Agency Advice (East West Literary)

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Melanie-Ortins Hi! first of all, congratulations! I think a great way to gage an agency's performance and treatment of its artists is by asking the artists they represent. Search their illustrators and message them about their experience, how the agents treated them, how much jobs they got from the agency, whether they would recommend the agency to other artists, etc.

Melanie Ortins

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Just did this and heard back from one artist immediately saying she's had a good experience (but also that it's her first agent so she has nothing to compare it to). She said that it was slow at first but she's getting more work now. I followed up asking how long she's been represented and stuff so we'll see!

Nyrryl Cadiz

@Melanie-Ortins sounds good! If you choose to sign with this agent and it doesn't work out, you can always part ways and find another one.

Melanie Ortins

@Nyrryl-Cadiz That's what I've been thinking too

Jeremy Ross

Hi @Melanie-Ortins, yes, their website is a bit outdated; however, I wouldn’t dismiss them based on that sole reason.

Personally, I suggest you interview with them and discuss opportunities and potential client work. You might even politely slip in feedback on the website.

They represent Newberry winner Kwame Alexander and James Dean (Pete the Cat series)!

This might be an opportunity of a lifetime.

Melanie Ortins

@Jeremy-Ross True! I'm definitely going to follow up with them and find out a bit more.

It does seem like they mostly represent authors and author/illustrators though, so they might be more specialized in pitching full book ideas, and my writing skills are not quite up to par with my illustrations yet! For now, I'd prefer to just illustrate other people's books haha

Jeremy Ross

Sounds good @Melanie-Ortins! Forgot to say congratulations for being contacted! Love your work!

Melanie Ortins

@Jeremy-Ross Thanks!

idid

Great News!

Here's the 2019 data I have when I was doing agent research. Deborah Warren seems to be good in terms of sales. But keep in mind their approaches of working with client is important too.

Deborah Warren (East-West Agency)
14 deals in this category in the last 12 months | 6 in the last 6 months | 60 overall | 3 six-figure+ deals

xin li

@melanie first of all, congrats :-).
I really see what you mean by their website. I also judged agencies by their website. That said, I went on and signed with an agency which I think their website looks really out-dated. Through my agency research, I noticed a tendency: the us agencies tends to have a more morden website than the UK agencies.

I agree with the others and you: since they reached out to you, you might as well follow up the lead, and see how the communication goes. You can always say no at later point, if your gut feeling keeps saying "no". I think it is also a good oppotunity to practice on having dialog with agencies.

Melanie Ortins

@idid Thanks! Where do you get these numbers from? I had only started doing agent research and I'm not sure how to find this stuff

Melanie Ortins

@xin-li Thanks! That's interesting because I've actually found the opposite! A lot of the UK agencies seemed a lot bigger too compared to lots of small ones in the US based on what I've seen. And you're right, even if I end up saying no, I could learn from just having the discussions

idid

@Melanie-Ortins Publishers Marketplace.

Coley

Good luck, Melanie!

Melanie Ortins

@Coley Thanks!

Gary Wilkinson

@Melanie-Ortins not much to add, but if you do sign up with the agency keep up updated in the future as to how it goes if you can. It would be interesting to see the kind do work that comes from it.

Also had a quick look at your website and you have some lovely illustrations!

Melanie Ortins

@Gary-Wilkinson Thank you! I'll keep this thread updated with what happens now and if I do sign with them, then I might make a follow up post in the future!

Emma T.

@Melanie-Ortins Congrats on getting a feeler, that's great! Just FYI they represent Brian Bowes who is someone I know. He taught a kids lit class I took in the Bay Area, Cali and now he's an instructor at SCAD. Not sure of his publishing creds but he's a real human who might respond to an instagram question.

https://www.instagram.com/studiobowesart/

Good luck!

Melanie Ortins

@Emma-T Thanks for the heads up!

Joanne Roberts

This is a respected agency and I have interacted with several of the represented illustrators as online colleagues. They are successful and have no public complaints—and they are getting work. As I compiled my list of potential agents, immediate visual connection between me and my work was something I looked for, for me personally, but it is not a sign of incompetency. I'll let you in on a secret about the industry: illustrators still don't get the recognition they deserve but we're working to change that. Think about all the cover reveals and book birthdays you've seen on social media without the illustrator's name. (By the way, I often politely ask for this information and each time the poster has apologized for their oversight and posted more carefully the next time.) Take note that for MG and YA, the illustrator's name still appears only in tiny print on the back and on the copyright page, yet they have a huge impact on how well the book sells. (Remember, book making is a team sport. The editors and art directors often get even less recognition than that.) LOL, give non artists a break, they just don't think visually—yet. Here are some things to keep in mind: 1. You can always request that your portfolio link or even a single image be placed within one click of the homepage or some such. Communication is your most important tool with your future agent. Let them know this is important to you and you feel it is important for their entire client list. 2. This is not an art rep, this is a literary agency. If your number one goal in the current stage of your growth is getting illustration contracts and manuscripts are not in your near future, then you may want to look elsewhere. The colleagues I mentioned earlier all had immediate aspirations of writing and illustrating and gained projects quickly on both sides of the manuscript. 3. Note that while ADs sometimes look at agent websites, they more often troll your social media output and respond to requests, to postcards, and to previously published work. They hear from agencies without having to waste their time going to the agent's website. 4. Are their current clients getting the kind of work you want? You'll know by talking to other illustrators and also looking at their goals and career trajectory to see if this is a good fit for you. 5. Are you willing to switch agents if you are unhappy or down the road when your goals change? or are you the kind of person who will stress about switching? It makes a difference when you consider if the website is a deal breaker. Sorry I talk so much (can you tell I over analyze everything?) These are just some of the things I think about as I evaluate potential agent partners. Hope this helps you choose your path with joy and confidence