KT Literary, LLC (Kate Schafer)

Very interesting. Now I'm just off to go take out the first paragraph where I have my MC looking in a mirror .

jvc said:

Very interesting. Now I'm just off to go take out the first paragraph where I have my MC looking in a mirror .

Click to expand...

I have a scene where mine looks in a mirror as well. I know it's cliche, but I like it so it's staying for now.

I was one of those requested. It was cool to see what I was up against. Yes, researching a potential agent is always a good idea.

I e-queiried her in december and still no response. I'm guessing I can assume she's passed?

I submitted to her yesterday and she got back to me within two hours with a request for a partial. *happy dance* I was surprised. Normally if I get a response that fast it's a rejection.

aruna said:

The background story of why she moved to Denver is on mediabistro: http://mediabistro.com/galleycat/

Click to expand...

That is beyond awesome. Lol.

I queried her on the 15th, and she got back to me on the 23rd. One of the nicer query rejections.

Many thanks for your email regarding your novel THE GUARDIANS, which I am declining with my regrets

Given the demands of running a boutique agency and continuing to best represent my current clients, I must make difficult decisions every day regarding what new projects I can sign. I appreciate your thinking of me, and wish you the best of luck in your search for representation
Cheers,
Kate Schafer Testerman

It's a form, but at least she inserted my name and my books title into the email. It beats the heck out of "Dear Author" or nothing at all!

Kate is fast--I also received the same polite form rejection yesterday.

Query stats

For those interested in sending queries to KTLiterary, Ms. Testerman (aka Daphne) has some interesting query stats on her Feb. 27th blog entry (reachable through the website at www.ktliterary.com). I always appreciate seeing how the pile of queries gets dissected and reviewed . . .

Just got a very polite and personal rejection on my partial submitted. While I'm bummed that she didn't love it, I'm glad that she didn't just form reject me. I'll definitely submit to her again if this novel doesn't pan out.

redlady1 said:

I submitted to her yesterday and she got back to me within two hours with a request for a partial. *happy dance* I was surprised. Normally if I get a response that fast it's a rejection.

Click to expand...

Congrats, redlady!

Oops! Just read your other post. I can commiserate. She rejected my partial back in Jan, right after I got a partial request from my dream agent. That took the stung out of the rejection. Unfortunately my dream agent is too busy right now to evaluate new clients. But at least my partial hasn't been rejected yet. Did she give you any reasons?

Tuuli said:

Did she give you any reasons?

Click to expand...

Yeah, she said that she didn't connect with my main character. I read back through it and totally see what she's talking about. So I'm going back for rewrites again in a little bit. I might try to resubmit after that to her but it kind of depends on how much gets changed.

redlady1 said:

Yeah, she said that she didn't connect with my main character. I read back through it and totally see what she's talking about. So I'm going back for rewrites again in a little bit. I might try to resubmit after that to her but it kind of depends on how much gets changed.

Click to expand...

I got pretty much the same. She wished my characterization had been stronger. Another agent had pointed out two consistant errors I had made. I have since fixed them, and think that might have helped strengthen my characterization.

Let me know what happens regarding you resubmitting.

She requested a partial from me at the end of last month so I'm hoping she likes it enough to request a full.
I was so pumped to get a request from her. She seems like her personality would mesh well with mine based on the impression I get from her blog.

I queried her today, and I hope to hear from her soon. She does seem really fun from what I've seen on her blog, and her taste is similar to mine-I mean, so likes Joss Whedon! We'll get along. I just hope she like my book.

I have just sent a query as well. We'll see what happens...

Does anyone know how long she usually takes to respond?

She got back to me within a few hours but it's usually within a week or so for a query and within two months for a partial.

She was the "Secret Agent" last week over at Miss Snark's First Victim and you can read her critiques if you are interested.

I think I sent it last week, so maybe I'll hear back soon. I hope. I haven't heard anything back from ANYONE since I started this querying process almost a month ago.

Blind Writer said:

I think I sent it last week, so maybe I'll hear back soon. I hope. I haven't heard anything back from ANYONE since I started this querying process almost a month ago.

Click to expand...

That's one thing you learn quickly in this industry. You have to be patient. Unfortunately that's sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes the requests come quickly (within hours). Sometimes it can take a month or more (as you read on the WH thread). The secret is to stop checking your inbox. Yeah right. As if.

lol, yeah, like that will ever happen!

OMG, I just got my first response, and it was from Kate Schafer Testerman! She wants a partial! I sent ten days ago, so that was pretty good time. I"m so excited........and terrified. I'm afraid my synopsis will be horrible. But still, this is a good omen! My first response is a request!

Plus, she's in my top three agents. Anyone who loves Joss Whedon is amazing to me!

GO BW!!! I'm so glad you finally got responses - I knew The Duff was WAY too good to be ignored!

Congrats BW!!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!!