Literary Agent Interview: Carter Hasegawa Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

 Today, I’m thrilled to have agent Carter Hasegawa here. He’s an agent at Tugeau 2 Art & Literary Agency. 

Hi­ Carter! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Carter: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent.

Thanks so much for having me. While I’ve only been a literary agent for *checks calendar* seven months, I’ve been working in publishing for nearly two decades. Even I can’t believe it’s been that long. Am I really that old?! 

Before I was an agent, I was an editor at Candlewick Press for 14 years and change. I was also a bookseller at various independent bookstores in Seattle and Boston. Most notably I was at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA for 10 years. But agenting—I feel like I’ve been preparing for this job my entire career. 

Beyond learning just exactly what a literary agent does these past seven months, I’ve also been building an incredible list of authors and illustrators for the children’s market. It’s been mostly a mix of getting artist portfolios ready for publishers’ eyes, strategizing with my authors which of their books to submit first, reading query submission, and editing lots and lots of manuscripts.

 About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors. 

We’re a tight team at Tugeau 2 Art and Literary Agency (T2). Nicole Tugeau founded the agency over 20 years ago mainly as an illustrator’s agency, but she’s since built T2 to be this incredible fount of talented authors and illustrators. About three years ago, husband-and-wife team Ethan and Heather Long joined the agency, and they work in tandem with their team of authors and illustrators. I knew Ethan in my previous role as editor. He’s actually the one who recruited me to T2. 

Because we’re a small-ish agency, we’re able to keep up with each team’s client list. We have regular meetings where we provide feedback on creator projects, and we share insights and offer advice on industry-related matters. It’s a continual back-and-forth of support, mentorship, and inspiration. 

What He’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres?

Because I worked on a bit of everything when I was an editor, it only makes sense for me to continue that pattern as an agent. I represent PB, MG, and YA, fiction and nonfiction, in nearly any genre. Generally, I’m looking for that something special that only you can bring to a project. I want authors and illustrators who have something to say with their medium. And I want it to matter. 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

I suppose I’m not really interested in seeing your take on “X.” If there are 20 books in the market right now with a similar plot/theme, I’m not going to get too excited if yours is just another version of what’s already out there. In all cases, I want something original. Again, something only YOU can create. 

What He Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

More of the same. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

Before I sign a client, I like to get to know the person that I’m potentially going to work with— and I want them to get to know me. First and foremost, beyond being talented (because, of course), I want to like the person that I’m representing. Also, it’s not a requirement by any means, but it’s icing on the cake when my authors are able to pivot their writing between audiences and genres. Many of my clients have been at this for years, so for the most part we’re working with a whole portfolio of projects that we’re looking to submit. It changes the workload and the relationship when it’s not just developing the early career of a creator – although, it is often this – we’re looking at career management in a way that I imagine is something that usually comes with time in an agent’s career. 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

It’d be pretty funny if after a decade and a half of editing I suddenly came to agenting and was like, “yeah, I’m done with that.” No, I am totally an editorial agent. I’ve seen how it works on the publisher’s side of things, so I think my role as an agent is to get my client’s project to a point where it can get through the acquisitions process. It’s not my role to get your book publish-ready—save that for the editor and the publisher’s creative team. That being said, “getting through the acquisitions process” is a fairly vague definition. Basically, my goal is to anticipate the “NO’s” and edit the book so that the only answer that makes sense is a yes. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

Please use QueryTracker. For a query letter, I obviously want to know a little about the project and about you. But what I think a lot of people forget is that this is a human endeavor. It is a one-on-one conversation. This means that I want the letter to feel like it was written just for me. Not “I see you like humor, so I’m sending you my funny picture book.” I want your perspective / personality to come through your letter. Why you’re the one to tell this story and why it needs to be told. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? 

When the queries feel like they could’ve been written by and/or sent to anyone. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

Now that I actually have a client list, it takes me longer than I want to reply to a query. However, I’ve started working with readers to help me get through the queue. Yes, I have queries that are literally months in my inbox, but I’m doing what I can to respond as quickly as possible. And I will respond. My goal is to have a one-month turnaround, but I fully admit that I’m a long ways away from this being a reality. 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

I’m happy to work with self-published and/or independently published authors. Some of my clients have had a lot of success in this area. However, I’m likely not interested in trying to find a traditional publisher for an already-published book. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

About two-thirds of my authors will be debuts in the American children’s market. Of the folks who’ve been published in the US, they include: Marcie Flinchum Atkins, Skila Brown, Henry Herz, Alethea Kontis, Cynthia Platt, Madelyn Rosenberg, AJ Smith, and Kip Wilson. About half of my clients are folks that I knew before I became an agent. A couple of them were authors whose books I’ve edited. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you. 

I’m usually in the background, so this is only my 2^nd interview since becoming an agent. (Pleased to meet you!) You can read my first interview here: 

https://fromthemixedupfiles.com/meet-carter-hasegawa-literary-and-illustration-agent/ 

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web. 

QueryTracker: https://querytracker.net/agent/19614

Tugeau 2: https://tugeau2.com/about#:~:text=Carter%20is-,open,-to%20Author%2C%20Illustrator 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered? 

Before I made the decision to switch to agenting, I chatted with an agent who has been in the industry for over 40 years. And they said that they’ve never seen the market this bad before. It’s tough out there. But if we look at history, the market always rebounds. People will always want books to add to their shelves. What we do – what we provide – matters. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Carter. 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change.

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Giveaway Details 

­Carter is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through November 29th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address. 

If you follow me on Twitter or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Monday, November 24th, I have a guest post by R.M. Romero and a giveaway of her MG The Tear Collector

Monday, December 1st, I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, December 3rd, I have a guest post by Leigh Madrid and a giveaway of her YA My Lips, Her Voice, and my IWSG post 

Monday, December 7th, I have an interview with Sarvenaz Tash and a giveaway of The Treasure of Ocean Parkway 

Wednesday, December 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Andie Smith and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, December 15th, I’m participating in the Dashing December Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, December 17th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Marissa Cleveland and a query critique giveaway

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

Literary Agent Interview: Mara Cobb Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Mara Cobb here. She’s an agent at Lighthouse Literary. 

Hi Mara! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Mara: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent. 

Hi! Excited to chat about all things agenting! I’ve been an agent since September 2023. Before that, I interned for a year and a half under a senior literary agent, learning the ropes of research, proposal creation, and contracts. 

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors. 

Lighthouse Literary represents both children’s and adult fiction and nonfiction. We represent Christian works and secular works as long as the content doesn’t conflict with Christian values. 

What She’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent, and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres? 

I currently represent kidlit—picture books, MG, and YA (all genres except horror), adult nonfiction, and adult fiction (contemporary, historical fiction, clean romance, and Christian fiction). 

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

No matter the genre, I’m continually drawn to well-developed characters. I love main characters that I feel a strong connection to, and I love antagonists that make me inwardly groan or roll my eyes (I have a special love for antagonists that have a believable turning point within the story). Plot-wise, I’m excited by high-stakes climaxes and conclusions that feel well-developed instead of abrupt. 

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

I’m not currently accepting picture book or middle grade submissions except through referrals or conference pitches. I am currently interested in YA, adult nonfiction, and adult fiction across genres, though I’m not interested in horror, fantasy (light fantasy or magical realism is fine), and open-door romance. I’m also not a good fit for books with excessive swearing or violence. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

I view the agent/author relationship as a partnership, and I am always excited by authors that view the relationship the same way. Writing and agenting is a continuous process of growth and discovery, and I appreciate when authors remain curious and continue to hone their skills through mentorships, workshops, continued reading in their genre, etc. I want to represent books that bring the “light” to “Lighthouse Literary”—books that serve as a beacon of hope or encouragement or offer a literary escape from our daily lives. 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

Yes, I consider myself to be very editorial. When I go into “the call” with an author, I usually go in with some edits already in mind. When an author signs, we will begin editing together, and we go through multiple editing rounds as needed. I typically offer both content edits and line edit suggestions. My belief, though, is that in the end the finished product is the work of the author—I never force authors to implement any idea. Again—it’s a partnership! 🙂 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

I accept queries via QueryManager, which is here: https://QueryTracker.net/query/3041 

The form asks for basic information about the author, a query letter, a synopsis, and the first ten pages of the work. In the query letter, I typically want to know the most important aspects of the work, and I’m looking for more information about the author too—who are they? What works have they previously completed or published? What are their writing goals in general? I think of the query as a sort of speed-date. I want to quickly get to know the author and the manuscript. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you? 

In general, I feel that prologues slow a story down. They typically distract from the true opening of the story and they make it hard for me, as an agent, to get a feel for the story if the prologue is in the way. While there are some stories that do need a prologue, most don’t. I encourage authors to take out the prologue and see if their first chapter can stand on its own. If there are key pieces of info in the prologue, they can generally be incorporated into the opening chapters. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

My response time to queries averages 8-12 weeks. Full requests or partial requests definitely take longer, up to 4-5 months depending on the time of year and the status of my current clients’ projects. While I would love to be able to respond to queries or full requests quicker, I’m only one person who can only read so much each day, and I always prioritize my current authors. If we’re in the middle of preparing a project for submission, that will take priority. 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

Yes! I typically don’t go out on submission with a manuscript that’s already been published. But if an author has been self-published or published by a small press, and they query with a brand new project, I’m fine with that. It shows that they take their craft seriously enough to be proactive on their own. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

I love all of my authors and consider them friends, so it’s hard to name just a few. I currently represent Sharon Chriscoe, author of the Race Car Dreams series, Susan Johnston Taylor, author of the forthcoming book If Pets Wrote Poems, and Laura L. Zimmerman, author of the Banshee Song series. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you. 

Here is a link to a blog post I wrote last year, where I share query letter tips: https://goteenwriters.com/2024/01/24/five-tips-for-writing-a-successful-query-letter-to-an-agent/ 

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web. 

My QueryManager link is here: https://QueryTracker.net/query/3041

Personal website: https://maracobbwrites.wordpress.com/

You can also find me on Twitter/X: @MaraCobbWrites 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered? 

The journey to publication can be long and full of ups and downs, so don’t hesitate to lean on your community. If you don’t have a writing community, I encourage you to start connecting with other writers, whether you’re joining a national writing organization or meeting up with fellow authors at your local library. 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Mara. 

Mara is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through November 29th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Sunday, November 16th, I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop 

Monday, November 17th, I have a guest post by Mike Steel and a giveaway of his MG Not Lucille 

Wednesday, November 19th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Carter Hasegawa and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, November 24th, I have a guest post by R.M. Romero and a giveaway of her MG The Tear Collector 

Monday, December 1st, I’m participating in the Holly Jolly Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, December 3rd, I have a guest post by Leigh Madrid and a giveaway of her YA My Lips, Her Voice, and my IWSG post 

Monday, December 7th, I have an interview with Sarvenaz Tash and a giveaway of The Treasure of Ocean Parkway 

I hope to see you on Monday!

 

Literary Agent Interview: Sophie Sheumaker Interview and Query Critique Giveaway

Today I’m thrilled to have agent Sophie Sheumaker here. She’s a literary assistant at BookEnds. 

Hi­ Sophie! Thanks so much for joining us. 

About Sophie: 

1. Tell us how you became an agent, how long you’ve been one, and what you’ve been doing as an agent. 

I came to BookEnds in March of 2022 as a literary assistant. I still assist the wonderful Naomi Davis and work in our global rights department, but in 2024 I began quietly agenting. I started out with illustrators (who I met by referral, or by coming across their portfolios independently), taking on just one or two at a time. But in 2025, I began actively building my list, selling projects, and really finding my place. Now, I work with illustrators and authors alike, from picture books all the way up through adult. 

About the Agency: 

2. Share a bit about your agency and what it offers to its authors. 

BookEnds was started in 1999 by the president of our agency, Jessica Faust. It started small, and has grown over the years, and now I think it offers an incredible space of collaboration for authors. Not just collaboration between author and agent, though that’s definitely a part of it, but collaboration between the agents themselves. I never feel like I’m on my own in anything—I always have the wealth of knowledge, experience, and support from the agents here who understand the publishing world in a way that only someone with years under their belt can. 

What She’s Looking For: 

3. What age groups do you represent—picture books, MG, and/or YA? What genres do you represent, and what are you looking for in submissions for these genres? 

In the children’s department, my focus is middle grade and YA for right now (with a few author-illustrator picture books thrown in!). I’m looking for anything speculative—anything magical, anything transportive, anything that reads like it could be the basis for a Studio Ghibli movie.   

4.  Is there anything you would be especially excited to seeing in the genres you are interested in? 

I’d be particularly excited to see queer stories in any format (including middle grade! Show me your queer first crushes!). Stories that have a strong third person narrator that feels like a character. And horror! I’d love to see more creepy, atmospheric horror.  

What She Isn’t Looking For: 

5. What types of submissions are you not interested in? 

I try not to emphasize submissions I’m not interested in, because there could always be something I think I won’t like but will surprise me, but a good rule of thumb: no hard sci-fi, no nonfiction, nothing really war central, nothing with detective/cop characters, nothing written with AI. 

Agent Philosophy: 

6. What is your philosophy as an agent both in terms of the authors you want to work with and the books you want to represent? 

Communication is KEY. I try to openly communicate with all of clients, whether that means replying to emails quickly or openly sharing information with them such as my nudge timelines, editor responses, and my own editorial feedback. It’s the foundation of trust between author and agent, and using it properly allows me to work on the books I think are going to launch a client’s career. 

Editorial Agent: 

7. Are you an editorial agent? If so, what is your process like when you’re working with your authors before submitting to editors? 

Yes! Typically, when I take an author on, I open our submission call with a short editorial letter. After they accept representation, I’ll send them a longer editorial letter. The next draft will usually be a line edit and after that we’re almost always ready to go out on submission. I have had a couple instances where I’ve shown up with very few editorial thoughts, and in those cases we do a small line edit before submission. I always note with my clients that my edits are suggestions, and are here for brainstorming. They should never be taken as directives! I usually read a client’s book multiple times before sending it out. 

Query Methods and Submission Guidelines: (Always verify before submitting) 

8. How should authors query you and what do you want to see with the query letter? 

Please query me via QueryTracker. I want to see a short, one page query. The first paragraph should include the title of your book, the word count, any comparable titles, and a one sentence logline. The next two paragraphs should pitch me the most important parts of your story and the last paragraph should include a bit of information about yourself. I also always ask for a full synopsis of the book alongside my queries. 

9.  Do you have any specific dislikes in query letters or the first pages submitted to you?

Queries that are very long or very short—it can be just as frustrating to read a query with absolutely no information as it is to read one that has so much information in it that you can’t tell what the book is really about. 

Response Time: 

10. What’s your response time to queries and requests for more pages of a manuscript? 

I’m trying to respond to all queries within 8 weeks. I’m still working through the pile up I got from when I first opened queries, but my goal is to have an 8 week response for queries and a 12 week response on requested material (I’m behind right now, but hope to not be soon!). 

Self-Published and Small Press Authors: 

11.  Are you open to representing authors who have self-published or been published by smaller presses? What advice do you have for them if they want to try to find an agent to represent them? 

I am open to self-published authors/authors who have been published by a smaller press! I remember when I was in college, my publishing professor insisted that it was near impossible to get traditionally published if you’d been self-published before, but I don’t think that’s true at all in this day and age. You may be asked to publish new material under a pseudonym, but otherwise you should be okay. I’ll note, though, that while it’s not a problem at all for me to take on an author who has self-published in the past, it is very rare for me to take on a submission for a book that is already self-published. 

Clients: 

12. Who are some of the authors you represent? 

Lilibeth Jimenez is an author-illustrator I work with whose work never fails to make me smile! She’s got a few things coming out in the next two years, and I’m so excited about it. Another one of my clients that I think is a star to watch is author-illustrator Keiko Hayner. She has the most whimsical, stunning work, and the stories she comes up with will transport you to another world. She has two books she’s under contract for and I’m thrilled to get to see them out in the world. 

Interviews and Guest Posts: 

13. Please share the links to any interviews, guest posts, and podcasts you think would be helpful to writers interested in querying you. 

Not to plug BookEnds, but I do think we have some great resources for writers who are querying (or even just looking to take the first steps in the publishing world). I particularly recommend our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BookEndsLiterary/videos . I’ve had so many calls with clients who reference the YouTube channel and note it being very helpful to them.  

Links and Contact Info: 

14. Please share how writers should contact you to submit a query and your links on the Web. 

Please find my wishlist and query guidelines here https://www.bookendsliterary.com/sophie-sheumaker. 

Additional Advice: 

15. Is there any other advice you’d like to share with aspiring authors that we haven’t covered? 

Keep trying. A good part of an agent’s job is finding that perfect editor for their client—we get a lot of no’s before we find that elusive yes. But just like we’ll find our client’s their perfect editor, you will find your perfect agent. And maybe it’ll be me! 

Thanks for sharing all your advice, Sophie. 

Giveaway Details

­Sophie is generously offering a query critique to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment through October 25th. If you do not want to enter the contest, that’s okay. Just let me know in the comments. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. This is an international giveaway. 

Have any experience with this agent? See something that needs updating? Please leave a comment or email me at natalieiaguirre7@gmail.com 

Note: These agent profiles and interviews presently focus on agents who accept children's fiction. Please take the time to verify anything you might use here before querying an agent. The information found here is subject to change. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops 

Tomorrow, October 16th I’m participating in the Silly Pumpkin Giveaway Hop 

Monday, October 20th I have a guest post by author Claudia Mills and a giveaway of her MG The Last Apple Tree 

Monday, October 27th I have an interview with author Dusti Bowling and a giveaway of her MG Holding on for Dear Life 

Saturday, November 1st, I’m participating in the Thanks a Latte Giveaway Hop 

Wednesday, November 5th, I have an interview with Pamela N. Harris and a giveaway of her YA Through Our Teeth and my IWSG post 

Monday, November 10th, I have a guest post by Darlene P. Compos and a giveaway of her MG The Center of the Earth 

Wednesday, November 12th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Mara Cobb and a query critique giveaway 

Sunday, November 16th, I’m participating in the In All Things Give Thanks Giveaway Hop 

Monday, November 17th, I have a guest post by Mike Steel and a giveaway of his MG Not Lucille 

Wednesday, November 19th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Carter Hasegawa and a query critique giveaway 

Monday, November 24th, I have a guest post by R.M. Romero and a giveaway of her MG The Tear Collector 

I hope to see you on Thursday!