I’m excited to share another edition of the YA Stands agent highlight feature. Alice Tasman is a top-ranked young adult agent with the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. JVNLA represents award-winning authors is every genre, and the agency has reported strong sales, including 6-figure deals, to Publishers Marketplace. Alice describes herself as a music lover and, even though she lives in New York, says she’s a Philly girl at heart.
Represents:
She represents MG, YA, and adult fiction as well as narrative
nonfiction. Publishers Marketplace lists deals for picture books, as well.
Clients:
Madigan
Hoen, Dianne Dixon, Maud Casey, Hannah Weyer, Ellen Potter, Tom Lichtenheld, Thomas
Fox Averill, Timothy Schaffert, Gina Frangello, and more.
Tip: Researching an agent’s clients
to see what elements they are drawn to in the genres they represent is a great
way to decide if an agent is right for you. Referencing a client’s work is also
a good personalizing detail for your query letter.
History:
Ms. Tasman attended Brown University, and then
earned her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. She’s been with JVNLA since 1995
and represents award-winning writers of literary and commercial fiction. MediaBistro cites JVNLA’s five agents as representing 200 authors total, including notable
writers Jean M. Auel, Newbery medallist and poet Nancy Willard, New York
Times bestseller Philip Margolin, National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner
nominee Mary McGarry Morris, and MacArthur fellow Carl Safina.
Looking
for:
She is always looking for debut authors. Her recent
deals reported to Publishers Marketplace include the following genres: memoir,
contemporary, historical, and biography. Her biography on the JVNLA website
says she wants “excellent writing, voice, and characters with a great plot. She
is also drawn to smart, off-beat non-fiction, particularly works of narrative
non-fiction on biography, music, or pop-culture.” Her deals on PM seem to be
works with a literary bent and a particularly unique concept. Ms. Tasman was
kind enough to let me know that right now she’s especially looking for great
writing with a strong voice, and she’d love to see some throwbacks in the style
of Ellen Raskin and E. Nesbit. She’s not the right agent for fantasy works, but
she loves E. Nesbit for her sense of adventure and even more because she doesn’t
write down to children.
To query:
She is seeking new clients. All queries must be sent
through the form on the JVNLA website.
Around
the web:
Twitter: @AliceTasman
Tip:
Referencing an agent’s comment in a blog post in your query is another good way
to personalize your query. It shows you did your research and you genuinely
want that agent, rather than just any agent.
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