Agent-Author Team Eric Smith + Mike Chen: When NOT to give up

We are so excited to congratulate author Mike Chen and agent Eric Smith on the release of the beautiful, moving novel HERE AND NOW AND THEN with Harlequin MIRA. Mike has been our friend for years and even built the version of ManuscriptWishList.com that you see now. Eric Smith is an agent at P.S. Literary, and a … Read more

Necessary Pep Talk–By Writers, For Writers

  This Pep Talk In Your Pocket was made with the generous contributions of writers just like you. We hope this will give you some cheer when your family asks, “So–are you still writing?” Explaining the writing life to your family can be hard, especially during the holidays. So when they start asking you why … Read more

#TenQueries with Agent Samantha Wekstein of Writers House

Samantha Wekstein, agent at Writers House, was generous enough to join us for a #TenQueries episode. We chat with her about how she got into publishing (she worked with Jessica first!), some amazing things she’s created along the way–and how this shapes what she looks for. Then we asked her to go through her queries … Read more

How I Got My Book Deal Through MSWL: A Conversation Between Marjorie Herrera Lewis, author of When The Men Were Gone and Literary Agent Andrea Somberg

Andrea Somberg: I met Marjorie Herrera Lewis through MSWL, and within minutes of talking to her, I couldn’t wait to read her novel, When the Men Were Gone. It was based on the true story of Tylene Wilson, a woman who became one of the first female football coaches in Texas during World War II, in spite … Read more

Agent Whitney Ross on Query Mistakes, Editors + Cookies

We talk with agent Whitney Ross at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency about why she never says she *doesn’t* want something in her inbox, the different levels of editors and why they matter–why you don’t need a master’s to work in publishing. Then we veer into delicious territory, talking about the best chocolate chip cookies, … Read more

Why Editor Jen Gunnels Will Survive The Zombie Apocalypse

This is such a special episode! if you listen to just one (or if you need a pick-me-up after last week…) check this out. Stream here: https://soundcloud.com/user-965795498/jen-gunnels Jessica Sinsheimer went into the Tor/Macmillan offices to speak with the intrepid editor Jen Gunnels. We talk about why she never sends an editorial letter without a phone call, … Read more

First Pages Podcast with Cameron Rosenblum

Longtime critique partners Julie Kingsley and Cameron Rosenblum (@ckellyrose, YA author repped by Brianne Johnson at Writers House, librarian) discuss a page from the brave and talented writer Lauren Shade, @laurentshade.   Want to submit YOUR page for a chance of being on a First Pages episode? Send your first page–as a Word doc, please–to … Read more