About this New Literary Agent Spotlight series: We love spotlighting and profiling new literary agents —such as Andrea Walker of Azantian Literary — because they are actively seeking new writers and constructing a client list.
Literary Agent Bio: Andrea Walker started her career in publishing through several internships, eventually joining Olswanger Literary as a contracts intern. It was there she first began building her client list. As a writer herself, Andrea isn’t afraid to rework something several times to make it shine and will be your champion along the way. Before publishing, Andrea earned her B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Creative Writing and Education from UCF and is currently working towards her Masters. When she’s not reading or writing, Andrea is enjoying time with her family and planning their next adventure.
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What to Submit to Andrea: Andrea represents PB, MG, and YA and is especially interested in seeing submissions from underrepresented voices.
PICTURE BOOKS: My tastes are very selective for Picture Books. I’m looking for high-concept stories with a great hook. Text that is so well written, I visualize the illustrations as I’m reading. I love to laugh in the PB space and enjoy anything quirky or fun like I WANT MY HAT BACK or filled with heart like in A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE. While, I love lyrical prose, I am not a good fit for rhyming text or anything that is overly sweet. Overall, I love to be surprised, if you’ve taken a concept and flipped it on its head, I’d love to see it!
MIDDLE GRADE: I am eager to build my middle grade list and on the lookout for lower mg and chapter books too. I’m always interested in high-concept, but I’m really looking for voice and the ability to capture the complex feelings of this age. I would love to visit lush worlds like THE NIGHT GARDENER with characters you can’t help but root for a la GHOST, anything filled with heart and hope as in FR GarageBand ONT DESK or that helps kids deal with tough topics like THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY OF COYOTE SUNRISE or THE THING ABOUT JELLYFISH. I’m not a good fit for high fantasy, but I’m open to all else.
YOUNG ADULT: I absolutely love YA, it’s what really drew me to the world of publishing. Again, I’m really drawn to high-concept and commercial young adult works. I’m looking for stories that stay with you long after you finish them like SLAY and THE WILDER GIRLS. Beautiful prose that sweeps you into the world with no looking back like CARAVAL or THE HAZEL WOOD. Books that blend prose and epistolary like SADIE or RULES FOR VANISHING. Stories with standout voice like YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN and explore tough topics or deeper truths as in THE GRACE YEAR. I’m always interested in stories where magic is real and hiding in plain sight, books with speculative elements, and mysteries.
How to Query Andrea:
For novel submissions:
- Query Letter (format below)
Dear [Agent’s Last Name],
[2-3 paragraphs in the third person that tells the agent about your project in a way that showcases your writing ability and style. Think back-cover copy or the inside flap of published books.]
[1 short paragraph of relevant biographical information and/or published works (not necessary if you don’t have any)]
[closing/wrap-up sentence]
[Signature]
- 1-2 page Synopsis
- First 10 pages
For graphic novel submissions:
- Query Letter (short introduction/pitch is fine)
- Full Synopsis/Outline
- First 10-20 pages of the script
- 2-5 pages of sample art (in the same attachment) If the file is too large to attach, please provide a link to Google Drive, One Drive, an online gallery, or something similar in your query.
- Character sketches (optional)
Submit using submission form on the agency website: submissions form.
ATTEND A WRITERS CONFERENCE IN 2021.
Here are some conferences I’m speaking at or helping coordinate in 2021.
All of them have attending agents meeting with attendee writers:
Coming soon.
