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Newbery winning author Kwame Alexander answered business questions along with his agent Arielle Eckstut.  Some generated tips Build relationships with your local independent bookstore even before you sell a book.  Have a plan that has reach.  Know what you don't know and surround yourself with people who know. When you are searching for an agent, you need to identify all that you want in an agent. You've got to make the hard decisions that are going to impact your career positively.  With his books, Kwame never mentions poetry.  Consider putting some money aside from an advance for promotion or travel to help promote your book.  Make connections with librarians and booksellers.  Marketing energy should all depend on your book, and you know your book better than anyone else.  Figure out a desired mechanism to engage with your audience when presenting your book. Do it in a way that is you.  To get love, you have to give love. To give love you h...

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and the New York Times Best-selling author of twenty-four books, including The Crossover , which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Paterson Poetry Prize. Some of his other works include The Playbook: 52 Rules To Help You Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Of Life ; the picture books, Animal Ark , Out of Wonder and Surf's Up ; and novels Booked , He Said She Said , and the forthcoming Solo . Listening to Kwame Alexander speak is like going to church. And when you pair him with fellow poet and YA goddess Sonya Sones, you know you're in for a treat. The #LA17SCBWI Saturday afternoon's closing keynote did not disappoint. "Okay, Kwame. Let's start from the beginning," Sonya said. "Tell me about the moment of your conception." Kwame didn't miss a beat. "1967. Harlem, New York. A dormi...