Lit Match

This is the second episode in a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter. In it, Abigail teaches writers how to write the second paragraph of the query letter, otherwise known as the blurb or back cover copy .  The back cover copy is the most important section in a query letter. Abigail shares important details writers need to make it stand out, some including:   3 Ke...

In the first episode of a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter, Abigail teaches writers how to write the first paragraph of their query letter. To do this, she covers important elements like: What a query letter is and why a writer who wants to traditionally publish needs one 4 essential details in every first paragraph  4-5 factors that determine a strong comp (compar...

We're back with book three! Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN. Following the normal first chapter analysis format, Abigail and Savannah discuss how the first chapter in POA sets up expectations for the big picture story using Paula Munier's seven key first chapter questions (THE...

Welcome to the first Quick Query Tips episode! While Abigail books more literary agents and editors for the show, she turns the focus from interviews with literary agents to the research and submission process.   In this episode, Abigail shares three of her favorite and strategic ways to research literary agents. This is a very hands-on episode as Abigail shares how she researches literary ag...

We're back!  Abigail sits down with Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. This is an especially interesting conversation on first chapters since the first chapter of HPCOS is also the first chapter in the sequel to middle grade fantasy phenomenon, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. In it, they discuss the big picture for H...

"Working with a book coach is an investment, and there's no guarantee. No book coach is going to say, ‘I guarantee that you will get an agent and a book deal.’ That would be dishonest. They can't do that. So you're paying money to give yourself the best shot.” – Jennie Nash, Book Coach and Founder of Author Accelerator   Abigail K. Perry sits down with leading book coach and the founder of Au...

"I love books that sort of  take you through the pain of living in some way. Life inherently has tragedy and hardship. And I love books that take you to that, but also give you an opportunity to see a way out and to see hope in even dark places."  – Michelle Brower, Literary Agent at Trellis Literary Management  Abigail K. Perry sits down with literary agent and co-founder of T...

QUICK NOTE! THE BOOK VS. THE AUTHOR As much as I love the HARRY POTTER series, I am saddened by and do not condone JKR’s attacks on the trans community.   It’s this reason that, for these first chapter episodes featuring the Harry Potter books, I choose to separate my love for the books from the author’s public actions.   I decided to do this because the series has taught me indispe...

"I'm becoming more intentional about my dreams because my purpose didn't just die when I became a mom,  it actually became more realized. Being a mom was just part of my purpose. It's part of the path. I meant to be a mother to these three kids, but I'm also meant to write these stories.”  – Tee Moore, Author  Abigail K. Perry sits down with author Tee Moore (rep. by Jemiscoe Chambe...

"I'm here to answer any questions and help create a strong positioning for the work. Whether that means, figuring out how the creator needs to receive feedback, that they can best process the information or adjusting to their communication style so that they can process the information that's what I'm here to do."  – Stephanie Winter, P.S. Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down...

"You can't really pick what you're going to represent or what you're going to pitch based on  what people are excited about today. You need to be thinking about what's going to be happening three years from now or four years from now.”  – Emmy Nordstrom Higdon, Westwood Creative Artists  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Emmy Nordstrom Higdon to discuss their career shift from a books...

"I think it's really just  grounding your reader in the story, making sure that they are right up front aware of who this character is or what they  want and what their goal is, you want to make sure you're grounded in the character and even a little bit of the world, too, so you know where your character is coming from, and then obviously use that to make a reader laugh or cry or pull a...

"Stories are what get us through, stories are how humans have encouraged one another to survive the dark times and given pointers about how to survive the dark times.” – Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Paula Munier to discuss her manuscript wishlist and valuable publishing insights, some including: what’s selling in the 2022 market, why there’s no such th...

Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND by F arah Jasmine Griffin .  In this special BONUS episode, Abigail uses the five commandments to analyze the structure in the first scene, and seven key questions every reader can use to determine if the first chapter will hook its readers.   READ UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND is a great example of how to start a memoir th...

"If you don't know how to write characters that  have problems and issues and you're actually not writing any human that's realistic, cause we're all at fault at some point, and you should always take that into consideration.” – Katie Shea Boutillier, Donald Maass Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Katie Shea Boutillier to discuss her manuscript wishlist and other publishin...

"Every time you pick up a good book, you enter someone else's mind, you see the world through their lens. And that's deeply exciting for me. I also think it allows for empathy, and empathy and kindness are the core components of a successful civilization.” – Tanya McKinnon, McKinnon Literary Agency  Abigail K. Perry sits down with Tanya McKinnon to discuss her career and expertise with seriou...

“I'm rooting for Beth, as she prepares to submit her essay for consideration...There's this sense of, I may be insecure, but at the same time reminding yourself that you have value and you have worth…and can stand up for yourself.” – Abigail K. Perry on the first chapter in THE CHANDLER LEGACIES by Abdi Nazemian Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at THE CHANDLER LEGACIES by Abdi Nazemian , a...

“Without any kind of moralizing or didacticism, I think that what kidlit provides is a space for young people to grow their own sense of themselves and their role in their community and their role in the world.” – John Cusick, Folio Literary Management Abigail K. Perry sits down with John Cusick to discuss his love for kidlit. John shares how he got into agenting and why his role differs from...

“Regardless of what POV you choose, a strong voice is necessary for great books, and it’s not uncommon for an agent or editor to pass on a story that lacks a defining voice, or embrace one that is exceptional. ” – Abigail K. Perry on the first chapter in TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah  Abigail K. Perry takes an in-depth look at TAKE IT BACK by Kia Abdullah , a book and author represented by lit...

“Authors who are marginalized are writing to a marginalized audience. And I think it's time that they be given the voice to write to all audiences. I'm really making it a mission to do that.” – Jessica Faust, Principal Literary Agent and Founder of BookEnds Literary    Abigail K. Perry sits down with Jessica Faust to talk about her mission to bring more marginalized voices into publishin...

“I think the reason to start here was because this is the inciting incident that led to all the madness that is going to unfold.” – Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman, Authors of GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES   Abigail K. Perry sits down with co-authors Tracy Dobmeier and Wendy Katzman to discuss the first chapter of their debut novel, GIRLS WITH BRIGHT FUTURES. Abigail considers their book one of...

“I think it's really important to be working with creators that have a really strong point of view, and they know how to communicate that point of view.” – Carly Watters, Senior Literary Agent and SVP at P.S. Literary Agency   Abigail K. Perry sits down with Carly Watters to talk about her manuscript wishlist (#MSWL) and the role she plays in the agent-author relationship. From ther...

Welcome to Lit Match! This is a podcast made to help writers find the best literary agent and business partner for their writing and publishing career. Each week, Lit Match host, Abigail K. Perry, talks to a literary agent about their manuscript wishlist (MSWL), how they like to agent, and anything else related to publishing. Abigail also shares bonus episodes where she analyzes the first chapter...