Agent Advice: Analieze Cervantes of The Harvey Klinger Literary Agency
The best way to get advice from literary agents is to go directly to the source. In this post, get agent advice from Analieze Cervantes of The Harvey Klinger Literary Agency.
Analieze Cervantes is a graduate from Cal State San Bernardino where she studied English: Creative Writing along with a minor in Screenwriting. She has also worked as an Editorial Freelancer for Independent Authors. She started her career as an intern at a New York Literary Agency and then joined The Harvey Klinger Literary Agency in 2020. Analieze is currently building her list and is interested in representing picture books, chapter books, middle grade, YA, and adult fiction.
She's is especially open to BIPOC and LGBTQ voices in the mentioned categories. Analieze currently resides in Southern California with her five dogs. Learn more on her agent page.
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How did you become an agent?
I started my career at another agency a couple years back as an intern and that’s when I really began my journey. I started to learn a lot more about the industry, what to expect, and what to look forward to.
However, my journey there was abruptly cut short and I had to find another agency. I reached to Havey Klinger at HKLA, and he gave me the opportunity of the lifetime to chase my dreams as an advocate for authors. I am slowly learning, building my list and I’m looking forward to the many great things that will come.
What's the most recent thing you've sold?
There will be an announcement in the near future so look out for that! I am super excited about it.
What are you looking for right now from writers that you're not getting?
A great mystery that pulls me in from the opening sentence to the ending.
Where do you notice writers going wrong in chapter one?
Often times, I find that the concept is very good, and I can’t wait to dive in, especially, since the pitch was executed. However, if the opening chapter starts off great, then the pacing begins to slow down for me.
I love luscious world-building, character driven, complex story lines, even pacing, and stories that pull me away from my current world. So most authors make the mistake in not initiating their plot, introducing their characters, and keeping me glued to the pages.
What's the number one mistake you see in queries?
Not introducing me in the query letter, not showing/telling me what their book is about, and are most focused on their accomplishments rather than sharing why they are querying me.
What's your best piece of advice for writers?
My advice to writers: Don’t give up, ask questions, learn the industry, attend conferences, join support groups, have a community of beta readers, and really understand the business in the best way you can.
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Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
