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Molly O'Neill is an agent with Root Literary (founded last year by veteran agent Holly Root). She's been in the publishing industry for the past fifteen years in various roles like marketing and editing. She represents authors and illustrators from picture book to YA. The Root agency is very future focused as a new agency and excited to build longterm careers for their clients. Lin asks the panel, "How's business?' Are they noticing any changes or do they want the audience to be aware of anything? For Molly, business is booming. She's got a lot of debut clients and is at the early point of their careers. YA is a bit tricky, it may be going into a new incarnation, what's the next Hunger Games, that isn't the Hunger games at all but something groundbreaking and new. Molly's assistant Captain von Smooch There's probably a lot less trilogies happening as deals right now, publishers are being more cautious across the business. Middle grade is a trem...

Kirsten Hall is the one and only agent at Catbird Agency , Kirsten grew up in publishing and feels like she was born to do this. Catbird mostly focuses on artists and picture books. Kirsten is also an author herself. Kirsten see trends in picture books being a better representation for marginalized voices as well as picture book biographies. In regards to the way picture books are going on to effect other genres, picture books readers are growing up to read middle grade and enjoying illustrations with those books, too. Kirsten sees Catbird reaching into that realm. A lot of books that come out of Catbird are reactionary about what's going on in the world today, but they're also balanced by books that are pure entertainment. Technology and social media impact Kirsten's work in a a lot of ways. She spends a great deal of time there. There are a lot of ideas and inspirations to be found on social media. It's also important to stay aware of the conversations happening there...

Erin Murphy is the founder of the legendary Erin Murphy Literary Association . She started her career as an editor at a small publishing house, where she learned to navigate contracts, and in eighteen years, she’s risen to one of the top agents in the business. The agency represents authors, illustrators, and author/illustrators.  The agency has four agents, including Erin, Ammi Joan Paquette, Tricia Lawrence, and Tara Gonzalez. The agency is currently closed to submissions unless you are a conference attendee. There is no end date to this; Erin wants you to query when you’re ready. Agency clients include Mike Jung, Kevan Atteberry, K.A. Holt, Janet Fox, and many, many more beloved creators. Erin talked about what’s happening in the market these days. Children’s books are a bright spot in publishing and have been for several years—which has put us in a position of respect in publishing (even if grudging). “I feel like it’s generally robust,” she said. That said, the last year has b...

Lin Oliver (far left, at podium) moderates the agent panel, with (from left to right): Erin Murphy, Molly O'Neill, Kirsten Hall, Brooks Sherman, and Marietta Zacker.