Melissa Jeglinski is a name that gets attention when talking to romance authors. Her reputation for professionalism, along with being a first class editor, is known throughout the RWA. After 17 years as an editor for Harlequin/Silhouette, she made the move to the role of agent, at the Knight Agency. As one of her clients, I often get asked about her, what she is looking for, what is she like. I will say from an author’s perspective, she is wonderful. She has a real love of the romance genre, and is probably one of the most patient people in the business.
Mel: You had much success as a Senior Editor for the Desire Line. Why did you decide to make the career move?
MJ: Well, after 17 years in New York, I was ready for a change of pace. I loved publishing but had really done all I wanted to do on that side of the desk. Agenting appealed to me because of the range of genres I could work with. I knew I could give my clients a little something extra because of my editorial background and I was ready for the challenge.
Mel: How involved do you want to be with an author? Do you just want to give advice, or do you still want to wear your editor hat now and then?
MJ: Most of my clients sign with me because of the years I spent in publishing and they really want some feedback. But I never push. It has to be agreed upon jointly but I do feel my clients trust my judgment and knowledge of the industry. I do read all of my clients’ projects because I want to be up to date with what their editor is also reviewing.
Mel: What are you looking for in an author?
MJ: I would like to work with an author who has a plan for their career beyond just their current work. It’s great if they have a lot of different ideas they want to pitch. They need to be dedicated to their craft but not obsessed with it to the point that they can’t relax and enjoy their writing. I believe a writer should be able to take constructive criticism and be willing to make changes if necessary.
Mel: Are there any specific genres you are looking for?
MJ: Romance is my first and greatest love, all kinds: historical, paranormal, contemporary and category. I am also looking for young adult and middle school fiction as well as women’s fiction and thrillers.
Mel: When looking at an author’s proposal, what is the first thing you are looking for?
MJ: I look for writing I can connect with and enjoy. I strongly believe that if an agent isn’t behind a writer’s work 100% then they can’t be an advocate for that work 100%. So, I have to be won over by the writing and the plot. The work doesn’t have to be perfect, but if I can see potential, I’m willing to work with the writer to make it as wonderful as possible.
Mel: What is the most important advice you can give an author who is trying to break into romance?
MJ: It’s not as easy as you might think, so really do your homework. If you are trying to break into category, read tons of books in the series you are aiming for. If you want to write historical romance, do your research. And then really put together something that will fit the genre but still be uniquely you.
Mel: How does an author submit to you?
They should go through The Knight Agency’s website: http://www.KnightAgency.net and submit a one page query letter to directed to my attention. Include details on the genre of their work, applicable writing credentials and a brief synopsis. Do not include any attachments as that can cause the email to be caught in the Spam filter. Right now I’m working on a two to three week turnaround for queries. Please note that the agency does not accept paper submissions, so only send them electronically.
I am actively seeking to sign on new clients—both published and unpublished--so I hope to receive lots of queries. Thanks!
Melissa’s Upcoming Appearances
July 15-17: Romance Writers of America National Conference, Washington, D.C.
August 14-16: Australia Romance Writers National Conference, Brisbane, Australia
August 21-23: New Zealand Romance Writers National Conference, Auckland, New Zealand
October 2-4: Moonlight and Magnolias Conference, Norcross, Georgia
November 6-7: RWA DFW Chapter Conference, Dallas, Texas
About the Author:
Melissa Schroeder is a multi-published international bestselling author, with more than 25 novels, novellas, and short stories to her credit. A military wife, with a somewhat dubious background, she writes in anything from historical to futuristic because it works with her ADD. Her latest releases are Her Mother’s Killer, available May 1st from WCP Torrid and Saints and Sinners from Ellora’s Cave. She is the mother of two humans and one adopted dog daughter and thanks the good Lord she is living where the bugs die in the winter. She can be reached at her site: http://www.melissaschroeder.net.
