Which Slush Pile is Best for me?

It is that time of the year again.

Bologna is over. London Book Fair is close enough to smell. In a couple of weeks, editors, agents and publishers will be back to their day jobs and perhaps will find some spare time to check their submissions in-box or the slush-pile as they lovingly call it.

Having placed a picture book on my own, I feel the pang of not having an agent. I know if there is someone to fight my battles,  place my work on the right tables, I will be able to get some of my current submissions into acceptances.

Getting close to personal rejections from editors from reputed publishing houses, I always wonder – what if I had placed this story with the right editor at the right time. How can I find an agent who can help me get noticed?

So this spring Saturday, with loads of other things to do, I embark on finding out if there is an agent out there who accepts children’s writing. If they do, do they accept picture books.

Having done the research and decided who to send my materials to, I thought I’d share this with the rest of the world. There are so many of us out there, struggling to do the writing, editing , revising, placing and marketing all on our own. Perhaps it would help others save some time.

So fellow children’s authors, here are my findings. Feel free to share your own findings, tips and cautions in the comments.

Who is accepting children’s book manuscripts?

Milestott Children’s Literary Agency http://www.s291999326.websitehome.co.uk/subs.html

Darley Anderson – http://www.darleyandersonchildrens.com/submissions.html

Felicity Bryan – 8+ only – http://www.felicitybryan.com/Submissions.html

Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown – 8+ only – http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/stephanie-thwaites/

Eddision Pearson – http://www.eddisonpearson.com/submissions.html – closed until May 2012.

AM Heath – (Sarah Molloy) – No picture books. http://www.amheath.com/submissions.php

Pollinger Limited – http://www.pollingerltd.com/submissions/index.htm

RWC – Pat White and Claire Wilson – http://www.rcwlitagency.com/submissions.aspx
and Sam Copeland (11+ only)

Caroline Sheldon’s Literary Agency – http://www.carolinesheldon.co.uk/client.php

Eve White – http://www.evewhite.co.uk/new/submissions.html – at this time 7+ only

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