Our submission window is open for the following:
- Works requested during 2024 ThrillerFest
- Works requested during the 2024 Authorpreneur Workshop
- Referrals
We are currently closed to all other submissions. We encourage you to keep an eye on this page and on social media (@aka_lit and @aka_terrie).
When the window is open, we’ll look forward to hearing from you. Remember, once you hit the send button, you will receive a confirmation of receipt. From there, here’s what we suggest:
- Treat yourself to a hearty jaunt that leads directly to whatever calendar you use for important events and reminders.
- Find the date of your submission to us and plaster a shiny gold star on that space, or add a note to your submission spreadsheet.
- Count forward eight weeks.
- Plant at least one more star atop that date, or add another note to the trusty spreadsheet.
If you have not heard from us within eight weeks, DO NOT PANIC. A literary agent’s daily to-dos center around the three C’s: Clients, Contracts, and Conferences. Mind you, these are a few of our fav-or-ite things, and it’s safe to say we’re nearly dancing at our desks when our schedules are filled with book releases, workshops, and other industry-related events. But, all of the excitement can affect our best-laid plans.
Here’s an insider secret: response times slow as other industry-related events take precedence. We believe in working in tandem with our editorial contacts, and we do our best to honor their exceedingly demanding schedules. The needs of our clients and our commitment to their success remain equally important. Remember those three C’s. It’s the busyness of the business, and as much as we might hope to work with you, we respect your decision to pull your submission should you decide you are unable to accept individualized attention.
We thank you for choosing to endure the wait. Further, we encourage you to place one more star two weeks past that eight-week mark, which takes you to the ten-week mark. Do it up nicely if you like, and draw swirls and curly cues around your star. Make it a big deal! You’ll know what we’ve been doing since you’ve been keeping tabs on us and interacting via social media. Have we been chatty about a particular author and their success, that anticipated book release, workshop, conference, or even an impending root canal? Those things hold up reading times.
We admit that occasionally (okay, more often than we’d like), we break our own rules. As much as we would like to hold fast to our promise of that designated response time, life can interrupt our best intentions. At AKALM, we believe in a good relationship from the beginning. No robots, no A.I., and no snark. We are us, and we are honest.
The point is that we take your work and our treatment of such very seriously. We endeavor to read and respond to every submission, which is time-consuming. Mind you, we aren’t complaining. We like the idea of personal attention, and your work deserves its share of that specialized care. So, watch your calendar, and hang on for the ride. Please squash the urge to resend your work. Resubmissions confuse the system.
Just by chance, if you wake up to that third shiny star only to realize we haven’t addressed your submission (gasp!), we encourage you to rattle our cage ever so gently. There are a variety of ways to get in touch. You’ll find that information on this site’s “Contact Us” page. We welcome such interaction and enjoy getting to know you. However, a word to the wise, kind words and promises of virtual chocolate, treats for Sadie, and an attitude of professionalism always help the process. Yes, we know this is all virtual, but a virtually happy life must seep into our being. Somehow.
Finally, please let us know as soon as possible if the status of your submission changes. For example
- We would like to know if another agency offers representation.
- Have you decided to rewrite from the ground up? We’ll be patient.
- We want to know if the lottery gods have smiled down on you or if you’ve chosen to manage writing conferences in Hawaii. We can help!
Until then, thank you. We’ll be in touch as soon as possible.
Always,
AKA Literary Management Team
P.S. Each portal provides specific submission instructions. Please follow the guidelines as they apply.
Only manuscripts entered in the correct category will be accepted.