Harry Potter didn't just create a fantasy phenomenon — according to one Big Five editor, it quietly helped break middle grade publishing. Every book that tried to chase that success got longer, older, and harder for actual kids to read, and now imprints are shutting down because of it.

In this encore episode, literary agent, bestselling children's author, and founder of At-Home Author Vicki Weber breaks down what's really happening in publishing right now — the layoffs, the imprint closures, and why "everybody's throwing spaghetti at the wall." Then she gets tactical: her #1 piece of advice for authors in the query trenches (hint: it's not "wait for The One agent"), how to read between the lines of an agent's wishlist, and why chasing a "dream agent" is quietly sabotaging your confidence.

In this episode:

• The real story behind Vicki's viral Substack post on the state of middle grade
• The "Harry Potter theory" — how one runaway bestseller reshaped an entire category
• Why editors loving your book is only the beginning, not the end, of acquisitions
• Vicki's #1 tip for querying authors: write another book (and why the process isn't a straight line)
• How to research an agent's actual taste, not just their stated genres
• Why "my dream agent passed" is the wrong way to think about rejection
• Self-publishing vs. traditional: how to decide which is right for your book
• What to do about a "bad" sales track record (and how to reframe it)
• Simple, low-cost ways to build an email list and audience before you're published
• Vicki's current manuscript wishlist: horror-tinged, commercial, with social commentary

We had a new guest lined up for this week, but a family emergency meant we had to reschedule — so we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations instead.

Find Vicki's Substack and more show links in the notes at writerswithwrinkles.net.

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