April 10, 2018 Interview with Literary Agent John Cusick of Folio Jr.

About John:

John Cusick is an agent with Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management, representing picture books, middle-grade, and young adult novels. He is also the author of GIRL PARTS and CHERRY MONEY BABY (Candlewick Press), as well as a regular speaker at writers’ conferences. His client list includes New York Times and international bestsellers and award-winners.

Connect with John:

You can find John online at www.JohnMCusick.com, www.FolioJr.com, and on twitter, @johnmcusick.

Why and how did you become an agent?

I became an agent after answering an ad for a personal assistant and dog-walker on Craig’s List. Turns out the gig was in a boutique kidlit literary agency. In between walkies and fetching coffee, I fell in love with the business. I knew I wanted to work in publishing, but learned that agenting— and agenting authors of books for kids and teens— was a perfect fit for my personality. I started representing my own client list in 2012, and in 2015 I started working with the incredible team at Folio Literary Management.

What’s a day in the life of literary agent John Cusick like?

Every day is very different. Typically I start answering emails around 7:30am with my first (of many) cups of coffee. Most days I head into Folio’s office in Hell’s Kitchen, though sometimes I work from my kitchen table in Brooklyn. Usually after early-morning emails it’s reading and editing, with phone calls, pitches, and meetings in the afternoon. But at any given time I might be editing a manuscript, on the phone with an author or editor, preparing a submission letter, or troubleshooting an issue with a book’s cover reveal, or royalty statements, or publicity plan, etc.

What do you love most about your job?

I love being an advocate for authors. I’m a writer myself, and I know what a stressful and mysterious world publishing can be from the author’s point of view. Getting to call an author and let them know their debut novel has its first offer has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. It’s great to connect an author with their dream editor too. Getting to play matchmaker is definitely a thrill.

What are some of your goals within the industry? Overall vision for yourself?

I want to build lasting, sustainable careers for writers. It’s getting harder and harder to sustain a long career in publishing. I hope to see my authors publishing regularly and well for years, and I want to see publishers thrive with a combination of high-profile books, as well as robust mid-lists.

Is there a specific project you recently sold that you’re especially excited about? 

Yes! A recent young adult sale was Hafsah Faizal’s WE HUNT THE FLAME, a fantasy set in a reimagined ancient Arabia. It’s beautiful and moving and fun, and I’m so delighted to see Hafsah—who has been designing websites for other big name YA authors for years—sharing her own writing with the world. Janine O’Malley bought it at auction for FSG, and she and Hafsah make a brilliant team.

When and where do you read queries? 

I typically read queries after hours, usually thirty to forty in a sitting. Firstly, I’m looking for a great, compelling story concept that hooks me right in. If the concept is there, I want to see if the writing supports it. If both the story and the voice are magic, then I’m requesting the full and reading ASAP.

How important to you is a potential client’s social media presence? 

It’s the cherry on top. If an author has really invested themselves in the young adult or middle-grade community, and is eager to connect with their future fans via social media—great! If they don’t yet have a social media presence, that’s totally fine too. In the end, it’s all about the book. A great platform is just a bonus.

You’ve said you would like to see publishers devote more resources to publicity? Can you elaborate?

Well firstly, let me say that I understand publishers are working with finite resources. It’s not possible to devote tons of time and money to every project. However, I would like first-time authors to be aware that, in most cases, a large portion of the publicity and promotion of their book will fall to them. In an ideal world, publishers would be able to create really unique publicity strategies for every title, but that’s just not the reality.

When do you think an author is ready for a publicist? [or] When and how do you think an author should focus on publicity?

The best time to be actively promoting and publicizing your book is in the three months before publication. There are great book publicists who can help you design individual strategies for your project, but of course those can cost a pretty penny. If you have the resources to set aside a portion of your advance to hire a publicist, you may find it worthwhile. If not, don’t worry! There’s lots you can do on a budget, like connecting with your audience through social media, doing pre-order giveaways, and local school, library, and retailer visits.

One tip: always let your publisher know what you’re doing to publicize your own book. The more you do, the more they can do to help you—but you’ve gotta keep them in the loop!

What’s on your #MSWL?

I’m seeking unique voices in fiction for young people, stories that move readers, moments that make me look up and say “Wow, yes. I’ve felt that.”
Send me the books kids will sneak / steal / borrow in secret. Those personal, dangerous, life-saving stories. I’m looking for boundary pushers, a pitch that makes (certain) people say, “You can’t write a YA / MG about THAT!!” I want beautiful, character-driven YA and MG that connects like an emotional gut-punch. I love the strange, iconoclastic, and unusual.

I’m drawn to contemporary realistic stories with strong hooks, as well as fresh fantasy set in our world and others. I love stories told in alternate formats (letters, texts…sticky notes?). I love funny, quirky, and spooky. I want books that keep me turning the page. I love proactive protagonists, kids and teens chasing a dream or a hero who swings in with a song in her heart and a knife in her teeth.

Anything that’s definitely not a fit for you?

I have a real allergy to passive protagonists. Sometimes I see projects I refer to as “Pity Lit,” where a ton of bad stuff happens to a young woman who really doesn’t deserve it. In these stories, the hero is often just reacting to bad circumstances, rather than taking the reigns of her own story. For me, this doesn’t make for super compelling reading.

I hate to say it, but I’m just not the guy for sports books. There’s probably an exception out there somewhere, but generally sports books just aren’t my thing.

Are you currently seeking picture books?

I am, though I’m not taking on text-only picture book authors. At present I’m working with author-illustrators and artists only in the picture book space.

Do you receive many manuscripts from diverse authors?

I’m happy to say I do. I make it a point to specifically request projects from underrepresented voices, about underrepresented topics. Our industry has made great strides, but we still have a long way to go. Diversity isn’t a trend, it’s a necessary part of a flourishing business, not to mention vital for every child’s personal bookshelf.

What diverse groups do you feel are especially underrepresented within the industry? As characters within novels?

There is still not enough representation of persons of color, and I do see plenty of ableist, and generally cis-male bias, across publishing. I also think underrepresented voices should be given the same opportunities to write many different kinds of stories about many different kinds of characters. But I do think the industry is moving in the right direction.

What do you perceive to be some of the greatest challenges to diversity faced within the industry?

Firstly, a cis-white-dominated management structure. Secondly, tokenism (i.e., publishers or agents taking on one Indian Fantasy or one Contemporary-Black-Experience book, and calling it a day).

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

I’m a regular participant in Manuscript Wishlist Academy. You can find my profile on their website, and sign up for one-on-one consultation and critiques!

http://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/john-cusick/

Wildcard Questions:

If you had a magic wand and could change anything in the world, what’s the one thing you would change? 

What a huge question! Well apart from the biggies (war, poverty, disease), I would reduce the work week to four days, with Wednesdays being reserved for any kind of creative pursuit with friends and family. Group finger painting. Cooking a big family meal. Writer retreats. What have you. Also, for these Creative Wednesdays, the internet would be switched off from 6am to 8pm to allow for maximum anxiety-free good times.

If you could have any career (outside of publishing), what would it be and why?

In high school I very seriously wanted to join the CIA, but discovered you had to be proficient in foreign languages (my worst subject). So I never got to be a spy. As far as anyone knows

Thanks for your time, John!