This week’s agent interview series hosts the lovely and hilarious Renee Nyen of KT Literary. Renee joined KT Literary in early 2013 after working in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division. She has a sharp editorial eye and enjoys partnering with clients to help shape their projects in the best way possible.

Tell us a little about your background and what drew you to publishing.
I wrote and illustrated my first book when I was 5, so it was inevitable. I’ve been really lucky to always know this would be my path. (Ok, I wanted to be a nurse for a hot second, but then I remembered that I am emetophobic and nurses have to deal with a lot of vomit, so I signed up for British Lit instead of Anatomy.) I love reading and I love recommending books to people and at its core, that’s what agenting is.

What do you most want to find in your slush pile right now? Anything you’re really not that into?
I’m loving YA and MG SFF right now. MG magic and witchiness is something I’ve been looking for lately, too. And I recently put out a call on Twitter for YA thrillers and had so much fun reading the submissions.

I love historical fiction, too but rarely see it in my inbox. I would love a book like Kiersten White’s AND I DARKEN. In full disclosure, I typically don’t like American frontier/Oregon Trail books. Though, I did recently finished Rae Carson’s stunning WALK ON EARTH A STRANGER and loved every second of it. So…

What’s your favorite part of being an agent? What do you find most challenging?
Seeing a manuscript become a book is a thrilling, powerful feeling. I’m like a midwife for books. Ok, weird analogy, but ask any of my authors—it’s true!

As for negatives, the length of time the whole publishing process takes is hard. People who aren’t in the industry don’t understand it. Hell, I don’t always understand it. But sometimes it’s deflating to work on something that won’t hit shelves for 2 or 3 years. All of the author’s hard work isn’t even acknowledged for months and months. And when exciting things happen, you can’t talk about it right away. With the immediacy of social media, it’s hard not to share.

KT Literary seems like an amazing agency to work with. What sets it apart from other agencies?
You mean other than working with some of the most respected, articulate, savvy people in the business? There’s a real sense of camaraderie. And we’re a team. Every victory is celebrated. Every loss commiserated.

Are you participating in any upcoming contests/conferences where authors might meet you in person?
I’ll be at ALA Midwinter this year! Also, I’m going to be at the RWA conference in Scottsdale, AZ in June 2017.

What are your top three favorite books?
This year, other than my clients:
EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING by Nicola Yoon
WOLF BY WOLF Ryan Graudin
THE GREAT AMERICAN WHATEVER Tim Federle

All time/desert island:
The Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter
Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Patterson

What are your top three favorite films?
Weird thing about me: I prefer TV to movies. So my top 3 TV shows are:
The Office (US)
Firefly
Game of Thrones

Any nuggets of wisdom for querying writers?
It’s worth putting the time in. For all of it. Take time to research the agents. To perfect your query. Your comp titles. Your opening pages. It’s the little things that set the best queries apart.

Any query pet peeves or format styles you particularly prefer?
Get down to business. I don’t need wooing in your query. No voice. Nothing cutesy. That’s what your pages are for.
I want to know what your book is about, who it’s about, what makes it special, and where you think it should sit on the bookstore shelves. That’s it.

What’s one little-known (and preferably rather odd) fact about you, just to keep things interesting?
I was a swimmer in high school. I wasn’t half bad. And I loved it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to share a little bit about yourself, your agenting style, and about KT Literary! For all you querying writers, Renee is open to queries and if your project is a good fit for her, she’d love to hear from you. You can submit your query and first three pages to her at reneequery@ktliterary.com.

HILARY HARWELL writes dark, whimsical fantasy and atmospheric horror for kids and teens. She makes her home in Colorado where she’s also a literary assistant at KT Literary. You can connect with her on Twitter.