The Agent is IN! Kate McKean is Vice President and Literary Agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, NY, where she has been representing clients in the areas of craft, art, illustration and pop culture (among many other areas) for over nine years. She earned her MA in Fiction Writing at the University of Southern Mississippi and likes to write, crochet and sew when she’s not reading.
At Midwest Craft Con, she’ll be teaching: Craft Book Publishing and will also be taking 10-minute appointments for craft book pitches! Sign up for a ten-minute appointment to talk to Kate about your craft book idea. You don’t have to bring a full-blown proposal, but sharing images of what you make will be helpful.
Why do you do what you do?
I have always loved books and making things so it felt like a natural fit to help with the making of books. Also, it helps in my job to be outgoing and energetic which suits my personality perfectly.
What’s your earliest crafty memory?
My mom and aunt taught me how to crochet, but I couldn’t master that second row for a long time. Let’s just say I was really good at skein-length crochet chains for a while.
What crafty personality would you most like to get a drink with?
Luckily, a lot of those people are my clients so I can get drinks with them most anytime I want. Basically if I could have Diane Gilleland, Kim Werker and Haley Pierson-Cox over for drinks all the time, I’d be happy.
What advice would you go back and give your younger self?
Just do it. Make it, write it, sew it. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time through.
What’s your favorite craft/business book?
Hello Craft’s Handmade to Sell is my go-to resource!
How did you get where you are today, in 10 words or less?
Nice work trusting your gut, Kate.
What are your goals for 2016?
To make more stuff! I have 100 writing projects I want to start and finish and I really also want to get better at knitting. (#crochetproblems)
Midwest Craft Con 