This Newsletter is a Capricorn Sun and a Pisces Rising

Hey friends,

Today is the 7th Anniversary of Agents & Books. I thought it was a big deal to get to five years of twice-weekly newsletter writing, but seven feels big in a different way. Maybe every milestone we reach means something because the act, the doing, alone is worthy of celebration. I think all of this is true.

It also feels like a turning point, or maybe a just a bend in the road. Things are different here now, not just in Agents & Books land, and not just in <gestures widely> the world, but in newsletterdom. It is not the days of number must and always does go up. I have seen the effects of leaving the constant churn of new eyeballs in the Substack network (still worth leaving though). What hasn't changed is my commitment to getting you information about publishing, writing, and surviving it all. Now I have the benefit of seeing it from both sides, as an agent AND a writer. I also have the benefit of 20 years of publishing experience which, for better or for worse, has lead me to the conclusion that the answer to most publishing questions is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but also given me the perspective to know that's a good thing. When the answer is open-ended, that means just about anything can happen, including good things.

As we go into year eight, I am thinking about what we have done and what we have left to do. On the one hand, long-time readers (and there are many of you) have heard a LOT about query letters. On the other hand, new readers come here every day and need to know about query letters. As a Taurus Sun and Capricorn Rising, I do feel the need to be all things to all people, and welp, I can't. But being a Taurus Sun and a Capricorn Rising, that means I am confident enough to just do whatever I want! I am going to introduce some new features here in 2026 and I am always open for feedback (email me at kate@katemckean.com) but mostly, I want to keep talking to you all. I want to see what's going on in the publishing world and tell you about it and help you understand that no, whatever just happened will not kill the book, that publishing will survive, that readers will prevail. None of this is easy, but it's also not going away.

As a way to take stock and think about the future, I have done something silly. I have calculated the astrological chart of this newsletter. It was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 4, 2019 at 9:55am. That makes it a Capricorn Sun (looooooool), a Sagittarius Moon, and a Pisces Rising. TBH, all that makes sense. (Yes, yes astrology is fake so but so are many belief systems and I just think this one is fun.) Your sun sign, for those who don't know, is the main one you reference when someone asks what's your sign? I'm not an expert here, but to me, the Sun sign represents who you are in the world, how you move through it, what energy you bring to your day to day. That A&B is a Capricorn, the goat, makes so much sense. I personally identify with my Capricorn rising sign A LOT and it makes sense that I would put this energy out into the world. Capricorns have their feet on the ground, want to be useful and effective, but also want to be recognized for their efforts, positively. That is my whole M.O. for this newsletter–I want you to get practical information you can use. But also, please tell me how much you like it and tell all your friends to sign up.

A&B's Moon is in Sagittarius. I don't know much about Sagittarius, but the internet tells me they value freedom and space and activity. They want to move around without anyone telling them what to do. (Editorial calendar? I don't know her.) They're also teachers and helpful spirits with cheerful and optimistic personalities. Uhhhh, have you met me (both me and this newsletter)? See? Astrology is real. A Moon sign represents emotions, who you are at home, and self-expression. With this information, I'm going to lean more into my instincts to teach and inform here and resist those other voices that tell me I need to plan out every post I write from here until Labor Day. That doesn't work for me. Freedom and space do.

A&B's Rising sign is Pisces. Omggggggg, as a Taurus/Cap I find it hard to interact with Pisces sometimes. Have an opinion! Make a decision! These go with the flow Pisces, represented by fish, can drive me bonkers. Your Rising sign is how you move through life, how others see you. Personally, I do not like this! But also, I, Kate McKean, am not embodied by this newsletter, and yeah, this metaphor is kinda falling apart. BUT, on the upside, a Pisces, er, newsletter can be soft-hearted, dreamy, with quiet charm. It can't be pinned down and therefore anything is possible. Maybe going with the flow is better than strict adherence to a topic or schedule at the cost of creativity and flexibility.

What's in store for year 8, according to the planets and stars? More information sharing. More examples of how things really work, not so you can replicate them, but so you can see just how many things are "normal." We'll always have our Mr. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. He's not going anywhere. If anyone wants to read my newsletter's tarot cards, I'm all ears.

Because we're not on Substack anymore, A&B relies on word of mouth and social media to spread the gospel. I don't need this newsletter to continually grow until the end of time, but I do want it to reach people who need it. If you like what you read, tell someone. If you see one of my posts out in the world, repost it. Forward this email to someone who needs it. You don't have to do this. My longevity is not your responsibility. But I hope you like what you read, and want to tell someone about it. Thank you.

Lots of great things coming up in January and February!

Only a few spots left for my Lit Lunch with the Frenchtown Bookshop in NJ, on Sunday, January 25th at 3pm! Registration includes a fabulous lunch at Finnbar, a special presentation by me, and a signed copy of my book. Sign up here!

Come talk with me about query letters in this VIRTUAL seminar hosted by McNally Jackson booksellers in NYC. And get this: THERE IS A QUERY CRITIQUE COMPONENT. Registered participants can submit their query for possible LIVE (and kind!) query critique. Now's the time to get your query in front of a real, live literary agent. And I promise to be gentle. Register and find out more here!

Literary Agent & Author Kate McKean: How To Write Through It: Staying Creative and Consistent in Tough Times | Jumbula

We all love to write, even when we hate it. But we all have days when we feel like writing our story is the least important To Do on our lists. Sometimes it is! But most often, we feel better when we get ourselves in front of the keyboard. Literary Agent and author Kate McKean will give you strategies to weather the ups and downs of the writing life, how to forgive yourself when life gets in the way of writing, and how to still hit your goals and find a rewarding creative practice. Do you have to write everyday? It’s a more complicated answer than you think! Join Kate for this virtual discussion about writing and the creative life, with insight from an author who’s full time job is not writing, as she shares hard-won lessons from her first book Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life. Ample Q&A time will be provided in the session. To purchase a copy of Kate’s book in advance of the virtual event: Order and have it shipped to you here. Order online and pick it up in Verona, NJ here.~~~Kate McKean is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her MA in fiction writing at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her work has appeared in Poets & Writers, Electric Literature, Catapult, and her first book, Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life is available from Simon Element. In 2026, Sourcebooks will publish her picture book Pay Attention to Me. She writes the Agents & Books newsletter at agentsandbooks.com. You can find her at all the places online as well as katemckean.com.

Jumbula

Join me for another virtual event with The Writer's Circle on Sunday, February 22nd at 2 pm ET for a special and exclusive talk about how to stay creative in these tough times. This isn't your normal ask an agent about query letters presentation (though we can do that). This is a in-depth chat about how to keep the creative spark alive while trying to deal with <all this>. Register here!

Thanks for everything, folks. Happy new year.

XOXOXOX,

Kate