Bethany Jett
C.Y.L.E. Agency
My Manuscript Wish List®
I represent authors in both the CBA and ABA markets. Here is the breakdown:
- Adult NF – CBA & ABA
- PB, MG, YA – ABA
I do not represent children’s in the Christian market or adult fiction except for projects with established clients.
I’m interested in:
- Well-crafted tension
- Slow burn
- Noblebright
- Nobledark
- Grimbright
I’m not interested in:
- Curse words
- Vulgarity
- Grimdark
- Science Fiction
- Sex “on the page”
- Erotica
- Extreme violence
- Horror (with the exception of MG)
I appreciate trigger warnings in the query for suicide.
Fantasy
I like low fantasy and magical realism, where magic and the supernatural permeates our own world.
Although these books and authors are amazing, I’m not looking for books where the comps are LOTR, ACOTR, or anything by Rick Riordan. I loved The Cruel Prince series by Holly Black, but it’s at the upper echelon of my comfortability level with teen “romance.”
I appreciate writing that provides just enough information to the reader while letting their imagination take over…very “Master of Suggestion” Alfred Hitchcock-esque, if you will.
Specifically for nonfiction, I’m looking for writers who are living the messages in their books. This is reflected in their platform (which is not solely dependent on social media numbers, although that plays a part). With regard to platform, engagement means more to me than the number of followers.
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme:
Rhyme has to be done beautifully and perfectly. One thing to consider when debating if your manuscript should be in rhyme or prose is that rhyme can make it harder to translate into other languages.
In a rhyming PB, I look for true rhyme (not near or slant rhyme) that follows correct meter beats. The rhyme should not dictate the story, meaning that sometimes there are lines in rhyming PBs that are only there because of the rhyme.
Truthfully, most of my PB rejections for rhyming books are because the writer is forcing a true rhyme (which makes the line sound “weird” to the ear), or because their meter is off.
Fun facts about me:
I’m married to my college sweetheart Justin Jett and we have three teen/tween sons. I’m quite outnumbered! I adore my Pomeranian Sadie, who is my spirit-animal. Justin says Sadie is me, trapped in a dog’s body, and he’s right. We’re both a little anxious and a lot introverted.
I love The Office, have an obsession for planners, and crime shows.
Why I Do What I Do
My life changed in 2012 when I attended my first writers conference. I walked away with the title of Writer of the Year, two literary agent offers, plus several interested publishers. I signed with an agent that week and my debut book sold three months later.
Life has never been the same.
Since then, I’ve worked within the publishing industry as an author, ghostwriter, proposal creator, editor, and marketing strategist. I have been published traditionally with all my books, both within the inspirational Christian market, as well as in the ABA general market under a pen name.
My passion for marketing came after reading Sally Hogshead’s How the World Sees You. I went back to school and graduated with my masters degree in communications where I got to focus on both marketing and PR.
One of my businesses within the writing and publishing industry focused on proposal creation and marketing strategy for writers, as well as conducting marketing strategy for authors with a traditional publishing house. My business partner opened her own children’s imprint (she’s a bestselling children’s author in her own right) and I chose to move into the agenting side of the industry.
I’ve won multiple awards for my books, as well as my marketing campaigns, and am excited to champion other writers and help strengthen their journeys and careers.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions are accepted via Query Manager.
If you’re submitting nonfiction, share your overview in the synopsis section of QM and upload the proposal.
For nonfiction, the proposal must include:
- One-Sentence Hook
- Back cover copy
- Genre and Word Count
- Completion Date
- Bio
- Marketing Plan
- Comps (5-8 within the last 3 years)
- Detailed Synopsis
- First three chapters
For fiction:
- Bio
- Synopsis
- 1-paragraph pitch
- Target audience
- Comps
- First 50 pages
For picture books:
- Bio
- Synopsis
- 1-paragraph pitch
- Target audience
- Comps
- Completed manuscript, broken down by spreads.
Vital Info
Favorite sub-genres:
Business, Christian Living, Devotionals, How-to, Inspirational/Gift, Leadership, Lifestyle, Low Fantasy, Magical Realism, Relationships
I’d like the next…
Nonfiction:
- Brunch with Babs cookbook
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- The Home Edit books and workbooks
Fiction (YA & MG):
I’m hooked on stories written in extremely deep POV.
Faves:
- City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab,
- The Selection Series by Kierra Cass
- Caraval series by Stephanie Garber
Picture books:
I’m open to both text-only manuscripts and author-illustrator.
Fiction: strong story arcs, fractured fairy tales, #DIS
Nonfiction: I like books that provide back matter. STEM, STEAM, SEL.
My favorites include…
Fiction Faves
- Kiera Cass’s Selection series
- V.E. Schwab’s City of Ghosts series
- Caraval series
- Pride & Prejudice because #classic
Childhood Favorites that Made Me Fall in Love with Books and Writing
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
- The Cricket in Times Square by George Seldon
- Christy by Catherine Marshall (I read this so many times the paperback cover fell apart.)
- The Mouse on the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
- All of the “Ramona” books by Judy Blume
Nonfiction Faves
- How the World Sees You by Sally Hogshead changed my life, followed by Grit by Angela Duckworth
- All of Gary Vaynerchuk’s books
- You are a Brand! by Catherine Kaputa
- Dancing on the Head a Pen by Robert Benson pulled me out of my one-and-only writer’s block slump.
