John Cusick, Agent and VP of Folio Literary Management

John M. Cusick is a Senior Vice President and literary agent with Folio Jr. / Folio Literary Management, representing a diverse list of New York Times bestsellers and award winners including Julie Murphy, Joan He, Laura Sebastian, Christian McKay Heidicker, and Abdi Nazemian. He represents fiction for kids, teens, and adults, and is also the author of the YA novels GIRL PARTS and CHERRY MONEY BABY (Candlewick Press), as well as the middle-grade duology DIMENSION WHY: How to Save the Universe Without Really Trying (HarperCollins). You can find him online at https://www.foliojr.com/john-cusick.

Send the books kids will sneak/steal/borrow in secret. Those personal, dangerous, life-saving stories. Genres: Children’s, Middle Grade, Picture Books, YA, author-illustrators. No adult works.

Member Reviews of John

His words were kind and gentle and gave me the direction I needed to make my story shine.

His words were kind and gentle and gave me the direction I needed to make my story shine. I highly recommend John Cusick for your next critique.

Kathi J. Most

He was very helpful.

I had a meeting with John Cusick to go over my MG query letter. He was very helpful. We refined comps, edited the second summary paragraph, and he answered questions. I definitely recommend him.

Jamie Barber

Tremendously helpful and positive feedback!

John Cusick gave me tremendously helpful and positive feedback! I know my YA story is good (OK, I think it’s more than good!:)), but my query letter was all wrong. I’ve revised it and resumed the journey. Thank you Manuscript Academy for your great program to support authors.

Colleen Jiron

John used the time masterfully, providing valuable insights during every minute of the call.

John Cusick’s 10 minute query critique was fabulous. He narrowed down areas in my query that could be shortened and helped me reword a paragraph to be more from my protagonist’s point of view. He also pointed out areas in my query that worked well. John used the time masterfully, providing valuable insights during every minute of the call.

Diana S.

Get some critique coaching from John. You may not win … but at least you’ll still enjoy playing the game

I had a 10-minute phone consult with John Cusick and I couldn’t be happier. Talking to John was like being given a pep talk by your favorite coach growing up. That wily coach that knew how to bring out the very best in their players with kindness, compassion, wisdom and a sense of humour. That coach that still has their skin in the game (John is a successful writer) and still knows all the craftiest plays and sneaks. And he knows how to best wrap an injury (even if it’s just your ego). That coach that has you play to your strengths but doesn’t fail to point out your weaknesses. Get some critique coaching from John. You may not win … but at least you’ll still enjoy playing the game.

Jonah Logan

I got so much out of it.

John was so helpful, courteous, and encouraging! I really enjoyed our chat (which FLEW by!) and I got so much out of it. I can tell he is very knowledgeable and experienced.

Amy VanDuyn

Friendly, smart, practical and very knowledgeable

I had consultations with both John and Molly Cusick and found them to be wonderful to work with. They’re friendly, smart, practical and very knowledgeable. Excellent resources and super pleasant people, too!

Jayme Inman

Excellent resources and super pleasant people, too!

I had consultations with both John and Molly Cusick and found them to be wonderful to work with.They’re friendly, smart, practical and very knowledgeable.Excellent resources and super pleasant people, too!

Jayme Inman

Talking to John was like being given a pep talk by your favorite coach growing up.

Jonah Logan

Great feedback and highly encouraging.

John gave great feedback and was incredibly encouraging! I would absolutely work with him again! Highly recommend!

Elisabeth Aikins

I’m so pleased to see it all coming together now in a much stronger query that more clearly conveys the heart of my book.

John critiqued my opening pages, and I was so impressed, I decided to hire him to critique my query. His feedback, along with the feedback I received from other Manuscript Academy faculty, was so insightful. I’m so pleased to see it all coming together now in a much stronger query that more clearly conveys the heart of my book. Thank you so much, John! And thank you, Manuscript Academy, for having such an incredible faculty!

K.M. Ellis

Work with John

LIVE Meetings: Meet face-to-face, from home. Choose Zoom, Google Meet, or phone, and speak for the appointed time about your query, first page, and/or first ten pages (for longer meetings). Does not include written notes, but is a chance to have an honest discussion about your work, and to ask follow-up questions. International meetings welcomed.

WRITTEN Critiques: Get detailed, thoughtful notes on your work. Comes with large-scale edits (character, world, plot, tension, concept, conflict, and similar as needed) in an editorial letter and small-scale, line-by-line notes as needed (for longer critiques, an average of three per page). Work arrives in your inbox within 24 hours of the date on the calendar.

HYBRID is a live meeting at the appointment time, with written notes.