Storm Literary Agency

Boutique literary agency representing quality literature from exceptional authors and illustrators

First, there was a  teacher who loved books almost as much as she loved little children. Then, there was an artist who loved pirates, almost as much as he loved cats. As it turns out, that artist could also write, and that teacher loved the pirate stories he wrote. And she shared those stories with the children she taught. The children loved the pirate stories; they also loved the cats. They wanted more stories with pirates and cats. They also wanted an adventure. And the stories gave them so many adventures. And that is that: Storm Literary Agency came about because it needed to. The children requested it. And so did the cats. 

Storm Literary Agency welcomes submissions from unique and talented authors and illustrators, those who are not afraid to embrace their capacity to teach, to entertain, to engage and to honor people, young and old, who hopefully, will be changed by the work represented here.

 Author Spotlight

 
 


Jenna Grodzicki (South Chatham, MA)

1. When did you first realize you wanted to write for children? How did you turn this into a career?

 I first realized I wanted to write children’s books when I was teaching first grade. My favorite part of the day was sharing amazing picture books with my students and seeing their reactions. I started thinking that I wanted to write something that would make kids smile, laugh, or feel a connection. However, it took about ten years of dreaming before I actually did anything about it.

 

2. What challenges, expected and unexpected, have you experienced on this journey?

 I knew when I first started that I had a lot to learn. I didn’t assume that just because I was a teacher and had read a lot of picture books that it would be easy to write them. I went into the journey excited and motivated to learn everything I could.

 I had no idea how much waiting is involved in publishing. Even with an agent submitting your work, it could be months before you hear anything back, if at all. And if you’re fortunate enough to receive an offer, it could be months (or years) before a contract is agreed upon and ready to be signed. Having patience is key.

 

3. What do you enjoy most or find most fulfilling about writing for children?

My favorite thing about writing is sharing my books with children. When a child’s eyes light up because of something I wrote, there’s no better feeling in the world. I love doing school visits for this exact reason.

 

4. Do you have a favorite book? If so, how has it inspired you?

 I probably have about a million favorite books. When I read books to my students, I usually start with, “This is one of my favorite books.” And inevitably someone will say, “You said that about the last book we read!” But one book I’ve absolutely loved since I was little is Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola. I love the characters, especially Big Anthony. As the story unfolds, you can just tell that Big Anthony is going to do something very bad. I also loved thinking about the magic pasta pot. If I had a pot like that, what would I want it to make? Even though this book was published almost 50 years ago (!!!), it still resonates with children today.

 

5. Do you have a favorite author and/or illustrator? If so, how have they inspired you?

I’m really inspired by Melissa Stewart and Kate Messner. They are so prolific and create some of the best nonfiction books for kids published today. I’ve used many of their books as mentor texts when working on my own projects. They’re both also incredible speakers and can easily energize and excite a room full of writers. 

 

6. What draws you to writing non-fiction? Fiction?

I started my career with writing fiction, but as I’ve grown as a writer, I now gravitate towards nonfiction. Every nonfiction project I’ve worked on has started with an OMG moment. I See Sea Food: Sea Creatures that Look Like Food (Millbrook Press, 2019) started with “OMG, I’ve never heard of a Louisiana pancake batfish, but it looks just like a pancake!” Wild Style: Amazing Animal Adornments (Millbrook Press, 2020) started with “OMG, what is this crab that decorates itself to hide from predators?” If it’s surprising and interesting to me, maybe children will feel the same way.

 

7. What preparations/research do you undertake when starting a new project?

When I come across an idea, I can’t work on it right away. I have to let it “marinate.” If enough time goes by and I’m still thinking about it, then I know I’m on to something. That’s when I’ll start my research. I love doing research because the topic is still shiny and new and full of possibilities. As I learn more and more about the subject, the potential structure of the manuscript starts to emerge.

 

8. Do you follow a set writing routine, or do you vary your process?

I’m a library media specialist at an elementary school, but my position is part time. I teach Mondays-Wednesdays. Thursdays and Fridays are my writing days. When I’m on a deadline, however, anything goes. I do a lot of writing for the educational market, and the turnaround time for those projects is fairly tight. I might come home from school and go directly to my office to research/write/revise. Or, I might work through the weekend.

9. What advice or tips do you have for those wanting to get published?

I think one really important thing a writer can do is connect with other writers. It is necessary to find a critique partner or group to share your writing with. The feedback you receive is invaluable, and critiquing others’ work will also help you grow.  For me, joining the 12x12 Picture Book Challenge was a game changer. Having other picture book writers to bounce ideas off of or ask questions is so helpful.. I’ve met so many friends and found several critique partners and groups through 12x12.

Also, don’t rush your writing! It takes as long as it takes. New writers may be tempted to send their manuscripts out to agents or publishers before they’re submission ready because they want to be published as soon as possible. Take your time. Hone your craft. Revise, rewrite, and revise some more.

 

10. What do you do to stay current with today’s markets or trends? Do you think that’s important?

It is absolutely important to stay current with today’s market. I’m constantly putting new picture books on hold at my public library. Reading books that have been recently published helps writers study structure, word play, voice, page turns, and so much more.

 

11. The publishing industry feels slower now overall even though deals are happening daily. How do you stay motivated? 

Ha ha, this is what I mentioned in my one of my previous answers! It’s true, everything seems to be moving much slower since the pandemic. Editors are even pickier than before. Honestly, it can be hard to stay motivated. I try to focus on my next project. What OMG idea is really exciting me right now? Fixating on my manuscripts that are on submission is not going to get them published faster. I have to put my energy into something I actually have control over.

 

12. Is there any project you are really excited about currently (without giving too much away)?

Right now, I am solidly in my nonfiction era. And writing about animals, especially lesser known or unique ones, is my favorite. I have a manuscript in that vein that is almost ready for submission, and I’m really excited to see what happens. I also have several different OMG ideas that I’m “marinating” to see which one I want to focus my attention on next.