Agent Spotlight: Lindsey Aduskevich

Happy Friday and welcome to Picture Book Spotlight!

Yesterday, my wife, Katherine, and I got to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (or as we describe it, our family's 15th birthday). To make it fun for our kids, we all had cake to mark the occasion. New tradition! Katherine is and always has been (aside from my parents) my biggest fan and supporter of this little author thing I do. She gets to see me excited and frustrated by creative problems, watch me laugh at my own dumb jokes while writing after our kids go to sleep, and hear about all the publishing drama (good and bad) before anyone else does.

I love you, and I'm so lucky to do this crazy life by your side!

Here's to all the family and loved ones cheering us on from the wings who provide fuel to keep these dreams alive. Don't forget to share how much they mean to you!

Speaking of publishing drama, if you're feeling down about rejection, my heart goes out to you. I was rejected 600 times before my first agent. But rejection does not have the final word over you. It doesn't define you. So don't let it tell you a story about yourself that isn't true. If you want to be published, rejection is the norm. Even after getting an agent, the rejections don't stop. You just get used to it. I get rejected by editors and even my own agent all the time! (though I stopped counting because that probably wasn't healthy LOL). It's probably approaching 1,000 rejections by now...

Stories are powerful for us. What story are you telling yourself? Why not: I am worthy of being published. I have a voice that needs to be heard. Kids will love my stories!

Keep knocking. Doors open to those who knock...

Because sometimes a "no" changes to a "yes."

I was reminded of this recently.

In case you missed it via social media...I am officially vague again. Or is it double-vague? BAH! All I can say at this point is...pancakes. That's all you get for now. Okay, pups and pancakes. But that's IT!

A shoutout to Senior Agent Jen Rofé who is truly AMAZING. We just started working together on May 1st. What is even happening!? If you haven't checked them out yet, I recommend all the friends at Andrea Brown Literary Agency if you're looking for a place to share your picture book manuscripts and seeking literary representation. Can't wait to share more! Pancakes!

To celebrate the vagueness, I'd like to do a summer critique sale. From now until the end of June, all critiques (except for mentorships) will be 25% off with the promo code "Pancakes25off." I'd love to collaborate with you on your picture book manuscripts and be a part of your story. Rush turnaround and pagination services are available for written critiques. I also have Zoom critiques, author consultation Zoom sessions, and second-look critiques if you have shared a manuscript with me previously and want more feedback on a revision. Sign up for a crtique today.

Thanks again for being a picture book champion, enduring rejection, and honing your craft to tell exceptional stories to children. It's a beautiful day to write something new and dream big. Doors are still opening! Go knock!

And now we shift our focus to one who opens said doors...

Lindsey Aduskevich is Literary Manager (agent) with Martin-Newens Literary Management. I'm so excited to share our Spotlight interview. There are so many good nuggets! Just so you know, Lindsey is doing a pretty rad giveaway with our post, so be sure to read to the end to check out how you can participate.

Well, I know you're just bursting to learn more about Lindsey and update those query letters, so we'd better get after it. On with the show!

Sit back. Dim the lights. Cue the spotlight.

Here's Lindsey!

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Hi, Lindsey! Welcome to Picture Book Spotlight. For all the curious authors out there, are you open to picture book submissions and still taking new clients? If so, what are you hoping to see? What are you hoping not to see?

Hi, Brian! Thanks so much for having me. I am absolutely open to picture book submissions. In fact, picture books are one of my favorite genres to read. And yes, I am looking for clients. I am open to seeing pretty much anything. You can send me fiction, non-fiction, or informational fiction. I prefer prose, but if you can do rhyme really well, I’m happy to look. My tastes run all over the place, though I have a soft spot for humor with big heart, dark humor, and stories that make me tear up.

Give us a mini snapshot of your picture book wishlist. What three picture books would you have LOVED to represent? What do you like about them?

This is such a great question! Currently, I would have LOVED to represent:

THE MEMORY CAKE by Caroline L. Perry, illustrated by Jennifer Bricking. This story is as sweet as it is sad, but with a joyful ending that leaves readers with hope and the knowledge that we can overcome hard times. And like a good cake, this story has layers—intergenerational, history, war, family, and cooking! And yummy bonus, it has a recipe in the back! When I think about my ideal picture book, this is it.

FLOODED by Mariajo Ilustrajo. The last line of this story is the very reason I love it. “But now they knew the only way to fix a problem…was together.” In this story, there is a town with a little problem that keeps growing. Some are affected more severely than others, and different ideas are shared about what's causing the problem. The problem continues to grow until they all come together to solve it. How utterly perfect.

THANK YOU, OMU! by Oge Mora. With themes of community, sharing, selflessness, and love, this story has my heart. I also fell in love with the diverse characters, mixed media collages, and the overall message of gratitude and kindness. But the thing that stood out to me the most were Oge’s last two lines in this story. “While Omu’s big fat pot of thick red stew was empty, her heart was full of happiness and love. That dinner was the best dinner she had ever had.” They left me with such a warm feeling.

Thinking about effective queries that really grabbed your attention in the past, what kinds of things did those authors do?

Simple things, really. Authors who’ve grabbed my attention had a well-written query letter and a story that drew me in right from the start. But to break it down a bit more, here are a few things you can do to get my attention:

1.     Having my name at the top of the query letter tells me you are personally querying me and not just shooting your story off to whoever will take it.

2.     Stating why you think I would be a good fit for your story also gets my attention.

3.     A great pitch that shows the main character’s goals, conflict, and stakes communicates to me that you have been honing your craft and know what you’re doing.

4.     Good comps published in the past three to five years will always stand out to me as well. Reading in your genre is the best way to know what will stand out in the market, and if you can paint me a picture of where your book stands, I’m game!

5.     Don’t forget your bio! Keep this succinct and don’t be afraid to splash in some fun with your serious.

6.     Lastly, make sure your story is as polished as possible, and it’s one that you know is going to take me on an emotional journey or make me laugh several times. I read so many amazing stories, but it’s the ones that make me tear up or laugh out loud that get me wanting to ask for more!

If we submit to you, what are some essential questions we should ask ourselves beforehand? 

Hmmm…I can definitely list a number of questions, but first I want everyone reading to know that I never liked to be that writer who allowed her inner negative editor to crush her inspiration. If you feel good about your story, I am always happy to look. But, to answer this question, did you experience an emotional journey while writing this? Did you cry? Laugh? Tear up? Get frustrated? Feel hopeful? I truly believe the emotions we put into our stories are often transferred to our readers. At this moment, I’m looking for stories that evoke one or more of these emotions in me. If you didn’t answer yes to any of these, ask yourself if your story is teaching readers something new in fun or clever ways? Is there history in your story? Is it speaking to current issues?

But again, don’t stress. If your critique partners and your inner voice are telling you to query this story, then I’m happy to look.

Talk to us about art notes and pagination. What should our attitude be toward these conventions and how do they impact your reading of a picture book manuscript? 

This is a very subjective question! I hear some agents and editors say absolutely no art notes, while others accept them. The same with pagination. For me, I don’t have any requirements. If you prefer to paginate, that is fine! If you want to write with art notes, I am good with that, too. However, if you are going to use art notes, I would recommend using them the right way. Only keep them in if they are necessary. If it’s not necessary to know that Kate is wearing overalls and a red hat, then keep that out. If you are leaving room for the illustrator but think it would be a good idea to give ideas in an art note about what the character could be doing, that’s great! We can decide to cut them when we go out on sub if we need to.

Talk to us about openings. What’s something absolutely critical to establish within the first few spreads? 

Grounding me into the story right away is absolutely critical for me to read on. This can be done by putting your reader in the mind of the main character. Opening up with a common description of the setting through a narrator’s voice (unless this is intentional and part of your structure/genre…think meta or unusual storytelling here) is a quick way to lose my attention. In the first few spreads, I want to know your character, what they want, and what just put a crimp in their day. Finding unique ways to do this will make your opening stand out. A couple of questions you can ask yourself to figure out if you have a hooky opening are:

• Have you created a standout character readers are going to fall in love with?

• Is your main character’s problem something universal to the young readers you are writing for? Will they be able to see themselves in your character’s shoes?

• Are your stakes coming through in the first few spreads?

• How is this story different from the rest that have already been told?

• Is there a mystery or something else that has readers itching to turn the page?

• What did you use/do to hook your reader?

                 Basically, your job is to hook the reader in your first few spreads. Even if you choose

                 not to follow the formula, make readers not want to put the story down from the start.  

If we could put on “Lindsey Aduskevich eyes” to look critically at our stories, what is ONE THING that you always look for that we can too?

Heart. I am super big on the heart of the story. See if you can pinpoint the exact moment in the story where you think the heart is and have your critique partners do it too. Are the moments lining up? If it’s big enough to cause a reaction, this should be an easy thing to identify. If your story leans more towards the informational fiction side, then what is the “aha” moment?

Complete the following sentence: "Lindsey is an agent who…"

really loves chocolate mint cake, and also strives to be supportive, communicative, passionate, transparent, and always maintain a positive mindset even if the industry feels like it’s going up in flames.

Thank you so much, Lindsey! LOL "even if the industry feels like it's going up in flames." 🤣

And thank YOU for stopping by the blog. Now to our giveaway...Lindsey has offered to do a picture book manuscript critique for one lucky winner. WOW! See details below on how you can enter and get vital feedback on a manuscript from Lindsey.

If you're new here or new to picture books or thinking about seeking publication, I'd love to stay connected. You can follow my PB Spotlight/author page on Facebook. I'm also on Instagram and Twitter. Curious about a critique or an Ask Me Anything author consultation? Visit my picture book story coaching service. I'd love to be part of your story! Thanks, everyone and happy writing.

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TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

 Subscribe to PB Spotlight (free) & comment on the post below

For additional entries...

Share this post on social media with #PBSpotlight hashtag

Accepted platforms: Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook

Follows and tags are appreciated so I don't miss your sharing!

***The deadline for this contest is Friday, June 12th at 9 AM CST

Winners will be contacted on Friday, June 12th & announced on Brian's social media channels***

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About Lindsey

Lindsey is excited to build her list with passionate, kind, and hard-working authors. As an avid reader, she is open to a wide variety of genres, including picture book, middle grade, young adult, and new adult.

After graduating with a B.A. in English from the University of Connecticut, where she developed a love for books that inspire empathy and foster a deeper understanding of the world in which we live, Lindsey became determined to carve a career in the publishing industry. She attended her first SCBWI conference in 2019, and later joined several critique groups, became a member of Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Challenge, and a member of Inked Voices. She interned with Senior Literary Manager Kristen Terrette before starting her career as an agent.

As an agented kidlit writer herself, Lindsey is familiar with the ups and downs of the query trenches and submission process and hopes to emulate the same compassion and quick communication she found in several agents who helped guide her own writing journey. Residing in Southington, CT with her husband and two girls, Lindsey enjoys borrowing unusually tall stacks of picture books from the local library, snakeboarding in the basement with her family, hiking in the summer, skiing in the winter, and celebrating all the “wins” with her favorite critique partners.

Lindsey is looking for the following genres:

Picture Books: I am open to all kinds of picture books, both fiction and non-fiction, from authors and author/illustrators. I love humor with heart (but the heart has to be big), dark humor, spooky stories, commercial fiction, lyrical texts, and hard topics.

Middle Grade: Send me fantasy, thriller, mystery, adventure, contemporary, and anything in between.

Young Adult: I want romcom, fantasy, horror, thriller, historical fiction, contemporary romance, and hard topics that make my heart ache.

New Adult: I am open here but would prefer college or just starting out with a little bit of romance or humor.

Thrillers/Suspense/Mystery: I am a huge fan of thrillers and suspense. Send me fast-paced, messy stories with a great plot twist (or multiple!) that keep me on the edge of my seat. My favorite recent reads include Then She Was Gone, All the Colors of the Dark, Beautiful Ugly, and All Good People Here.

Horror: I love a good horror so I’m wide open here. Send me bubblegum, horromance, supernatural, paranormal, ghosts, or anything you can think up.

Romance: I love romance! Send me enemies-to-lovers, rom coms, holiday settings, and anything in the vein of Katherine Center, Colleen Hoover, or Emily Henry. 

With all genres, I am looking for fresh, unique concepts, phenomenal voices, high-stakes, and emotionally driven stories that speak to current issues and leave the reader with something to think about. Make me cry or laugh (or both) and you will have my heart. ​

Please submit to Lindsey via Query Manager here. To see Lindsey's website, click here. Follow her on X @Laduskevich, Bluesky @Laduskevich.bsky.social, and Insta @Lindsey_Aduskevich.

About Brian

Brian is a literal jazz flute snake. He writes silly books and posts on this blog sometimes. If you don't know the jazz flute snake reference, you need to check out his new book, illustrated by Jenn Harney, This is Not a Sleepy Bear Book. Yepp. That's the bio. He's a jazz flute, fedora-wearing, snake. There are no hidden emoji codes for this giveaway. However, you can earn extra entries by sharing this post via social media using our hashtag #PBSpotlight.

Don't forget to be kind to yourself. Feeling anxious? Give yourself a bear hug. Right now. Or Dennis will eat you...

Thanks for your comments in advance!