7 Questions For: Literary Agent Jordy Albert

Jordy Albert is a Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the L. Perkins Agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. Jordy also works as a freelance editor/PR Director. She enjoys studying languages (French/Japanese), spends time teaching herself how to knit, is a HUGE fan of Doctor Who, and loves dogs.

She is looking for stories that capture her attention and keep her turning the page. She is looking for a strong voice, and stories that have the ability to surprise her. She loves intelligent characters with a great sense of humor. She would love to see fresh, well-developed plots featuring travel, competitions/tournaments, or time travel. Jordy is specifically looking for:

* Middle Grade: contemporary, fantasy, action/adventure, or historical.
* YA: sci-fi, dystopian/post-apocalyptic, contemporary, historical (Though I am open to looking at other sub-genres, I'm looking for YA that has a very strong romantic element). 
* NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE.
* Romance (contemporary and historical).

And now Jordy Albert faces the 7 Questions: 

Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?

To Kill A Mockingbird, Poison Princess, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (But the entire series, really!). 

                    
          

Question Six: What are your top three favorite movies and television shows?

The Shawshank Redemption

Indiana Jones (All of them!)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

TV

Doctor Who

Sherlock

Once Upon A Time/The Walking Dead

Question Five: What are the qualities of your ideal client?

I would say a great sense of humor, enthusiasm and patience.

Question Four: What sort of project(s) would you most like to receive a query for?

Romance, especially YA/NA contemporary, historical, paranormal (think Karen Marie Moning and Kresley Cole). Light sci-fi and fantasy. YA stories that involve travel (think 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson). Middle Grade stories that make me laugh and think.

Question Three: What is your favorite thing about being an agent? What is your least favorite thing?

I love my job! I am so thankful everyday that I get to do something I love, and work with wonderful, creative people, who love books and stories as much as I do! On the flip side, my least favorite thing would be having to tell a client that we have to move on from a project if we weren't able to find the book a home. 

Question Two: What one bit of wisdom would you impart to an aspiring writer? (feel free to include as many other bits of wisdom as you like)

I know it's been said before, but I think it's really important so I'll say it again: Never give up! 

Keep writing! Do your research because it gives a sense of authenticity to your writing. Find a critique partner or two, and enter contests and attend conferences when you feel you're ready. Read a lot. Develop a strong, distinct voice. 

Question One: If you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

J.K. Rowling because it's J.K. Rowling! I remember loving the first Harry Potter book so much that I slept with my paperback copy under my pillow. 

www.thebookeralbertagency.com 

7 Questions For: Literary Agent Brittany Booker

Brittany Booker is a  Literary Agent and co-founder of The Booker Albert Literary Agency. She has worked with Marisa Corvisiero during her time at the Lori Perkins agency and the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She will graduate in December  of 2012 with a BA in English and a minor in journalism.

She is looking for novels that keep her  up at  night and transports her into the pages.In fiction she is looking for well-written contemporary romances, historical fiction, fantasies, YA and new adult. She is specifically interested in time travel novels. As for YA, Brittany  is drawn to contemporary works; dramatic or funny romances; and urban fantasy.  She's especially interested in YA that is funny and quirky. The goofier the  heroine the better. She is a big sucker for happy endings. She also has a  passion for books set in the south. She also has working knowledge of Japanese  and Spanish.Brittany is not looking for erotica,middle grade, memoirs or paranormal works at the moment.

And now Brittany Booker faces the 7 Questions:

Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Waiting For Normal by Leslie Connor

Question Six: What are your top three favorite movies and television shows?

The Vampire Diaries

Pitch Perfect

Glee

Question Five: What are the qualities of your ideal client?

This is a rather difficult question. I love all of my clients and they each have qualities I love. I would say that the most important things I want my clients to have is confidence and patience. If an author is absolutely in love with their book, I will be able to tell.  It makes me want to read it even more. Confidence helps an agent see how important the novel is to the author. Also, it takes a while to find an agent. However, it can also take a long time to get published. If an author has patience it helps both the agent and the author in the long run.

Question Four: What sort of project(s) would you most like to receive a query for?

YA Contemporary is what I love the most. I absolutely adore the dramatic teenage stories. However, I’ve been in search of a good YA time-travel, novels boys can relate to and new adult novels. New Adult is the new thing and I really want to find a good one.

Question Three: What is your favorite thing about being an agent? What is your least favorite thing?

I love to read. I could get lost for hours in a good book. I also love the thought of making someone’s dreams come true. My least favorite part is that it’s very easy to get behind. You take on too many partials to read and it can take you a few weeks to get caught back up.

Question Two: What one bit of wisdom would you impart to an aspiring writer? (feel free to include as many other bits of wisdom as you like)

Wisdom. I never thought someone would ask me for that. Even though this is cliché, I would say ‘never give up.’ If you believe in your novel enough, keep submitting, keep searching for that one person that is meant for your book. After all, it only takes one yes.

Question One: If you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

I believe I would say Harper Lee who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. This is one of my favorite novels (not my top three but one of my favorites) and I would ask why she’d never published another book. For someone who wrote a classic, it bugs me to know why she didn’t write another one.

www.thebookeralbertagency.com