Lit Match: Recent Episodes
Abigail K. Perry
Abigail is back with book coach and editor Savannah Gilbo!
Today, Abigail and Savannah sit down to analyze the first chapter of the bestselling fantasy novel A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES by Deborah Harkness. Together, they discuss why these opening pages hook readers—and model other outstanding elements of fiction, some including:
- A micro-analysis of a well-structured scene (while planting set ups that pay off later in the book)
- How this chapter sets up expectations for the main stakes in the novel, the genre of the story, and other important details that impact the characters and plot
- A debate about the Crisis in the scene (and why a Crisis is so important!)
- Plus, more!
Come study this popular fantasy novel with Savannah and Abigail, and let us know why you think the opening pages hook readers, and encourage them to read more.
P.S. Do you enjoy analyzing stories and the writing craft? Learn more about Savannah and Abigail's virtual book club, Book Notes—and sign up for their next meeting!
Follow Abigail and Savannah:
www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com
@abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Abigail sits down with book coach and memoir writer Suzette Mullen to analyze the prologue and first chapter of Glennon Doyle's bestselling and groundbreaking memoir, UNTAMED. Together, they discuss the differences between memoir and fiction writing—and also why writers can benefit greatly from reading and analyzing both genres.
In addition to their analysis (using the 7 Key First Chapter Questions from Paula Munier's book THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS and the 5 Commandments of Storytelling from Story Grid/Robert McKee), Suzette shares various insights on how to structure memoirs and the vulnerability and courage it takes to write a memoir like Glennon's. Abigail was especially inspired by UNTAMED, and shares many of the unique elements that captured her attention within these opening pages.
Come study a an unforgettable memoir with Suzette and Abigail, and let us know why you think the opening pages hook and move readers—and your analysis of the opening pages.
P.S. Order Suzette's Memoir, THE ONLY WAY THROUGH IS OUT
Follow Abigail and Suzette:
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.yourstoryfinder.com/
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @suzette_mullen
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @urstoryfinder
Abigail sits down with Ariele Fredman, a book publicist turned literary agent at United Talent Agency (UTA). Ariele is actively seeking commercial fiction in: General fiction, Mystery, Romance, Suspense/thriller, Feel-Good Fiction, Women's Fiction, and YA.
Ariele joined UTA after working 12 years at Atria Books, where she worked across genres and launched bestselling campaigns from Colleen Hoover and Fredrik Backman to Zakiya Dalila Harris and Lisa Jewell (among others!). She has an exceptional knack at understanding people and instilling confidence in authors, and she is actively growing her MSWL!
In addition to learning about Ariele's shift from publicist to agent, Ariele sheds light on various writing and publishing topics, some including:
- How to empower writers by asking the right questions
- How to help writers understand where they best fit in the market
- Her perspective on commercial fiction and her mission to expand the genre at UTA
- Why voice matters, examples of exemplary voice, and even how to improve your voice in an email
- Ways to discover and pitch a story’s hook
- How to define and pitch a story’s stakes
- And more!
Does Ariele sound like the ideal literary agent for you?** Send her your query!
- Ariele's Full MSWL: Review it here
- Learn more about UTA: Visit their website
Follow Abigail and Ariele:
Website: www.abigailkperry.com
IG: @abigailkperry | @arielestewart
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @arielestewart
"Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?" — Blurb for Matt Haig's bestselling novel, THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY
Abigail sits down with certified book coach Sharon Skinner to analyze the first chapter of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY. This is one of Abigail's favorite reads in 2022 (it published in 2020), and it's also in Abigail's top reads. Sharon also loved THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY, and is an excellent coach to talk to about this book since Sharon specializes in TML's genre, (curio) speculative fiction.
Join Abigail and Sharon for a first chapter deep dive analysis of Matt Haig's bestselling, award-winning novel! Following the traditional format for these deep dive episodes, Abigail and Sharon discuss how the prologue in disguise and first chapter set up expectations for the big picture (using Paula Munier's 7 Key First Chapter Questions from her book THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS), and then they zero-in to examine each scene's structure (using Story Grid's scene analysis tools, some of these also used by Robert McKee).
In addition to the macro and micro analysis, Abigail and Sharon discuss:
- Curio fiction, what this is and why it's a valuable sub-category in speculative fiction
- What THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY is really about
- Why the POV works well in this novel, and why it wouldn't work if we were too close to Nora's POV
- Why there is no one way to write (but how to use tips that can help)
- Plus, more actionable advice and tips that you can apply to your writing!
Did you read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY? What did you think of its first chapter?
Don't forget to read Diane Callahan's article on Tor: What Is “Curio Fiction”? Finding a Name for a Fantastical Subgenre
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry |@SharonSkinner56
Instagram: @abigailkperry |
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://bookcoachingbysharon.com/ | http://sharonskinner.com/
The first episode in a new Author Interview + Writing Tips and Assignments series on LIT MATCH!
In today’s episode, Abigail pulls one of her favorite interviews from her her old podcast (pub. 2020) and revamps it for the Lit Match listeners.
Abigail sits down with the bestselling author of the DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series, Jeff Kinney. Listen to this episode to get an inside look at the makings of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, writing comics, and other valuable writing tips.
Then, join Abigail for Part II of this episode, where Abigail explores five big takeaways from Jeff’s advice. Abigail follows each takeaway with a writing assignment that she encourages every writer to apply to their WIP, or at the very least, to their writing practice.
The 5 Big Writing Takeaways Include:
- Find inspiration from real events and then fictionalize them for fiction stories
- Develop characters who are human and relatable for a general audience
- Show how a character changes from beginning to end without altering the rules of their universe
- Apply the 3-Act Structure to every story
- Create a cast of various personalities
Find Jeff: www.wimpykid.com
Find Abigail: www.abigailkperry.com
After writing a book comes publishing it, and to do so (or if you want to do it well), you need to know your target readers and the market. One of the most important tools a writer, literary agent, editor, and publisher uses to give a quick, clear, and catchy idea of what a story is about—and what everyone can predict for sales—is comparable titles (or comps). That’s what Abigail covers in this episode. She pulls from her first-hand experience as an editorial intern and various insightful articles (linked below) to teach:
- 📖 What are comparable titles (comps)?
- 📖 Why do you need them if you want to publish your book?
- 📖 4 easy ways to find noteworthy comps
- 📖 4 essential requirements to verify if you have strong comps
- 📖 More!
Resources reference in this episode:
- Comp Title—An Elevator Pitch for Your Book by Andrea Bachofen
- How to Find Compelling Comps for Your Book by Star Wuerdemann
- 10 Ways to Personalize Your Query to Agents by Carly Watters
- Must-Knows When Picking Comparable Titles by Abigail K. Perry
Want to sign up for Book Notes (a virtual book club with Savannah Gilbo and Abigail)?
- Learn more (and join us!) at: www.savannahgilbo.com/book-club
We're back with the final episode!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS.
This is a particularly special episode in the series being the final Harry Potter book and first chapter episode, as well as Abigail's favorite book in the series.
In this conversation, Abigail and Savannah discuss how the first chapter sets up expectations for the big picture and delivers a well-structured scene on the micro level (or small picture). To do this, they use tools like the seven key questions to ask about first chapters (Paula Munier's THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS) and Story Grid's five commandments. Plus, Savannah and Abigail dig into other valuable topics like how this chapter is the most omniscient perspective in the series (and why this is important), the chilling and high stakes set up in this opening scene, and more.
Why do you think the first chapter in Deathly Hallows is great? We'd love to hear your perspective!
P.S. If you enjoyed these first chapter episodes, you might love Abigail and Savannah's virtual book club, Book Notes! Learn all about it (and join us!) here.
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
Taking a different direction for this week’s episode, Abigail speaks directly to listeners about ten pieces of writing (and life!) tips she absorbed from what she considers her favorite in-person author presentation.
Last month, Abigail was lucky enough to attend bestselling author Fredrik Backman’s book tour for the third book in his Beartown series trilogy, THE WINNERS.
Abigail had been wanting to read Backman’s books for years but constantly failed to prioritize them on her reading list—until she saw Fredrik Backman was coming to town.
Now, Abigail easily and enthusiastically calls Fredrik Backman one of her favorite authors —of all time. She’s obsessed with his writing and ability to create characters—and even more so with his raw, sincere ability to answer thought-provoking questions.
In this episode, listen to the ten invaluable pieces of writing and life advice that Abigail learned from Fredrik Backman’s presentation. These lessons have sat with Abigail ever since she listened to him, and they offer advice and writing tips Abigail purposefully carries with her as she moves forward with her own writing and editing.
Find Abigail
www.abigailkperry@gmail.com
IG & Twitter: Abigail K. Perry
Read THE WINNERS by Fredrik Backman
Purchase here
We're back with book six!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.
This is an extra special episode since HBP is Savannah's favorite book in the series—plus, both Abigail and Savannah agreed that this first chapter was the most difficult to analyze, at least so far in the series—which makes for a fun challenge and discussion.
In this analysis, Abigail and Savannah discuss how the first chapter sets up expectations for the big picture and delivers a well-structured scene in the small picture. They use tools like the seven key questions to ask about first chapters, taken from Paula Munier's THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS, and Story Grid's five commandments of storytelling—along with other thoughts and opinions.
What do you think makes up the first chapter of HBP? We'd love to hear your perspective.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
Abigail sits down for a first chapter analysis of the bestselling and Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, COUNTERFEIT. She takes a deep dive into the first chapter analysis—and she enthusiastically welcomes the author and editor of the book to join her in this dissection and discussion.
KIRSTIN CHEN is the New York Times best-selling author of three novels. Counterfeit, her latest and the book discussed in this episode, has sold the translation rights in seven languages and television rights have been optioned by Sony Pictures. Kirstin holds an MFA from Emerson College and a BA from Stanford University.
JESSICA WILLIAMS is an editor at William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. She edits a range of fiction and nonfiction projects and is most interested in upmarket/literary fiction and narrative nonfiction/memoir with cultural underpinnings. Jessica completed a master’s in comparative literature at Georgetown University and worked at a literary and scouting agency in New York.
Together, these women discuss how COUNTERFEIT’s first pages set up expectations for the story’s big picture. They use the seven key questions to ask about a first chapter in order to determine its strengths. (These questions are pulled from Paula Munier’s book, THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS.)
Afterwards, Abigail, Kirstin, and Jessica discuss how the first chapter, (seen as one scene) works on a scene (or small picture) level.
Full of wisdom, this episode includes additional discussion on invaluable writing and editing advice, like:
- Why to connect theme and plot twists in a story
- How to use your POV to create tension in the narrative and plot
- Why you shouldn’t get down on yourself if your manuscript needs multiple drafts
Plus, more!
Follow Us:
Abigail Perry: www.abigailkperry@gmail.com | Twitter and IG: @abigailkperry
Kirstin Chen: kirstinchen.com | Twitter: @kirstin_chen | IG: kirstin.chen
Jessica Williams: @JWillsNYC
We're back with book five!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.
Abigail and Savannah return with a discussion on how the first chapter in the OOTP sets up expectations for the big picture and creates, to the reader's discretion, the most exciting first chapter in the Harry Potters series yet.
Once again, Abigail and Savannah use tools like the seven key questions to ask about first chapters (to analyze the big picture), taken from Paula Munier's THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS, and Story Grid's five commandments of storytelling (to analyze the scene's "workability").
Along the way, Savannah and Abigail share perspectives and insights on important topics like:
- What is the inciting incident in the scene?
- How various progressive complications (or conflicts) raise the stakes throughout the scene (and set up expectations for high stakes in the big picture)
- Why readers need to care about the character in order for life or death stakes to work
- How Harry's character is changing in big ways (and why this works better in YA vs. MG)
- How Harry and Sirius' relationship evolves, even from chapter one
- Plus more!
What do you think makes up the first chapter of OOTP? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
In today’s episode, Abigail sits down with another amazing Trellis Literary Management co-founder, Allison Hunter.
Allison is an expert in commercial fiction and shares exactly what she’s looking for in a manuscript wishlist, as well as other invaluable writing and publishing tips like:
- How to use comparable titles to pitch and market your book (with examples!)
- What makes a page-turning beach read
- Why secrets are imperative in engaging fiction
- How publishing is moving away from the term “women's fiction”
- And more!
Do you want to send a query letter to Allison?
- Check out her manuscript wishlist
- Follow Trellis Literary Management’s submission guidelines
- Learn more about Allison Hunter
Find Us
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @AllisonSHunter
Instagram: @abigailkperry |
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.trellisliterary.com/allisonhunter
We're back with book four!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE.
Abigail and Savannah return with a discussion on how the first chapter in GOF sets up expectations for the big picture story using Paula Munier's seven key first chapter questions (THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS). They also nerd out about whether or not GOF is a thriller or an action story, why Frank models a sympathetic character, and much more!
Abigail and Savannah then zero-in on the small picture and break down the first chapter of GOF with the five commandments (Story Grid).
What do you think makes up the first scene in GOF? If you don't remember it, feel free to read the first chapter of GOF—and then join us for this lively conversation.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
This is the third episode in a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter. Abigail teaches writers how to write the third (and final!) paragraph of the query letter, or the author bio.
Sometimes writers overthink the author bio, putting undue stress on themselves and this paragraph. This episode covers some tips on how to write this paragraph, som including:
- The Dos and Don’ts of the Author Bio (great tips especially pulled from Kelly Simmons blog on Career Authors!)
- Do you need to include social media numbers?
- What to write if you don’t have a lot of details to put in bio
Plus, Abigail shares one of her favorite tricks from Kelly Simmons’ article: Why a P.S. can create one final, special connection to the queried agent!
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t miss out on the other two episodes in the three-part series:
- Paragraph One: the Hook
- Paragraph Two: the Book (Blurb or Back Cover)
And don’t forget to check out Kelly Simmons’ article on Career Authors:
- How to Write a Query Letter
This is the second episode in a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter. In it, Abigail teaches writers how to write the second paragraph of the query letter, otherwise known as the blurb or back cover copy.
The back cover copy is the most important section in a query letter. Abigail shares important details writers need to make it stand out, some including:
3 Key Details Needed in Every Back Cover Copy:
- Character: Who is the main character? What do they want? What makes them ironic or the least likely hero for the story?
- Central/Main Plot: What is the main plotline? How does the character’s choices impact the plot and vice versa? How can you whittle this down so it’s concise and catchy?
- Hook: What makes your story different from others in the same genre?
Jessica Faust and James McGowan list and describe these in their awesome Bookends Youtube video. Check out their channel for more amazing writing tips and advice on all things publishing
James Scott Bell’s 3-Sentence Method to Write a Back Cover:
- Name the main character, their vocation, and their situation when the story opens (also include what they want).
- But + “when this happens”: Think of the inciting incident of your story, what throws your character’s norm off course.
- Now + “death stakes”: What are the main stakes in your novel—physical, psychological, or professional? How are they spotlighted in your back cover, and why will they be raised as the story moves towards its climax?
The Secret: Great to include in your back cover!
Example: Abigail analyzes some back cover copy examples to model how a strong back cover includes the details and strategies discussed in this episode.
Additional Resources:
- Revision and Self-Editing for Publication (Jame Scott Bell)
- Query Letter Blurb (Bookends YouTube Channel)
- The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Mitch Albom)
In the first episode of a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter, Abigail teaches writers how to write the first paragraph of their query letter. To do this, she covers important elements like:
- What a query letter is and why a writer who wants to traditionally publish needs one
- 4 essential details in every first paragraph
- 4-5 factors that determine a strong comp (comparable title)
- More!
Plus! Abigail offers a free critique of the first paragraph to the first 10 writers only. Details on how to submit to Abigail and other examples and resources in this episode below:
I WANT A CHANCE AT ABIGAIL’S FREE CRITIQUE! Here’s what to do:
- Email Abigail at: abigailkperry@gmail.com
- Subject Title: Quick Query Tips Paragraph One
- Embed the first paragraph ONLY in the email
- Not required, but if you want to follow Abigail or share the show, go for it!
If you are not one of the first ten writers to email Abigail in the requested format, you may not get a response.
FIRST PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE
Dear AGENT’S NAME,
I saw on Twitter that you love [SOMETHING THEY’VE SHARED PUBLICLY] and think you’d enjoy my book [YOUR BOOK IN ALL CAPS]. It is a [WORD COUNT and GENRE] that [SHORT LOGLINE] [OR] would entertain readers of [TWO COMPS THAT SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR GENRE AND ARE SOMETHING THE AGENT WOULD REPRESENT + BE ABLE TO SELL].
Additional Resources:
- Carly Watters: Ways to start your query letter
We're back with book three!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN.
Following the normal first chapter analysis format, Abigail and Savannah discuss how the first chapter in POA sets up expectations for the big picture story using Paula Munier's seven key first chapter questions (THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS). They take a special look at how Harry's balance of internal feelings and how he interacts with his surroundings excite readers despite the lack of action.
Abigail and Savannah then zero-in on the small picture and break down the first chapter of POA with the five commandments (Story Grid). They also nerd out about their love for JKR's mastery of red herrings and set ups that continually awe and surprise the reader, even if it's their umpteenth time reading it.
What do you think makes up the first scene in POA? If you don't remember it, feel free to read the first chapter of POA—and then join us for this lively conversation.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
Welcome to the first Quick Query Tips episode!
While Abigail books more literary agents and editors for the show, she turns the focus from interviews with literary agents to the research and submission process.
In this episode, Abigail shares three of her favorite and strategic ways to research literary agents. This is a very hands-on episode as Abigail shares how she researches literary agents, editors, and authors for the show.
Although the spreadsheet she uses is slightly different than what she recommends a writer use (see her episode with Tee Moore for more details on the ideal spreadsheet for the research process), the strategies are the same. To demonstrate, Abigail uses the three strategies to find literary agents she wants to email live—and pushes writers to question why a literary agent would be a good fit for their querying book and writing and publishing career.
You can find the links for some off the three recommended strategies here:
- Publisher's Marketplace
- Acknowledgments section in the back of a book
- Three Great Websites
- www.querytracker.net
- www.mswishlist.com
- www.manuscriptwishilst.com
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
“I think it's really important to be working with creators that have a really strong point of view, and they know how to communicate that point of view.” – Carly Watters, Senior Literary Agent and SVP at P.S. Literary Agency
Abigail K. Perry sits down with Carly Watters to talk about her manuscript wishlist (#MSWL) and the role she plays in the agent-author relationship. From there, Carly shares her insights on the publishing industry and expertise that come from her eleven years working at P.S. Literary Agency. Carly teaches writers the difference between literary fiction, upmarket fiction, and commercial fiction—and Carly also emphasizes the importance of taking writers seriously as entrepreneurs. As an agent, Carly’s goal is to sell books that reach the most people and that play a role in moving the conversation forward.
About Carly:
Carly is a Senior Vice President and Senior Literary Agent at P.S. Literary and the sitting VP of PACLA, the Professional Association of Canadian Literary Agents.
She has a BA in English literature from Queens university and the man. Studies from Sydney university, London, Carly joined PS that our agency in 2010 and has sold over 100 books during her career. She represents award-winning and bestselling authors in the adult fiction and nonfiction categories and select children's books.
Carly is known most for her long-term vision for authors and being an excellent collaborator with a nose for commercial success. Her client's books have been translated into forty languages option for TV and film adapted into podcasts and have been on every bestseller list from coast to coast and cleaning the New York times USA today, LA times the Washington post, the Toronto star and the globe and mail today currently is also a co-host of the popular writing podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing.
Carly's MSWL:
Smart Book Club Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Upmarket Adult Fiction, Commercial Adult Fiction, Domestic Suspense, Literary Mystery & Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Pop Science, Business and Psychology, Cookbooks, Unique Memoirs, Lifestyle Non-Fiction: health, wellness, relationships, parenting, lifestyle, Narrative Non-Fiction, Platform-Based Non-Fiction: must have demonstrable expertise and a quantifiable market
Find us on our socials:
Twitter: @abigailkperry @carlywatters
Instagram: @abigailkperry @carlywatters
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.carlywatters.com
Read the books discussed in this episode:
- GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES
- WHERE THE FOREST MEETS THE STARS
- WE CAME HERE TO FORGET
- LOSING THE LIGHT
- THE WOO WOO
- DEAR SCARLET
- THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD
- CULTISH
Welcome to Lit Match! This is a podcast made to help writers find the best literary agent and business partner for their writing and publishing career. Each week, Lit Match host, Abigail K. Perry, talks to a literary agent about their manuscript wishlist (MSWL), how they like to agent, and anything else related to publishing. Abigail also shares bonus episodes where she analyzes the first chapter of a book that the literary agent represents—written by an author and client who emulates strong writing that successfully hooked their agent. This first episode is a special introduction to Lit Match, and offers a brief preview of the wonderful and inspirational conversations to come.