As an agent, what types of stories are you looking for at this time?

I like my middle-grade quirky and charming, and my YA daring and emotionally driven, whether fantastic or realistic. I am on the lookout for innovative storytelling, fresh genre crossings with YA romance -- dystopian YA romance, for example, or YA horror with a core love story, and coming of age memoir.

What have you seen too much of lately, if anything?

Paranormal romance, sibling middle-grade adventure stories, chapter books without a strong enough character to drive a series, first pages that set a plot in motion, orient us to a storyworld, or reveal character, but not all three.

What is your favorite part of being an agent? Least favorite?

Making the calls that offer representation and bring news of a deal. I love the senses of discovery and collaboration, advocating for an author’s interests, and being part of a creative community. Least favorite is stepping aside from projects I see greatness in, but which I don’t feel I could confidently represent.

Describe your dream author? And of course....the author from Hades?

Dream Author writes with a point of view, deeply and fearlessly revises when she must, thoughtfully sticks to her guns when the time comes, knows good advice when she hears it, and seeks to partner with her agent and publisher. Hades Author is closed when she needs to be open, talks when she needs listen, lacks publishing’s #1 virtue (patience), and has unrealistic expectations.

What do you read for pleasure? Name three of your all time favorite books or

authors.

My pleasure reading is stacked bedside, so let’s see – we have a memoir about a woman playing detective to her father’s mysterious life and death, the collected stories of a Jewish American woman writer, and Gourmet magazine. Three favorites are Vivian Gornick’s memoir FIERCE ATTACHMENTS, Jeffrey Eugenides’ THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, and the American-living-in-south-of-France children’s author Susie Morgenstern’s SECRET LETTERS FROM 0 TO 10.

Tell us about a few titles you have coming out you are excited about.

Matt Blackstone’s A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE, a YA “bromance” (FSG, 2011). Emily Horner’s YA love story set against a high school musical that crosses Rent with Kill Bill (Dial, 2010) is one I’m lucky to count amongst many I repped at my old agency, also out soon. Simon Pulse pubs Albert Borris’ sexy, gritty YA about suicide, CRASH INTO ME, in July, Lauren Strasnick’s sexy, wrenching YA about grief, NOTHING LIKE YOU, in Oct, and, Dia Reeves’ sexy, scary YA dark fantasy, BLEEDING VIOLET, in Jan. Less sexy (maybe, maybe not) is Melissa Hart’s memoir GRINGA, from Seal Press this fall.

How does one submit to you and do you accept equeries? How about conference you will be attending this year?

I am open to submissions, and I only accept equeries. Authors can find our agency’s guidelines posted on the Lynn C. Franklin Associates, Ltd. profile page at PublishersMarketplace.com. I’ve loved doing conferences, but I’m slated for any more through year’s end.

In a year, what is your typical percentage of signing new writers? Do they come from slush or referral or conferences?

I love working with debut authors, finding them in the slush, via referral, in my college newsletter, out in the wild. Writers are everywhere!

Are editors buying less due to the faltering economy? Any additional thoughts on this subject?

My single thought on the subject: while the economy is probably inspiring prudence all around, enthusiasm for one’s work is probably also the best antidote.

and our new question section- an absolute take off of inside the actors

studio-adapted for books (how's that for a switch)

INSIDE THE Agents STUDIO

Tell us your favorite movie Band of Outsiders, by Jean-Luc Godard.

Tell us your favorite protagonist-hero or heroine, your choice. Harriet the Spy.

What is your favorite word or phrase? Me too.

least favorite word or phrase? Later.

If you weren’t an agent, you would be a speechwriter for President Obama.

Also...agents talk of voice. What kind of voice hooks your attention? One

that makes you laugh, cry--in your own words.

One that gives me pause after the first page, maybe after the first sentence, and inspires me to think back my favorite word or phrase: me too.