Another irregular Mondays with Mira with Exciting News

Hullo all - I'm currently out of town and unable to post a video so I thought I'd let you know about where I am right now and what I'm up to in this exciting scoop.

Some big clues are in the pictures above. From left to right - sunset photo taken near Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary's home by Foreword Literary agent Danielle M. Smith. Danielle and me and our needle-felted brooches from craft night at Karen's. Karen and I. Yes we are happy women and we are using a collaborative rather than competitive approach to life and business.

So in case you didn't guess, I'm off at "Agent School" with Karen. I drove the 5 plus hours and we have been working our tails off and also having lots of fun. My new agency is called Hummingbird Literary and is not open to submissions yet but has guidelines in the "Work in progress" website. The website will be in MUCH BETTER shape very soon after I return home and can access more of my software.

After nine students from the Picture Book Academy received 12 contracts in nine months, some from my connections, Karen told me that she thought I'd make a great agent and would teach me if I was interested. Talk about an amazing door opening and then walking through it - lots of fear and courage on my part, extraordinary generosity on Karen's part. I feel incredibly lucky. The text below is from the current About page followed by more photos :) This may change before I launch mid July.

About

Although new to agenting, Hummingbird Literary is being mentored by Karen Grencik and Abigail Samoun from Red Fox Literary, and Danielle Smith from Foreword Literary Agency.

Founder Mira Reisberg, is also the Director of the Picture Book Academy, which trains children's book writers and illustrators in in-depth courses. Mira has a doctorate in education with a focus on children’s literature and a 25-year history in children’s literature having worked as an award-winning illustrator, writer, editor, art director, designer and teacher/mentor. Mira is also known as the Picture Book Whisperer because of her editorial skills, her facility with art theory and art direction, and her innovative ideas. Mira has also mentored and taught people like major award-winners and best-sellers Yuyi Morales, Kahryn Otoshi, and Deborah Underwood.

Through her courses at the Picture Book Academy, where she interviewed many editors, her former position as an SCBWI Illustrator Coordinator, and her warm outgoing personality, Mira already has many wonderful editorial connections and looks forward to making many more.

Her mission is to successfully represent all age-levels to create wonderful books featuring Hummingbird authors and illustrators. The agency will have a limited number of clients so that Mira and her team can focus on building long-term careers and fruitful relationships.

The agency blog, The Hum, will feature articles, introductions, and other goodies from Hummingbird Literary clients. 

Mira currently has a support staff including English Literature graduate Molly O’Hagan; Marketing graduate Brooke Elliott; teacher, K-12 educational technologist, and Young Adult aficionado Marilaine deGuia, and UC Berkeley Art graduate Marguerite Kalhor.

To find out about Hummingbird Literary’s submissions guidelines on our "not really ready to be seen yet" website, click here.

Karen driving my car.  My happy "drawing with foot in the sand" drawing. Me at the Madonna Inn in all it's pinkly obsession.