I know that when including comp titles in a query it is important to use well known works. My question is, is it still appropriate to use a comp title of a book/series that is 10 years old or more, even if it was a bestseller at the time it was published?

Oct

I know that when including comp titles in a query it is important to use well known works. My question is, is it still appropriate to use a comp title of a book/series that is 10 years old or more, even if it was a bestseller at the time it was published?

— Anonymous

It depends. Would it still be a bestseller if it was published right now? I say this because 10 years in adult books is different than 10 years in YA. There are a number of books that came out in YA 10 years ago and were hugely popular that now seem like they more or less fall between YA and MG.

Really though think about your story and what fits best. I recently requested and read a ms that was pitched as Stephen King’s IT meets Goonies, and I was like, “um yes!” and those are both older.

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New Leaf is a full service, boutique literary agency. Founded by Joanna Volpe in June 2012, the agency represents clients in commercial and literary fiction for children and adults and innovative non-fiction. Pouya Shahbazian handles the TV/film rights in-house while Kathleen Ortiz handles sub-rights in-house, and the agency as a whole is working together to publicize clients through its own Author Promo program. Also part of the agency are agent Suzie Townsend, assistant Danielle Barthel, and assistant Jaida Temperly.