BookEnds, LLC originally started in 1999 as a book packager. What made you and your partner Jacky Sach decide to switch gears to agenting?

There were a number of reasons, but I think the biggest was our desire to do more. As packagers we were handling primarily nonfiction and both of us missed dealing with fiction. In addition, a number of the authors we were working with, as well as some we had worked with in the past, were approaching us about representation. It seemed a natural shift and one we're very happy to have made.

What was your background before starting BookEnds?

I started my publishing career as an acquisitions editor at Berkley; my experience ranged from acquiring and editing romance, mysteries, and young adult to various kinds of nonfiction. As an acquisitions editor, I had the unique opportunity to not only acquire books, but create ideas for a number of books that were later published in-house. After five years at Berkley, I moved on to Macmillan where I became senior editor, handling more than 100 Complete Idiot's Guide titles. After a short year and a half at Macmillan Jacky Sach and I decided it was time for something new. That's when we started BookEnds. BookEnds started in 1999.

A couple of facts on this road that few people know: I studied journalism at Marquette University and was editor-in-chief of an independent newspaper I helped found; I was a freelance copy editor and writer for Woman's World magazine; my first boss was Carrie Feron, now at Avon.

How has the agency grown or changed since 1999?

Wow! That's a big question. It's hard for us to even track the huge number of changes we have each year, let alone those over the course of seven years. Internally we have added a couple of new people to the BookEnds team. Three years ago Kim Lionetti joined us and has brought with her some amazing clients and projects and an energy we really love having and just this year we added interns and an assistant to help us keep track of all of those things we are now too busy to keep track of.

On a grander scale though we've continued to bring on new and talented clients and we've watched so many of our more established clients continue to grow and build their careers. We can now say that we represent bestselling authors in all genres and are regularly seeing our books and authors represented in the national media.

I know this might be a tough question but who would you say is your favorite author?

It is a tough question and one that I'm afraid I can't answer. I don't think that I truly have one favorite author. Instead I have so many that I love to read. Outside of my own clients I love everyone from Edith Wharton to Karen Slaughter and Robert B. Parker. I'm a huge fan of Suzanne Brockman and Seth Godin. How's that for varied? And of course I'm always on the search for new books that stick with me for days.

As an agent, do you prefer a query first or do you prefer to see a partial right away and why is that method better for you?

I prefer a partial. It's a lot more likely you're going to get me to read your work if you actually stick it under my nose and I hate the wasted time it takes between query to chapters to full manuscript.

Does BookEnds represent unpublished authors?

Absolutely! I would say that a majority of our authors came to BookEnds unpublished.

What advice would you give to someone looking for his or her first agent?

 Do your research. Searching for an agent can be as time consuming as writing your book and picking up one source like the Writer's Market isn't enough. You need to spend time finding agents who represent your genre and the types of authors you would most closely compare your work to. Once you find those agents take the time to review their websites (if they have one) and make sure you submit according to their guidelines. And whatever you do, learn about this business. There are so many blogs, discussion groups, and books on the subject that there is no excuse for not knowing what a partial is or how to put together a strong and enticing query/cover letter.

And lastly, when you do finally get that call make sure you handle it professionally. Interview the agent and make sure she is reputable and someone you think you would work well with. Not every agent is right for every author. Once you've signed on that dotted line make sure you pull your submission from consideration if anyone else still has it. Acting professionally keeps the doors open because you never know what might happen down the line.

What makes a query a just-can't-pass-up query for you?

The hook. I hate to sound repetitive, but I'm looking first and foremost for what makes your book stand out and what makes it different from every other mystery, romance or suspense out there. I'm not looking for cute or clever. I just want the facts. What is your book, who are you, and what makes it different.

Describe your dream project.

The one that sells millions of copies.

Alternately, what do you hope to never see again?

A memoir on OCD and the title Second Chances.

Have you ever rejected something that the author then sent to one of the other agents at BookEnds? Did it annoy you?

All the time and yes, it does annoy me. If I get a project that I don't feel is right for me, but has potential I will absolutely present it to Kim and Jacky for their consideration. My goal in business is not just to succeed personally, but to see BookEnds continue to thrive and grow. It only benefits me to see Kim and Jacky have success as well. So why does it annoy me that authors would submit to all three of us? It's a waste of our time.

BookEnds, LLC handles quite a few romance, romantic suspense, and mystery authors. Approximately, how many books in these genres did the agency sell last year?

Wow! I actually have to count that up. Over 50.

Who was your most recent sale?

The one I just finished negotiating this week was Corporate Confidential for Job Seekers by Cynthia Shapiro. This is the follow-up book to Corporate Confidential.

Are there any sub-genres that you're not interested in (i.e., cozies, hardboiled, etc.)?

I would be interested in anything that has a new and unique hook. I'm not a huge fan of the typical-- the very traditional police procedural, a historical romance that I've seen before, romantic suspense featuring a cop and a poor stalked heroine. If you can do any of these with a new twist however than I want to see it.

If you've requested a complete manuscript but reject the manuscript for whatever reason, would you encourage the author to query with a different project?

I would always encourage authors to continue submitting, as long as they know that what they write fits the types of books I represent. There are a number of my own authors whom I rejected the first time around.

What can an author expect from BookEnds and you in particular as an agency/agent?

A reputable agent and agency with years of experience in the business. One of the most important things you'll get from me though is honesty. If I don't like something or would recommend against it you're going to hear that, whether you want to or not. My job isn't to placate my clients and tell them what they want to hear. My job is to help you guide your career and make decisions to help you succeed and move ahead. That doesn't mean that what I say goes, it means that we'll discuss decisions and differences of opinion.

Will you work with developing a writer you thinks has potential as almost a pre-editor or are you looking for work that is at publishable quality?

A little of both. I am looking for books that are publishable and 99% there. If a book needs some work I will be happy to do that, but it needs to be very minimal. I'm not in the business to edit, my job is to find quality projects that are ready for a home with a publisher. And then of course my job is to represent the author and get her the best possible deal.

I noticed that BookEnds has a blog (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/) on which you field a lot of criticism about agents in general. Not something that a lot of literary agents are doing. What made you decide to open yourself up to the world like that?

I always have a lot to say. For most of my life my family has rolled their eyes at my inability to keep my mouth shut and what better venue to do that than a blog? However, one of the biggest reasons is that I've cut my conference schedule considerably in the past few years and I really miss that opportunity to connect with authors and, more importantly, provide the information authors need to succeed and dispel the many ridiculous rumors that abound in this business. I think of the blog as a place for me to vent my frustrations, connect with authors, and provide information on the business.

What's next for Jessica Faust and BookEnds?

Continued growth and success. I have so many fabulous clients and within the next few years you are really going to see many of them become household names.

Thank you for answering my questions, Jessica. Before we go what do you want the writers to know that I haven't asked you about?

Anyone looking to submit to me should check out our website and blog first. I represent cozy mysteries with a hook, mystery and suspense, romance, erotica or erotic romance, business, career books, finance, parenting/childcare, women's fiction, and general self-help nonfiction. Right now, I would love to see anything involving the paranormal, forensics, (or better yet, a paranormal forensic novel or series), nonfiction authors with a large platform, or romantic suspense that's different and exciting. Some examples of books and authors I have represented are Maggie Sefton's Knitting Mysteries, Bella Andre, Kate Douglas, Sally MacKenzie, J.B. Stanley, Bella Andre, Corporate Confidential by Cynthia Shapiro, Natural Baby and Childcare by Lauren Feder, MD, The Mom Inventor's Handbook by Tamara Monosoff, and The Shyness Breakthrough by Dr. Bernardo Carducci and Lisa Kaiser.

Thanks for this opportunity. I've enjoyed it.

Thank you, Jessica!

Visit BookEnds, LLC on the web at http://www.bookends-inc.com/ and drop by their Blog http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/ to get Jessica Faust's advice on everything from rejections to pulling work from consideration.

Stacy Verdick Case is the owner of http://www.idothewritething.com a store that offers quality custom designed products for writers of all genres. Stacy invites you to visit her store and sign up for her free monthly ezine.

She is also the created of the Catherine O'Brien mystery series. You can read excerpts from the series on her website http://www.stacyverdickcase.com.

This interview originally appeared in the Kiss of Death Newsletter. Reprinted with permission.

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