EQ:6/12/21

EQ: 8/4/20
FR: 9/22/20 from assistant
Nudged: 5/26/21
Customized, helpful, polite rejection: 5/26/21 (with apologies for his delayed response)

MG Contemporary, 60K

This is a repost from below because I updated my account (previously shddavis). Given other comments, it seems 12-13 months isn't abnormal on his full requests. Waiting patiently while working feverishly on my next projects was the way to go!

EQ 4/30/21
ER 5/11/21, form rejection from assistant

Picture book, text only

EQ: 2/15/21 Picture book, author-illustrator
4/16 -- I seem to be one of the ones that got skipped. Sigh -- he was my favorite, too.

5/7 -- Well, after almost 3 months I finally got my rejection (from Erica), apologizing for the sluggish response and saying very kind, personal things about the story, but that they didn't truly connect with the art style. Ah, well. Disappointed (of course), but happy it wasn't a CNR.

EQ 4/20/21
Memoir
ER 5/4/21
Very nice and long rejection - gave me so many compliments that I thought I was reading an offer at first. Alas, I was not. But, no actual tangible reason as to WHY they didn't want to represent. I wanted to ask for a more direct answer because I've just been craving harsh feedback and getting none, but I felt so privileged that my words were read at all and in such a timely manner, so I didn't ask.

EQ: 03/16/2021
YA Speculative, 72K

Started querying last Friday and hadn't personalized any of them until this one, where I gushed a bit. Felt sincere at the time but I just reread it hours later and am like, barf. What was I thinking?

Update: 04/30/2021
Heard back from Mr. Barr's assistant a few weeks after this with a pass (despite my Lucky Charms). Today, I get an email requesting a full from a different assistant and am like, wait, what? Turns out my brain was on scramble for like a microsecond. It was a full request from Stephen *Barbara's* assistant. With my last few requests I've been tossing (metaphorical) confetti and doing tiny moonwalks. This one had my veins thrumming with so much adrenaline, it took me about twenty minutes to peel myself off the ceiling. All this to say, this is all just a big Wheel of Fortune, comrades. If you're down today, like I was when I got Barr's pass, just wait for the next revolution--and make sure you stick both hands in the air for the ride. My best wishes to every one of you on this wacky magic carpet. x

EQ: March 29, 2021
Form Rejection: April 24, 2021

YA MR 58,000

EQ 3/26/21
Form Rejection: 4/23/21
Graphic Novel, author-illustrated

EQ: 3/17/21
Form rejection: 4/7/21
MG Fantasy 64k

"just aren't wholeheartedly connecting, despite its many charms" from Erica

Query: March 10 /21
Reject: March 25 /21

YA SciFi 98,000

From secretary, "despite the charms..."
Hoped to be really charming till I read the tread :)

@VictoriaAlexis, it looks like @Wondering's query was the latest Stephen and Erica have replied to. Hopefully they are just taking a break!

Query: 3/1/21
Form rejection: 3/19/21.

Humorous picture book. Rejection sent by assistant Erica McGrath; same form as below.

Has anyone had a response from Stephen Barr lately? His publishers marketplace says he tries to respond within a week, but it’s been two since I sent mine with no word. Not sure if he’s taking a break from answering or if he missed it somehow.

EQ: 15.02.2021
ER: 05.03.2021
Received a Form Letter from his agent, the text was just like described in one of the posts below

EQ: Jan 20, 2021
FR: Feb 3, 2021
Received email Feb 26, 2021 from Erica McGrath (Stephen Barr's assistant) with specific and personalized feedback, including suggestions on how to revise the manuscript with the phrasing "We'd love to see a version of this manuscript where..." After hearing from mentors and peers, I decided to treat this as an R&R instead of a rejection.