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Kate McKean

@katemckean.bsky.social
13K followers 907 following 3.3K posts

Literary Agent at Morhaim Literary 📚 Newsletter: Agents & Books at agentsandbooks.com. 📚 WRITE THROUGH IT out June ‘25 📚📚 picture book called PAY ATTENTION TO ME out in ‘26! www.simonandschuster.com/books/Writ…

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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 12h
What's more important? Writing, or posting about writing? www.agentsandbooks.com/are-you-doin... #booksky #writersky
agentsandbooks.com
Are You Doing It for the 'Gram?
Are you posting to write or are you writing to post?
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Just read an ARC of a book an editor sent me in <checks notes> 2014.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
When should you call it quits on querying your book? www.agentsandbooks.com/when-should-... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I have made caesar dressing for the first time. I have never felt more powerful.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Brooklyn! Come chat with me about non-fiction book proposals (including memoir!) at Liz’s Book Bar on Tuesday, Oct 6 at 7pm! lizsbookbar.com/events/63867...
lizsbookbar.com
How to Write a Non-Fiction Book Proposal | Liz's Book Bar
Black-owned independent bookstore and wine bar in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Edgar isn't exactly a spooooooky cat, but he does love a flamboyant costume. Meet him in my debut picture book PAY ATTENTION TO ME! bookshop.org/a/88478/9781... #kidlit #picturebooks
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David Bonowitz @dbonowitz.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
for you are call'd plain Kate, and bonny Kate and sometimes Kate the curst; but Kate, the prettiest Kate in Christendom Kate of Kate Hall, my super-dainty Kate, ... from a wild Kate to a Kate conformable as other household Kates. h/t @shakespeare.lol
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alix e. harrow @alixeharrow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
if you preorder The Everlasting in spanish (Eterna), it comes with a perpetual calendar 🙏😂
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Have you heard of the compliment sandwich (aka the shit sandwich)? How to interpret those, and editorial letters, here: www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Wore Eileen Fisher to the Strokes show tonight.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Should you have a newsletter? Read this newsletter about why you don't need a newsletter. www.agentsandbooks.com/read-this-ne...
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Marisa LaScala @martogo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Butter, squishy dumplings, mac and cheese—why are kids into things that are so...gooey? I think they're looking for textures, sensations, and experiences that are the opposite of touching the perfect, smooth glass of a phone or tablet. www.goodhousekeeping.com/what-to-buy/...
goodhousekeeping.com
The Most Unexpected Toy Trend of the Year
As someone who covers toys for a living, I didn’t see this one coming.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Regarding comp titles for your book: Your ratatouille is not like your pasta marinara just because they both have tomatoes in it. Your orange juice is not like your screwdriver just because it has the same base.
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Laura Helmuth @laurahelmuth.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Just finished @sarahpinsker.bsky.social's collection "Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea" and loved every bit of it, especially the final story, which was published earlier in Uncanny: "And Then There Were (N-1)." SO GOOD: www.uncannymagazine.com/article/and-...
uncannymagazine.com
And Then There Were (N-One) - Uncanny Magazine
I considered declining the invitation. It was too weird, too expensive, too far, too dangerous, too weird. Way too weird. An invitation like that would never come again. I’d regret it if I didn’t go. ...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I could write a whole book about what comparable titles are when you're trying to sell your book, what they aren't, and why most of yours are wrong. But I won't because that would be the most boring book ever. This post, however, is just the right length. www.agentsandbooks.com/gizmo-vs-lilo/
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
My real success as a literary agent comes with how many books I do with a map in the front.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Do you need to meet an agent or editor IRL--at a conference or workshop or event--to get a book deal? Is it "worth it?" www.agentsandbooks.com/who-do-you-n... #writersky #booksky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
So it's a typo in the first word of the headline kind of day, isn't it.
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Mary Robinette Kowal @maryrobinettekowal.com · 29/09/2026
This is happening today (Tuesday, September 29 at 8:00 PM Eastern)! I hope you can join.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I feel personally attacked by the 25th anniversary of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (book).
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Lee Mandelo @leemandelo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
And it's finally here!! Five years since Summer Sons came out, and I joined the crew at @workerslit.bsky.social to reread and chat about the book This ep also features much love for everyone's favorite big hot man, Sam Halse
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Answers to hypothetical questions I know writers want to ask, but are too scared to hear the answer. www.agentsandbooks.com/answers-i-do...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I've written two books! One about how to get your book published and a picture book about a cat who wants to be famous! You can get them here! bookshop.org/lists/books-...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Do I have any mutuals in Rome, Italy?
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
May 2026 marked my 20th anniversary as an agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. Here are 20 things I've learned in that time. www.agentsandbooks.com/20-things-i-...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Today's Q&A Thursday covers: 1. Should I focus on selling my self-pub book or querying my trad debut? 2. How much should I get into why my previous books sold what they did in my query? www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
YOU'VE GOT BOOK/PUBLISHING/LITERARY AGENT QUESTIONS AND I'VE GOT ANSWERS! 1. Should I tell that agent I got a full request? 2. Do you know why this specific book didn't sell? www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
My current publishing hot take is that you shouldn't write books you think literary agents will like & instead write books YOU & READERS will like. I fully expect arguments and complaints in the comments, but remember--I'm on your side. www.agentsandbooks.com/stop-writing... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
What's a book advance? What's a "nice deal?" Do you own the publisher money if your book doesn't sell? MONEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE! www.agentsandbooks.com/how-the-mone...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I've been a literary agent for 20 years and I've written a newsletter about writing, books, and publishing for the last 7+ You should check it out. www.agentsandbooks.com
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Been in Rome 20 minutes and already can’t be bothered to be “productive” while I drink this coffee.
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Stevie Subrizi, vampire @steviesubrizi.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
very excited to use my new library card today @mattielubchansky.com
hardcover library copy of Simplicity by Mattie Lubchansky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Here are 90 or so things I did in a year to promote my first book. www.agentsandbooks.com/90-or-so-thi...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This week on Agents & Books's Q&A THURSDAY, we answer: 1. Can you tell me if the wait times I'm experiencing as I query are normal? 2. My book didn't sell a long time ago, should I find an agent to take it out again? www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
This is a vulnerable Q&A Thursday from the summer, which I'm posting again because thinking about the hard things just a little can make them easier down the line. This includes: 1. Am I too old to publish? 2. I have to write about my huge loss. Is that ok? www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
These simple hacks will give you five (5) to sixty (60) more writing minutes everyday, probably. www.agentsandbooks.com/actual-hacks... #booksky #writersky
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I love TNG more than any other storytelling world but I cannot watch S3E5 where Geordi falls in love with the hologram of Dr. Leah Brahms. They did Geordi dirty w/r/t love interests but I just cannot with this episode.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
This is TOMORROW! Wednesday! Come see me in Brooklyn!
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Do you have a dream literary agent? Should you? www.agentsandbooks.com/your-dream-a...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I wasn’t an American Girl doll 90s kid. I was a Bob Mackie Barbie that stayed in the box 90s kid.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I ordered some silk pants on Poshmark but the elastic waist was shot. So you know what I did? I replaced the elastic with new, and even used some from my stash! No one can tell me anything. 💪💪🪡🧵🪡🧵
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Have you met Edgar??????? bookshop.org/a/88478/9781...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
It is fun to have a Manning on a college football field again. And a player named Hollywood Smothers scoring a game-winning touchdown. College football is back baby.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Since I wrote this post in June, I have written one (1) picture book manuscript and added <mumble mumble/not so many> words to my other WIP. So don't feel badly if you haven't fulfilled your great summer plans either LOL. www.agentsandbooks.com/wip-hows-it-...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"Noctuary is to night as diary is to day." --from @emckean.bsky.social's great newsletter Things I Learned Looking Up Other Things, and also #MSWL buttondown.com/thingslearne...
buttondown.com
Things I learned while looking up other things, 2026.09.11
Dear friends, You can now search (and sort!) all the links I’ve ever sent you at https://erinmckean.com/things-learned-links/. I used what I’ve been calling...
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
AMA at Liz's Book Bar in Brooklyn next week--Sept 16th! RSVP! www.eventbrite.com/e/ask-a-lite...
eventbrite.com
Ask A Literary Agent Anything
Come chat with literary agent and author Kate McKean for our version of an AMA.
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Kate McKean @katemckean.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
On today's Q&A Thursday over at Agents & Books: 1. How in the world do I make the jump from indie to trad publishing? 2. Can I edit my ms before I send off this requested full to an agent? www.agentsandbooks.com/q-a-thursday... #booksky #writersky
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Jane Friedman @janefriedman.com · 10/09/2026
In my Bottom Line newsletter today, I have an in-depth piece about everything I found in disagreement claims, including agent claims and other anomalies, including possible fraud. If you're not already a subscriber: janefriedman.com/subscribe-pa...
janefriedman.com
Subscribe to Jane's publishing industry newsletter, The Bottom Line | Jane Friedman
Choose the right level of information and access for what you need today. It's easy to upgrade or downgrade later. Group & corporate subscriptions are
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Jane Friedman @janefriedman.com · 10/09/2026
Over the last week I spent considerable time analyzing agent claims in the Anthropic case since authors are finding them listed as claimants on their Anthropic settlement titles. So many authors felt quite uncomfortable reaching out to their agents about this, which I can understand.
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Jane Friedman @janefriedman.com · 10/09/2026
Per the Authors Guild, agents aren't generally eligible for payouts. In cases I reviewed, agents didn't add themselves; publishers did or it was a case of bad metadata. I encourage authors to let their agents know what's happening if they haven't already. Happily some agents are reaching out first.
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