NESCBWI AQQ Sneak Peek Interview with Agent Ammi-Joan Paquette

Registration is now open for the New England SCBWI's 2011 Celebrating Milestones Conference. This year we've added additional Agent Quick Query slots to give attendees even more opportunities for face-to-face conversations with agents.

The second agent in my NESCBWI 2011 Conference sneak-peek series is Ammi-Joan Paquette. She is an associate agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and she is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Her encouraging words are full of insight, kindness, and encouragement. She is also a writer. Because of this, she understands what it is like on both sides of the Author/Agent realtionship. 

This is her second year participating in the NESCBWI’s Agent Quick Query Event.

Ammi-Joan Paquette

 

1. What makes for a healthy working relationship between you and your authors?
I think communication is one of the bedrocks of a strong agent-client relationship. When questions or issues arise, it’s important to be able to voice these openly—and likewise, to know that questions and concerns will be addressed promptly and efficiently. This type of communication and mutual respect of each other's time is extremely important in my book.

2. What are you always looking for but never receive in a submission?
One of the most wonderful things for me is when I receive something I didn’t even know I was looking for, but that suits my tastes exactly. That said, I would absolutely love to find a terrific food novel!

3. What is your agent style?
I would say: supportive, passionate, encouraging, persistent. Does that cover it?

4. What do you see as upcoming trends in the industry? What themes do see as having endurance?
I think there will always be a market for excellent writing with depth and heart. Trends come and go, but a story that’s imbued with a piece of yourself, that story that only you can write—that’s what makes a stand-out project.  

5. What would you like to see more of and why?
I’d love to see more laugh-out-loud humor, more mysteries, more tightly-woven plots that keep me guessing. I love to be surprised and caught off-guard by a twist I didn’t see coming but that fits the story beautifully. Surprise me and I will follow you just about anywhere. 

6. What conferences will you attend this year?
I have a fairly slow travel schedule so far this year, so I’m certainly open to considering invitations.

 7. Is there anything you would like to add?
Many thanks to the NESCBWI organizers, and I’ll see you in May!