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You Heard it Here First: Halli Gomez Signs with Agent Kathy Green!

carolbaldwin

Congratulations to Gretchen Griffith who won my autographed copy of SURE SIGNS OF CRAZY off last week’s blog. Thanks to all who entered the contest.


One of the things I love to do on my blog–besides reviewing great middle grade or young adult books–is announcing a friend’s publishing news. Today I am excited to share wonderful news from Halli Gomez–my former Tai Kwon Do instructor and fellow Your Best Book participant. Take it away, Halli!



CAROL: I understand you just signed with Kathy Green of Kathryn Green Literary. How did
you meet Kathy?

HALLI: I first
heard about Kathy online, but actually met her on the phone when she called
to offer to rep my middle grade manuscript.
CAROL: Why did
you query her?
HALLI: She had all the things I looked for in an agent. Her agency is
small, which is what I prefer, and she reps both kidlit and adult, all of which
cover a wide range of genres. (Yes I do have an adult novel forming in my
brain. Actually, the notes were put into their own folder which means the book
will eventually be written.) I also read about her on QueryTracker and was
really impressed with the comments, even from those who received rejections.  
CAROL: How many
other agents did you try?
HALLI: I
queried a lot. Okay, 60. And I did get partial and full requests, one even
after I signed with Kathy.
CAROL: How long
did it take to find an agent?
HALLI: I will
focus on this manuscript since my first one is tucked away in a drawer where,
hopefully, no one will find it. Ever! For this book, I started querying in
September 2015, but I took my time. I queried a few agents, revised then took a
break until I found the courage to query again. I repeated this process several
times over the past year.
CAROL: Tell us
about the book Kathy is subbing for you.
HALLI: Kathy
signed me for ARLO ECKERT’S EMOTION MODIFIER, a middle grade science fiction
novel. Sixth grade scientist Arlo Eckert has a hypothesis: if he can
get his parents to stop fighting, they won’t mention the D word. Divorce. Arlo
invents the Emotion Modification Device, a laser capable of zapping the brain
and temporarily changing a person’s emotions to the exact opposite. His success
at home propels him to bring it to school but it misfires and transforms his
principal into a deranged bank robber. To make things worse, the
government has discovered his device and wants to get their hands on it. Arlo
must outsmart the government or his principal will go to prison and his family
will be torn apart forever.

CAROL: That sounds terrific! Did Kathy give you any feedback on what drew her to your book?
HALLI: When she requested a partial she said it sounded fun.
CAROL: Do you
expect Kathy to be editorial? Has she told you what changes she expects you to
make? 
HALLI: Kathy is
an editorial agent, which is another thing I love about her. She sent me her
suggestions for revisions and after reading them a light went off in my brain.
It was more like a slap in the face. Why didn’t I think about that and how did
I miss that?
CAROL: And
last, but certainly not least, I understand that the first paragraph of a query
letter should state why you are querying this particular agent. Can you share
that winning paragraph with us?
HALLI: Gladly! “I was
excited to learn about your interest in middle-grade stories and books about
home science experiments. I hope my middle-grade manuscript, ARLO ECKERT’S
EMOTION MODIFIER, will appeal to you. Complete at 47,000 words, it is a novel
about science, divorce, and greed.”
CAROL: That is
great! How long did it take for her to respond?
HALLI: That was
August 30th. She asked for the first 50 pages 30 minutes after receiving
the query! She asked for the full on September 6. She
offered representation on October 6. I had a
couple full requests out there so I gave the other agents one week. Then I
accepted Kathy’s offer on October 14.
CAROL: That’s
so exciting and encouraging to the rest of us who are working on our
manuscripts. Anything else you want to share with your fellow writers?
HALLI: My interaction with Kathy happened fast in my opinion. I guess what they say is true – it is all very
subjective and when you read something it either hits you or it doesn’t.

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Halli teaches martial arts to kids and adults
who inspire her with stories and dedication. She writes for children and
young adults because those voices flow through her brain; two of her manuscripts won third place in SCBWI Carolinas Writing Contests. She loves time with
family, the outdoors, reading, and is addicted to superhero movies. You can
find her on Twitter @hbgomez701 and at The Winged Pen. She was born in New York, but grew up in
Florida until chased out by hurricanes. Now she lives equidistant between the
mountains of North Carolina and the beach with her husband, two boys, and two
dogs.


Stay tuned for more from Halli. I can’t wait to share her publishing news next!

Published by carolbaldwin

Carol enjoys teaching writing and has presented at many educators' and writing conferences. She has published widely in newspapers and magazines and along with Rebecca Wheeler, co-publishes Talking Story, a newsletter for educators and media specialists. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you’ll find her walking with friends, golfing, or gardening.

36 thoughts on “You Heard it Here First: Halli Gomez Signs with Agent Kathy Green!”

  5. Halli, I'm so excited for you, and so appreciate your sharing the long, hard, and diligent work it takes to snag an agent. It sounds like you've found a great one! Have fun with the rest of the process!

    Reply

  8. Thanks LInda and Rosi. And yes, Rosi, I am encouraged by Halli's story too. She played by the rules and it's paying off. I think that can give us all hope!

    Reply

  9. Dear Carol, Thanks for sharing the good news of others.Dear Halli,Congratulations on your dedication and hard work. I am excited that you found an agent who is excited about your story. Great pitch that you put in your query letter. May your relationship with Kathryn bloom and blossom!Believe in YouNever Give UpJoan

    Reply

  16. You are welcome, Andy, and welcome to my blog. It is a HARD and LONG process and Halli would be the first one to acknowledge that. I think we have to keep cheering each other on so that we keep on pushing forward ourselves!

    Reply

  17. Thank you all so much. I can't tell you how happy I am to receive your comments. One of the best things about this whole writing business is that we are a supportive community. I couldn't have done it without all of you and will always need support and guidance. I don't know how others feel about their agents, I have heard good and bad stories, but for this book, Kathy and I are on the same page. It felt right for me from her very first email and I am glad she made the offer. Best of luck to everyone, whether agented or not, because this is a tough but satisfying career we have chosen. And Carol, thank you for interviewing me. This was my first interview and I am happy to do it on your blog. Because you were with me from the very beginning of this crazy writing life!

    Reply

  23. Halli, I'm so excited for you, and so appreciate your sharing the long, hard, and diligent work it takes to snag an agent. It sounds like you've found a great one! Have fun with the rest of the process!

    Reply

  26. Thanks LInda and Rosi. And yes, Rosi, I am encouraged by Halli's story too. She played by the rules and it's paying off. I think that can give us all hope!

    Reply

  27. Dear Carol, Thanks for sharing the good news of others.Dear Halli,Congratulations on your dedication and hard work. I am excited that you found an agent who is excited about your story. Great pitch that you put in your query letter. May your relationship with Kathryn bloom and blossom!Believe in YouNever Give UpJoan

    Reply

  34. You are welcome, Andy, and welcome to my blog. It is a HARD and LONG process and Halli would be the first one to acknowledge that. I think we have to keep cheering each other on so that we keep on pushing forward ourselves!

    Reply

  35. Thank you all so much. I can't tell you how happy I am to receive your comments. One of the best things about this whole writing business is that we are a supportive community. I couldn't have done it without all of you and will always need support and guidance. I don't know how others feel about their agents, I have heard good and bad stories, but for this book, Kathy and I are on the same page. It felt right for me from her very first email and I am glad she made the offer. Best of luck to everyone, whether agented or not, because this is a tough but satisfying career we have chosen. And Carol, thank you for interviewing me. This was my first interview and I am happy to do it on your blog. Because you were with me from the very beginning of this crazy writing life!

    Reply

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