia here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/leticia-gomez

Episode transcript here: http://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-leticia-gomez-aime-alley-card

Join our interactive Says/Does Activity + view transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/sara-schonfeld

We discuss editing with love and patience, acquiring in the age of book bans (let's just say Florida doesn't get to choose what the rest of the country reads), how to make your book feel "fresh"--and why so many editors ask for "a new twist on something familiar."

Book a meeting with Sara here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/sara-schonfeld

Timestamps:

**Sara's Journey into Publishing (00:00:40)**

Sara shares her accidental entry into publishing and the influence of her professors.

**What Editors Look for in Manuscripts (00:03:37)**

Sara discusses her preference for manuscripts and the importance of compelling writing.

**Creating Compelling First Pages (00:04:58)**

The challenges and advice for authors in creating engaging first pages.

**Balancing Worldbuilding and Character Development in Fantasy (00:06:54)**

Sara's perspective on worldbuilding and character-driven fantasy stories.

**Freshness in Writing (00:12:14)**

Sara discusses the concept of freshness in writing and the balance between familiarity and authenticity.

**Revising and Streamlining Writing (00:15:32)**

Sara's tips for effective revision and streamlining of storytelling elements.

**Interconnectedness in storytelling (00:24:19)**

Julie and Sara discuss the interconnectedness of different elements in a story and how changes affect the overall narrative.

**Flexibility in story revision (00:25:13)**

Sara emphasizes the importance of being flexible during story revision and trying out different approaches.

**The "says/does" outline (00:26:15)**

Sara explains the "says/does" outline as a helpful tool for authors to reflect on their writing and ensure effective communication of the story.

**Reading recommendations (00:30:41)**

Sara shares her current reading list and recommends a book she finds relatable.

**Creativity and self-doubt (00:34:25)**

Sara discusses the challenges of maintaining creativity and self-belief in a competitive publishing industry.

**Humor in storytelling (00:37:00)**

Sara discusses the refreshing humor in "Murder on a School Night" and the importance of originality in storytelling.

**Book Banning and Publishing (00:38:50)**

Discussion on book banning, including the pushback faced and examples of flagged content, and the importance of not letting it influence acquisitions.

**Reading and Writing with Love (00:43:25)**

The significance of reading as a writer, advice to read with joy and love, and the act of writing as an invitation to share one's experience and heart.

**Where to Find Sara Online (00:44:39)**

Sara's online presence, including her Twitter handle, website, and involvement with the Manuscript Academy.

Sara Schonfeld is an editor at HarperCollins Children’s, working on picture books, middle grade, and teen. After starting her publishing career at Penguin Random House, she joined HarperCollins in 2019. She lives in New York City, and spends most of her time reading, kickboxing, baking, or generally pretending she’s in a Nora Ephron film.

As an author and an editor, she approaches each project with curiosity. Her goal is to ask the questions that get an author inspired and help them uncover the heart of their story—whatever feeling inspired them to put words to paper, and whatever feeling they hope readers take away from the final book.

Sometimes publishing your novel takes an unexpected route. In today's episode, Jessica and Julie speak with author JB Harris to discuss how she pivoted when agents told her the manuscript she'd been working on for 11 years would be hard to break out during COVID.

We cover querying, finding the right small traditional publisher, and how to market yourself as a published author without an agent.

Transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-jb-harris

Learn more about JB here: https://www.jbharrisbooks.com/historical-fiction

TIMESTAMPS:

Researching historical details (00:07:40)

JB Harris talks about her research process and how she incorporated historical details into her novel to create a sense of time and place.

Real-life inspiration (00:10:57)

JB Harris shares the personal story behind her novel and how she discovered a family mystery that inspired the book.

Navigating writing about real people (00:13:41)

JB Harris discusses the transition from non-fiction to fiction and offers advice on navigating the sensitivities of writing about real people.

The marketing plan (00:20:41)

JB Harris talks about her unique marketing plan, including guerrilla marketing and reaching out to bookstores.

Publishing without an agent (00:21:03)

JB Harris explains her decision to publish without an agent and the challenges she faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crafting emails and bookstore visits (00:24:35)

JB Harris discusses her approach to contacting bookstores and the tactics she uses to promote her book.

Targeted marketing and meta tags (00:29:29)

The hosts discuss the use of meta tags and targeted marketing to reach specific audiences for JB Harris's book.

Navigating small press publishing (00:33:50)

JB Harris provides advice for authors considering publishing with a small press, emphasizing the importance of research and contract review.

The pressure of setting books in different time periods (00:40:38)

Authors discuss the saturation of historical fiction around World War II and the excitement of exploring lesser-known historical periods.

Perseverance and growth as a writer (00:44:30)

The importance of perseverance, continuous learning, and personal growth in the journey of becoming a successful writer.

We’ve never seen a romantic comedy like this one! Happily Never After breaks ALL* the rom com rules, while still maintaining tension, interest, narrative arcs, and everything you need in a satisfying read.

Learn the rules our favorite way—by watching Lynn breaks them, succeed, and tell you how she did it.

Whatever your genre, a romantic element adds emotional range, a break from anything difficult in your narrative, and something we can understand—even if the rest of your story could never happen on Earth.

Learn more about Lynn and Happily Never After at https://lynnpainter.com.

Transcript here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-lynn-painter

Timestamps

Modern Rom-Com Trends (00:00:33)

Discussion about the modern and timely aspects of Lynn Painter's rom-com book and the trend in rom-coms.

Lynn Painter's Writing Journey (00:01:14)

Lynn shares her 15-year writing journey, including switching to young adult (YA) and contemporary romance, and finally finding success during the pandemic.

Understanding Option Clause (00:02:39)

Lynn explains the option clause in book contracts and how it impacted her writing process.

The Long Game of Writing (00:04:17)

Discussion about the 15-year journey and the importance of continuous writing and learning in the process.

Challenges of Querying (00:08:18)

Lynn shares her experience with querying, the importance of a unique story, and the challenges of finding an agent.

Writing within Romance Genre (00:10:51)

Exploration of how to make contemporary romance stand out within the genre's constraints and the significance of adding urgency and uniqueness to the story.

The Genesis of "Happily Never After" (00:12:03)

Lynn discusses the origin of her book's idea and how it evolved into "Happily Never After."

Dual Point of View in Romance (00:16:44)

Lynn explains her preference for dual point of view in writing romance and how it helps to show what makes the other person attractive.

Maintaining Tension (00:24:45)

Lynn shares her struggle with pacing and the use of tension in romance novels.

Revealing Subtext (00:25:39)

The discussion on maintaining tension and revealing just enough information in the romance genre.

Micro Moments (00:35:51)

The joy of incorporating small details to enhance the story and character dynamics.

Rom Com Genre Advice (00:38:12)

Lynn advises aspiring rom com writers to focus on incorporating humor and visualizing their stories as rom com movies.

The importance of writing what you love (00:39:26)

Advice on finding joy in writing, aligning with personal traits, and avoiding mismatched genres.

The role of critique partners and writing support (00:46:29)

Discussion of the author's experience with a supportive writing group and the impact of having trusted critique partners.

Empowerment in expressing personal desires in romance (00:54:02)

Exploration of a character's empowerment in expressing personal desires in a romantic context.

Advice for writers (00:57:27)

The importance of setting aside regular time to write and its impact on the author's writing journey.

*Ok, there are probably some we forgot about that she doesn’t break, but it’s definitely an outside of the box read in the very best way.