Stand-Out Picture Book Submissions
An Agent's Perspective
Agent Adria Goetz answers your burning questions about submissions, including:
- What makes an agent take notice of a picture book submission?
- What will get your submission thrown out?
- What are the market trends for picture books submissions in 2020?
- What is Adria looking (and not looking for) in picture book submissions?
- Plus, plenty of Q & A
Your Instructor
Adria Goetz is a Literary Manager at Martin Literary Management, currently accepting queries for picture books, middle grade, young adult, graphic novels, adult fiction (specifically female-driven thrillers/suspense and women’s fiction), quirky gift books, lifestyle books, cookbooks, and devotionals. She represents books for the general market, as well as the Christian market.
She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor’s degree in English with a Creative Writing emphasis, as well as the Columbia Publishing Course. Adria worked for the Pierce County Library System for two years. Prior to becoming a Literary Manager, Adria fostered her knack for developing creative work during her three years as an intern and assistant at Martin Literary & Media Management. In 2019, she was selected as a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree.
If you’re not sure if your project is right for Adria, she hopes you send in a query anyway because she would love to take a look at your labor of love! She is specifically looking for:
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Picture books: Adria loves magical picture books, stories with heart that feature everyday moments contemporary families experience, and funny, commercial picture books.
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Middle grade: Adria loves a strong voice, a good hook, magical adventures, high concept stories,
and graphic novels.
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Young Adult: Adria looks for a strong hook, and loves a strong sense of atmosphere. She is specifically looking for Graphic Novels, high concept Rom Coms, Thrillers, Magical Realism in the vein of The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, and a mermaid Fantasy.
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Graphic Novels: Adria is looking for more MG, YA, and Adult Graphic Novels. She would also love to work with someone who has a hybrid format similar to Brian Selznick's works.
- Adult Fiction: Adria is looking for female-driven Thrillers/Suspense, and Women’s Fiction (from upmarket book club fiction, to frothy beach reads).
Adria lives in an old Victorian home in the Seattle area with her husband Alex and their two darling cats, Maple and Mulberry. To learn more about Adria and what she is (and isn’t) looking for, check out her wish list. She tweets at @AdriaMGoetz.
Course Curriculum
"Adria Goetz was amazing! I love her advice about querying - 'Don't let fear hold you back. Self-doubt can be paralyzing, and I think we all feel it. When you watch (Adria's) webinar I think you'll be inspired by her no fear message."
- Stephanie Gibeault, Author
"Just wanted to say, a huge Thank You to Adria Goetz for the latest 12x12 webinar chocked full of great insights and information from an agent’s perspective."
Nadia Ali - Author
"I didn’t get very far into the webinar with (Adria Goetz) and (Julie Hedlund) before I welled up at the realization that I had found people who love picture books as much as I do."
- Christy Manding, Author of LUCKY (HarperCollins 2022) and client of Adria