ave you ever read a novel that inspired you to sit down and write? Twilight did that for me. My apprenticeship in writing was a YA manuscript, and I’m so glad because YA and NA stories are special. They explore first times and uncertainty, moments of learning and finding of self, often mixed with confusion and conflict raging from within and all around, just like my life as a mother. We can lose and rediscover our identity many times in life, but the first time is often the one we cherish. This is probably the reason YA and NA stories are my comfort reads, and I’m grateful to all the writers and advocates who continue to birth these inspiring stories.
So without further ado, let me introduce Isabel Lineberry, a junior agent and rights assistant at Pérez Literary & Entertainment, a full-service agency dedicated to storytelling in all of its forms.
Born to two bibliophiles, Isabel could not have grown up to be anything else. She was born and raised in the southwest United States but always knew she wanted to move to the UK. In high school, she set her sights on a job in the publishing industry and hasn’t blinked since.
Isabel graduated in 2021 from Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University, with dual degrees in English literature and business entrepreneurship. Just a few months later, she was in Scotland pursuing an MLitt in fantasy at the University of Glasgow. She wrote her thesis on Tamora Pierce and is a fan of Ray Bradbury, Octavia Butler, and Samantha Shannon.
When not working, Isabel can usually be found reading or wandering a bookstore. Some of her favorite books include The Hunger Games, Pride and Prejudice, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.
WOW: Hi Isabel, thanks for taking the time for this Q&A. I’m excited to interview you. What does a junior agent do, and why should writers be excited to query junior agents?
Isabel: I think the role differs a little based on the agency, but it means the agent is early in their career and looking to grow their list—we are all excited, passionate, and ready to make our mark. I know I am anyway. It is so thrilling to be establishing yourself in this industry; so any clients we take on are this great honor, and we are going to do everything we can to make them successful. At PLE, I am taking over projects and looking for clients based on my own interests—specifically in YA and NA—but I am also a main point of contact for our audio and foreign deals.
WOW: I think it’s interesting you work in audio and foreign rights, and you liaise with scouts. What does all that entail?
Isabel: So many emails, you have no idea! But essentially, I am an information source—I keep people updated with what is happening with English language print rights to hopefully garner interest in foreign and/or audio rights. I work with our subagents all over the world to get our clients out in their markets. Scouts are an incredible wealth of knowledge, as they are essentially professional gossips—always knowing what trends are big, who is looking for what, etc.
WOW: OMG, managing your inbox must be such a challenge! I noticed you’re a Twilight fan, as am I. Firstly, team Edward or Team Jacob, and secondly, what do you think makes YA and NA stories special?
Isabel: Well, as a girl from Phoenix, who frequently goes by Bella, I am kind of Team Bella? There’s a massive part of me that just wants her to ditch both of them and live her life. But if I had to choose—Edward. Mostly because Jacob was never a real option! She never seriously considered him, and in the moments where she almost did, it was just because she couldn’t have Edward. YA and NA stories are all about coming of age and discovering who you are, and I am so glad NA is focusing on that second coming of age all of us go through after university or in our 20s. Although I am excited for YA to go younger again—currently everyone wants YA characters to be 17-18—but I have such a soft spot for first love and first kiss stories. Both your teens and your twenties are defined by so much hope and potential but also terror and uncertainty. It offers a great setting for a story!
WOW: Twilight holds such a special place in my heart. It inspired me to write my first manuscript because I also wished Bella was more independent. Team Edward all the way! PLE are advocates for the stories that need to be told and champions for the people who tell them. Do you only work with English authors?
Isabel: We are an international agency at our core, and our authors are all over the world: US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Belgium. We want broad perspectives and unique voices, wherever they come from. I will say we usually deal with manuscripts written in English, just because of where we are based, but we value international voices and want to bring more into our list!
WOW: Fantastic! PLE is currently open to submissions. What is your current manuscript wish list, and what kinds of submissions get your attention?
Isabel: Right now, I am mostly looking in the YA and NA space, specifically for fantasy and romance (and anything that overlaps!). Fantasy is my background, so I can be extremely picky with my worldbuilding, but I am looking for a book that has something to say about the world around us. In romance, I just want to be swept off my feet. Submissions that play with tropes in a new way are what really grab me because they stay within the familiar (which makes it a great pitch to editors!) while still bringing something fresh and new to the table.
“I am mostly looking in the YA and NA space, specifically for fantasy and romance (and anything that overlaps!). Fantasy is my background, so I can be extremely picky with my worldbuilding, but I am looking for a book that has something to say about the world around us. In romance, I just want to be swept off my feet.”
WOW: Romantasy is huge right now. I’m sure you’re flooded with queries! What are some things authors should avoid when querying?
Isabel: Jumping right into the synopsis and not including the pitch at the top. Give me a sense of what I am looking at, so I have a bit of direction for reading the rest of the synopsis. Tell me the genre, the comp titles, the x meets y pitch, etc. upfront, please!!
WOW: That’s a great tip. Comparative titles are always difficult to choose, and there are many ways to go about it. Do you prefer writers stick to current books, or are you okay with manuscripts being compared to movies? What are some dos and don’ts of comp titles?
Isabel: I’d say make sure one comp title is a current book and one that isn’t too massive—never comp to Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Sarah J Maas, etc. But I love a movie or TV or even video game comp—as long as it’s in the broader cultural conversation.
WOW: It’s great to know screen titles or even video games can be used as comps. That opens up the sources! Let’s talk about rejected manuscripts. Do you ever have to reject a manuscript you love, and in what circumstances could this happen?
Isabel: I have definitely rejected things I love. I just have to think about the market and salability first and foremost. I am not in a place in my career where I can go, “Hey this probably won’t sell, but I am willing to risk the man hours because I love it.” There have been times when I know the genre isn’t right, or it is too similar to something else on the market or whatever the reason.
WOW: Thanks for sharing this important reality writers need to understand. PLE is committed to empowering their clients and helping them formulate the best strategies to achieve their storytelling goals—how does this happen, especially if a manuscript is proving difficult to sell?
Isabel: We don’t take on projects that we don’t believe in. If we champion a project, it is because we genuinely love it and believe it should hold a place on bookshelves. But that doesn’t mean it is guaranteed to sell. As much as that pains me. Publishing is a business, first and foremost. We are constantly re-evaluating our submission strategies, and we pitch for years if a book isn’t selling—again, because we genuinely believe in it. But sometimes it won’t sell, so we move forward with the next project and work with our authors to develop it.
WOW: It must be heartbreaking to accept a manuscript isn’t going to sell, but I’m sure your authors take comfort in you championing them and wanting to help them develop the next project. What can a PLE author expect after they get a yes from you?
Isabel: Edits!! I think a lot of first-time authors aren’t prepared for the long timeline that publishing takes. We are going to work with you on the manuscript, maybe even for over a year, before we send it out (it is usually quicker I promise!). We want to make sure that the manuscript is as perfect as possible. We are very editorial. But it comes from experience and knowledge—experience working with other books and an understanding of what editors need to see to be able to consider it as a viable option. If a book needs it, we have done multiple rounds of structured edits. We want our manuscripts to sail right through acquisitions, so we do everything we can to make it as pretty as possible.
“A lot of first-time authors aren’t prepared for the long timeline that publishing takes. We are going to work with you on the manuscript, maybe even for over a year, before we send it out (it is usually quicker I promise!). We want to make sure that the manuscript is as perfect as possible. We are very editorial.”
WOW: Music to my ears. Who doesn’t love an editorial agent?! How important is an author platform when you’re considering signing on an author?
Isabel: It is certainly a bonus! It shows a distinct audience that can be counted upon for sales. But it varies by genre—and it’s rapidly changing—and every editor has their own opinions on social media followings and their pros/cons. We don’t currently have many clients with notable platforms, but as a Gen Z agent with a high screen time, it is definitely something I would love to try my hand at!
WOW: Okay, last question! I read you received your MLitt in Fantasy at the University of Glasgow and wrote your thesis on Tamora Pierce. For readers who haven’t read her books before, where do you recommend they start and why?
Isabel: Oh, don’t get me started! Tamora Pierce is one of the mothers of feminist fantasy, and she deserves to be in the conversation with Ursula Le Guin and other genre greats. Pierce has been writing in the same swords-and-sorcery fantasy world since the 80s, and it is my safe haven. The characters are vibrant and diverse, the relationships are complex and real, and Tamora Pierce writes a quest in the way it would really go—hard times, smelly knights, and then the moments of high energy and swords clanging. Plus, so many animal companions! Start with Alanna’s story, The Lioness Quartet. But my favorite is Kel in the Protector of the Small Quartet, so read that next.
My thanks to Isabel Lineberry of Pérez Literary & Entertainment. It’s been a pleasure to chat and share what it’s like to be a junior agent. I’m more motivated than ever to finish my next manuscript and get back in the query trenches. If you’re interested in querying Isabel, upload your query letter and the first ten pages of your novel or the first ten pages of your nonfiction sample chapter through Query Tracker. Stay in touch via socials and visit www.perezliterary.com.
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Kelly Sgroi is based in Melbourne, Australia. While preparing her next manuscript for submission, Kelly regularly interviews authors, runs @WriteTillChristmas, and contributes to WOW! Women on Writing. To find out more about Kelly visit www.kellysgroi.com.
