Q&A Thursday

My friends,

It's been a helluva week: my birthday, pub day for my picture book, and here on A&B, I'm announcing some new perks. As a Taurus and a creature of comfort, I'm happy when things stay the same, but I've realized that the benefits of being a paid subscriber to this newsletter haven't changed since 2019 and the newsletter game certainly has. That so many of you open and read this newsletter twice a week-ish when you are bombarded with newsletters and subscriptions means a lot to me. I endeavor to actually make reading this worth your while, but as always, I have no plans to send you MORE newsletters.

But, let me see if I can't give you more bang for your buck here. All subscribers are getting NEW perks from Agents & Books, whether you pay or not.

Giveaways!

All subscribers (in the US, sorry international folks), free and paid, will be entered in monthly book giveaways. I'll offer a few different genres, and you get to pick--but the book will be a surprise! Could be a hot new ARC. Could be a pretty new hardcover. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Who doesn't like free books? And maybe there will be some Agents & Books swag thrown in there, too.

Query/First Five Pages Critiques!

If you're a monthly paid subscriber (US and international), you'll be entered to win a query or first five pages written critique by yours truly! A new one every month! Must be a subscriber in good standing (some of you need to go in and update your expired card and stuff) to be chosen. If you're not in a query/first five pages place, we'll work something out. And if you agree and want to share with the class, I'll feature your critique (anonymous or otherwise) on the newsletter. (But only if you want to.)*

AMA Zoom Meetings!

For yearly paid subscribers, you'll get all of the perks above, PLUS access to quarterly AMA Zoom meetings, live with me and your other fellow A&Bers. The week before the scheduled zoom, I'll send all fully paid and in good standing yearly subscribers an email with a link to a private Zoom, and there you can ask me just about anything you want (no pitching your book, please) and we'll chat and talk about books and publishing! Zooms will be one hour long. Can't make it? We'll work something out.

But WAIT THERE'S MORE! How about a sale? Next week marks my 20th anniversary working as a literary agent here at Morhaim Lit, and as an early anniversary gift, I'm offering 20% off new subscriptions, both monthly and yearly subscriptions! Now's the time to upgrade or tell your friends to finally subscribe. Offer good until May 17.

(If you're a current subscriber and want to add time to your subscription at the discounted rate, email me at kate@katemckean.com and I think I can do something on the back end.)

Whew, I feel like Bob Barker on the Showcase Showdown. Anyway, tell all your friends about these new perks and the sale and thank you for your support and feedback about my newsletter here. It's a joy to write, and I'm so glad I get to do it week after week.

Shall we do what you came here for then? How about a Q&A Thursday?

N asks: My question is: Do you have any advice or dos/don’ts when it comes to writing and pitching a picture book dealing with a heavy subject, like losing a parent as a child? For context, I was encouraged by a mentor to tackle that topic, using my personal experience, before trying to pitch other unrelated picture books that I’m working on, as she said it may be easier to break into the market that way as a debut kids’ author. Thank you!