September 25, 2018 Interview with Agent, Thao Le

About Thao:

Thao Le is a literary agent at the Dijkstra Agency since 2011. She represents Children’s (i.e. picture books by author-illustrators and middle grade fiction) and Young Adult across genres and in the adult realm is looking for romantic leaning Fantasy and Light Science Fiction.

In general, she loves beautiful literary writing with a commercial hook and tight plotting. She is actively seeking underrepresented voices (including, but not limited to, all ethnicity, sexual orientation, mental and physical health, and socioeconomic status) to her client list.

Thao’s current client list includes New York Times Bestselling authors Roshani Chokshi and Sandhya Menon, as well as Indie Bestselling author-illustrator Jessie Sima, among many others.

Connect with Thao:

Query Me: http://QueryMe.Online/1186
Twitter: @ThaoLe8
Instagram: @AgentThao
Tumblr: http://agentthao.tumblr.com

What do you love most about children’s literature? 

That these are the books that will shape our future generations. That will influence minds and change people’s lives. For me to be working on books that help kids feel seen and heard and understood makes me feel incredibly privileged.

What’s on your #MSWL?

Right now, I’m hungry for some Contemporary Fantasy in the vein of the films About Time and Your Name, and more diverse Middle Grade like Aru Shah and the End of Time and Amina’s Voice. I’m particularly fond of monsters, curses, and clever revenge plots. One of my evergreen MSWLs is foodie magic, like Chocolat and Garden Spells. And I’m always interested in unique reimagining/retellings that is LGBT inclusive!

Anything that’s definitely not a fit for you?

I do not represent adult non-fiction, adult literary fiction or general fiction, mystery/thriller/suspense, memoirs, poetry, religious/spiritual books, screenplays, or short stories. And while I love sci-fi and fantasy a whole lot, I’m not the best agent for military science fiction, alien invasions, or medieval style fantasy.

How important are comp titles to you? And what type of comps catch your attention?

Comp titles can be very informative. Good comp titles will give me a sense of the writing style and major themes, as well as help me imagine where the manuscript will be shelved in a bookstore. It also communicates to me that the writer is savvy about their audience and knows who their book is targeting. I think the best comps are books that have done successfully within the last couple of years.

In terms of mg, how far do you think an author can go with the story being dark, gritty, and edgy before they’ve gone too far for mg? 

I am of the belief that middle grade NEEDS to tackle tough subjects. There’s no universal rule that kids experience pain and grief only once they hit their teens. Kids can encounter difficult situations at any age. I think the task of a middle grade writer is the execution and sensitivity they employ to handle these difficult situations in their books. Language matters here. Excessive swearing and graphic descriptions are probably not the best fit for middle grade readers. There should be emotional nuance and sensitivity when portraying things of a dark nature in middle grade.

Let’s say a writer queries an ownvoices book that primarily focuses on one culture but is heavily infused with a second culture (that’s not ownvoices), is that a turnoff? Does the second culture challenge the authenticity of the ownvoices aspect? 

Not at all. I think to pigeonhole ownvoices would be a real tragedy. The point of ownvoices, after all, is to amplify marginalized voices. If the gatekeepers start restricting what marginalized creators can write, then we’ll really be taking a step back. I think the term “authenticity” is such a loaded word and is an incredible burden for any creator. My hope is that diverse creators can write whatever they want to write. The key is not necessarily “authenticity” in my opinion, because that word can mean different things to different people (especially children of diaspora), but in the lifting of diverse perspectives overall. Of course those stories should be written with nuance that is respectful to any culture/experience that is not the creator’s own.

In your opinion, what makes for a successful author-agent relationship?

Transparency and communication. Much like any other relationship, to be successful each party has to be honest with the other and since we’re not a psychic species, to actively tell each other not only goals, but also any concerns. In the end, the author and agent are a team and we have to be on the same page.

Is there a specific marginalized group you’d like to see more of in the manuscripts you’re receiving?

I would love to see more Black and LatinX voices in my inbox! Please send me your fantasy adventure stories, your atmospheric magic realism, your adorable romcoms, whatever amazing thing you’re creating. I want to see them!

Are there any upcoming conferences or twitter events you’ll be participating in?

I’m super excited to be teaching alongside Julie Dao next year at the Ireland Writer Tours! It’s such a unique opportunity and with a small group of writers that I feel like we are going to have a really special and productive experience. I’m also excited to be perusing #DVPit (created by the incredible Beth Phelan) again this year.

WILDCARD QUESTION:

Last book you read that blew you away? 

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. I must admit that I read it because I wanted to see how the film adaptation held up and felt myself sucked into the Southern Reach. The writing is really atmospheric and the combination of weird nature and slightly gothic mystery had me hooked. It’s one of those books with a setting that feels alive (literally in this case) and almost like a character in itself. I also loved that it featured an all-female cast.

Thanks for your time, Thao!