Profile Update: Closed to queries.

EQ: 11/13/2021
Partial Request: 11/15/2021
Decline: 11/23/2021

YA LGBTQ+ rom com

Steven asked for sample pages to be snail mailed, and after letting him know I wasn't in the States, he proposed an alternative method through UPS printing and pick-up. I appreciated his kindness and responsiveness. While he ultimately passed, the feedback he provided was insightful. He's looking for more LGBTQ+ material and seems like a great agent to work with.

Mr Chudney requested a partial within an hour of my query (27 October 2021) and upped it to a full request just three days later. I live in a country with less-than-reliable international mail, so we had to find a way around that: he suggested I email my pages on both occasions to his local UPS store to be printed and placed in his mailbox. I've found him kind, responsive and very patient and professional in our interactions so far, so this has been a positive experience regardless of outcome.

Steven is open to all kinds of subjects and genres, including general fiction, upmarket women’s fiction, BIPOC, novels that explore gender and sexuality / LGBTQ, mysteries and thrillers (less of the hardcore political kind), and some historical fiction.

Rejected me in 25 minutes flat.

EQ: 9/9/21 MG
Request for 50 pages: 9/10/21

Received a request for 50 pages. Rejected by saying MC and writing were not ‘special enough’. Ouch!! Would prefer a form rejection over something that doesn’t really communicate anything other than a ‘no’.

Set an Email August 5 and responded with a request for the first 50 pages in hard copy first, plus additional info. Got a reject about a week later. Very polite and said he liked the story, but the writing wasn't special enough.

82 days -storyline doesn't resonate.

Sent query 7/27 and got an email back on 7/31 requesting to be snail mailed a cover letter, full synopsis, and first 50 pages. I wasn't expecting to hear back so quickly since I had gotten a bounce-back email that he was out of the office until 8/2. Sent in the requested materials and currently waiting on his response with crossed fingers and toes. He seems like a very proactive and helpful agent. Very glad I queried him.

Update 8/17/21 - Kind rejection. Stated that the writing is nice but he "just didn't fall in love enough" to proceed. I admit I'm pretty disappointed, but I do appreciate that he got back to me. I'm still glad I queried him and happy that he took the time to review my work.

88k YA / Historic
1 day to partial request.
10 days from partial to rejection.

Dear Jennifer, thanks for having sent in the portion of your novel. I'm afraid that although the writing is nice, it just didn't have that extra special something I look for, alas, especially for historical YA, which is really challenging these days. So, this will be a pass for me, with regrets. As these things can be so very subjective, I do hope that soon you'll find a more enthusiastic agent for your novel.

EM: 8/4/21 (Only requested a Query Letter)
ER: 8/5/21
Standard but polite rejection
MG Literary 44,000 words

7/27:
Sent a query by email and received an automatic reply that he is away on vacation and will return on August 2. He is closed to queries until his return.

About a two-hour turnaround. Form letter rejection. Probably caught him as a was clearing out email.
YA 65K

06/18/20 - I received a very constructive reject letter on my submission. Mr. Chudney helped me to re-evaluate if I had a Trilogy, as I mentioned in my query letter (with Mr. Chudney stating the books having to be read, and submitted to agents, in order, not out of order) or as a Series (where each book can be read independently of the other). It turns out, I have a Series. I love these little discoveries along the path of creativity. Historical Fiction / Adult / 86k