No longer working as an agent.

(Thanks jkhoury)

I'm pretty sure she's not an agent anymore. I had a friend who signed on with Gwendolyn--at least I'm pretty sure it was Gwendolyn--who got dropped when the agent quit in order to publish her own books. Someone might want to check on whether she's still in the business.

Sent a query 11/02/09
She requested 50 sample ages 11/03
She passed on my YA book on 11/04 with a long, very kind letter praising specific elements of my work.
"The reason I am going to pass has nothing to do with the merit of the writing or the quality of the premise. As a new agent, I am unsure how to market or sell this manuscript. I see the manuscript having more appeal to readers that grew up in the 1970s, readers able to identify with the time who feel nostalgia (and disgust) with this particular period in history. I think that its audience might prove to be more adult than YA. Since I don’t have ‘adult’ fiction experience, I think it would be unwise (and unfair) to take you on as a client. I feel strongly about your story, and I hope that you find a home for it, first with a good agent and then with a good publisher."

We've communicated a number of times since. She's very kind, considerate, and professional in all ways and will make someone a dedicated and hard-working agent

E'queried on 11/3/09, asked for partial same day, then full! (was very excited at this point)

E'rejected 11/9/09. Nice, but short, rejection, saying she didn't connect 100% with story. I would have liked to have some input or something!

E-queried on Oct. 28. Request for first 20 pages on Nov. 1. Request for full manuscript on Nov. 2.

Rejection on Nov. 4.
She wrote she preferred first person to my third person narrative. So close! But her positive, personal comments regarding the manuscript and the characters really gave me hope that I'm close. It was a positive experience even if it was a rejection.

requested partial within a day, rejection one day later. just said that she wasnt 100% commited to the story

Sent query over the weekend and got a reply Mon morning: a request for a partial 10/26. I sent it in the same day. She requested to see the full a couple of hours later! It was rejected on 10/28. A very polite, personalized rejection, though.

10/23/09 - equeried Gwen re: YA
10/24/09 - What a great idea for a story! Can I take a look at 15 sample pages? Gwen
10/24/09 - sent 1st 15 pgs
10/26/09 - Thanks so much for your sample! I think the idea for Motorcycle Babies is great and timely. Readers, both young and old, will be enthralled by the pregnancy pack (sic) and the reasons (and characters) behind it. Unfortunately, I am not connecting with the diary-style writing, so this isn't the right project for me. This only says something about my personal preference and nothing about your writing. I would encourage you to continue querying agents and I hope to see Motorcycle Babies on the shelves soon. Gwen
10/26/09 - Hi Gwen, Sorry you didn't connect with the diary-style writing. Do you think it would be better suited to a third person POV? Thanks for your encouragement.
10/26/09 - I think first person POV is the right angle for it, but maybe just not diary-format But that said, someone else might adore the diary style.

GLA featured her this week. Here's the bio off the agency page:

Gwendolyn Heasley is the author of the upcoming YA novel, Confessions of a Teenage Recessionista, which will be published by HarperCollins.

She earned her B.A. from Davidson College in North Carolina, and her Master’s degree in Journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia where she wrote her thesis on why women read Us Weekly.

In the past, she has sold greeting cards and taught creative writing to young adults.


She’s actively seeking authors of Young Adult manuscripts of all genres, specifically manuscripts that have a sharp voice and vivid settings.