Molly has been working closely with Folio authors’ projects since 2008, and is an Associate Member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR). In addition to building her selective but growing list of clients, Molly utilizes her editorial background, previous work experience in the e-publishing industry, and intimate knowledge of the Folio list in her position as Folio’s Co-Director of International Rights. She actively pursues sales of international and audio rights and attends all major international book fairs, helping Folio clients’ books reach wide audiences in as many formats as possible. Molly is an avid reader, and when she’s not devouring manuscripts, she can usually be found camped out in the aisles of the Union Square Barnes & Noble (until they kick her out at closing time). Her clients include Lana Krumwiede (FREAKLING, Candlewick, October 2012, and ARCHON, Fall 2013), Julie Murphy (SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY, HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray, 2014), and Kristen Lippert-Martin (TABULA RASA, Egmont, 2014). You can follow her on Twitter @molly_jaffa and read her blog at mollyjaffa.blogspot.com.
What I’m looking for:
Fiction: I focus exclusively on middle grade and young adult fiction. I’m looking for books that challenge the reader intellectually and emotionally, from the high-concept and fantastical to the frank, fresh, and contemporary. I love fiction set in another country, time, or place (real or imagined!) that opens up a rich new world for the reader to discover. Stories featuring characters with strong passions, talents, or smarts – or characters in search of theirs – resonate with me. I’d also like to see: Contemporary YA that’s not afraid to explore complex social issues, historical fantasy, smart middle grade adventures, heartbreaking middle grade with beautiful writing, and good, old-fashioned YA romance.
My current favorite (non-client) middle grade and YA books include Ask the Passengers, Seraphina, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, The Diviners, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, All These Things I’ve Done, The Fault in Our Stars, Deadweather and Sunrise, When You Reach Me, The Peculiar, Wintergirls, and Code Name Verity. All-time favorites include The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wrinkle in Time, Harry Potter, The His Dark Materials trilogy, Go Ask Alice, Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, The View from Saturday, and anything by Dianna Wynne Jones or Tamora Pierce.
What I’m not looking for:
Paranormal “creature” YA (no werewolves, vampires,shapeshifters, selkies, or mermaids, please). I’m probably not the right person for books narrated by animals or focusing on a human-animal bond (girls and their horses, boys and their dogs).
Why I love my job:
I truly believe in the lasting impact books can have on young readers. Who among us doesn’t remember the first time we read a book that felt like it was “ours”—not our parents’ or teachers’? How many times did a book affirm our sense of self (hello, Judy Blume!) or keep us up all night with a flashlight? I have a deep affinity for the voices of young protagonists and the writers who bring them to life. The best part about being an agent today is having the chance to find books by writers who can inspire, enthrall, and engage the smartest, savviest generation of readers yet—and then getting to share them with the world! I consider myself to be an editorial agent, and will work closely with clients through as many drafts as necessary to make their manuscript the best it can be. When I fall in love with an author’s work, I’m committed to being his or her biggest advocate, part of a two-person team in a career-long relationship.
How to contact me:
You can query me at molly (@) foliolit.com (remember to remove the parenthesis). Please include the query letter and first ten pages in the body of the email, as well as “query” in the subject line.
Where to find me:
I’ll be at the following conferences:
April 26, 2013: ASJA Conference, New York, NY
May 4-5, 2013: DFW Writers Conference, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
June 10-12, 2014: Nebraska Novel Retreat, Schuyler, Nebraska