John Cusick ON: What Makes a Manuscript Stand Out, Blending Passion and Business, and Why He Loves Kidlit
“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 an editor’s role. He also discusses what makes a manuscript stand out at the query and commercial level, and uses examples to model what the typical author-agent relationship looks like as they bring a book together.
John specializes in books for young readers, and reveals the expectations and restrictions of these books—and why they are more than “a book about a teenager.” John brings a special level of passion, mentorship, and sophistication to the agenting role, and encourages writers to view writing as a blend of passion and business.
John wants to see authors push boundaries and make readers feel something, and believes kidlit gives young readers a space to grow and can make big impacts on lives.
About John:
John Cusick is the Senior Vice President and a literary agent at Folio Literary Management. He represents a diverse list of award winners and New York Times bestsellers, and his focus is middle grade and young adult novels, as well as genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, horror) in the YA-adult crossover space.
John graduated Wesleyan University in 2007 with a double major in English and Russian Literature. After working as a freelance writer, bookseller, dog walker, cashier, and radio host, he became a literary agent’s assistant and quickly began building his own list. Around the same time John also became an author. His published books include the young adult novels, Girl Parts and Cherry Money Baby, and his middle-grade novel, Dimension Why.
John brings both a creative and commercial sensibility to his agenting style. He is an editorial agent who works closely with his clients, whether it’s developing a debut project or helping a seasoned author take that next step. John's goal is to match writers with their dream editor, secure the best deals possible, facilitate the exploitation of dramatic (film and TV) rights in his clients’ work, and grow authors’ readership over long careers.
John is passionate about helping clients achieve their full potential, and is looking for dedicated, original, fervent, and visionary creators with unique voices that push boundaries.
John’s MSWL:
GENRES
- YA
- Middle Grade
- Children's Picture Book
- Graphic Novels
- General fiction
- Suspense/thriller
- Fantasy/Science fiction
- Children’s books Horror
DRAWN TO
- Contemporary realistic stories with strong hooks
- Fresh fantasy and speculative fiction set in our world and others
- Funny, quirky, spooky, as well as joyful and uplifting stories
- Diverse books and #ownvoices projects
- Proactive protagonists, kids and teens chasing a dream or a hero who swings in with a song in their heart and a knife in their teeth
Find us on our socials:
Twitter: @abigailkperry @@johnmcusick
Instagram: @abigailkperry @johnmcusick
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.foliolit.com/agent/john-cusick
Read the books discussed in this episode:
