Bill Clegg: ‘I really understand the loneliness, excitement and vulnerability it takes to create a book now’

The feted US literary agent on addiction, attempted suicide, and having his first novel longlisted for the Booker prizeBill Clegg is a leading New York literary agent and the author of the bestselling memoirs Portrait of an Addict As a Young Man and Ninety Days, which describe respectively his addiction to crack cocaine and alcohol and his painful return to sobriety. His intricate and acclaimed first novel, Did You Ever Have a Family, tells the story of the emotional aftermath of a catastrophic fire in a small Connecticut town in which four people from the same family are killed the night before a wedding, and is on the longlist for the 2015 Man Booker prize.When you’re writing a memoir, you have a life to work with: that’s your clay. With a novel, you have to make the clay Related: We should all be thankful that Rob Ford went to rehab – and hope he stays | Bill Clegg Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Bill Clegg: ‘I really understand the loneliness, excitement and vulnerability it takes to create a book now’"


New Leaf Literary & Media Faces Backlash After Dropping Authors

After New Leaf "amicably" parting ways with literary agent Jordan Hamessley on May 12, authors affected by the agent's departure took to Twitter to express concern over how the transition was handled as the agency defends their actions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Hilary Mantel had an unpublished Jane Austen-inspired novel.

Hilary Mantel died last September at age 70, but a memorial service just this week revealed something of use to those who miss her words. The Guardian’s Saturday Paper will be publishing excerpts from an unpublished project mashing together Jane Austen’s works. “She was having the greatest fun... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-21 16:03:28 UTC ]
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Hilary Mantel was working on ‘mashup’ of Jane Austen novels before her death

Wolf Hall trilogy author remembered at memorial service at Southwark cathedral on ThursdayHilary Mantel, the celebrated author of the Wolf Hall trilogy, was working on a “mashup” of Jane Austen novels when she died suddenly, her literary agent told a packed memorial service at Southwark... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-20 17:46:20 UTC ]
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How to Pitch to a Literary Agent

In the latest “Craftwork” episode, a deep-dive conversation about literary agents with Carly Watters, herself a longtime literary agent and the co-host of the popular writing podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. Carly is “very online” with a keen understanding of the digital... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-03 08:53:09 UTC ]
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Women’s prize to launch annual award for women’s non-fiction writing

The Women’s Prize Trust hopes to make the first award in 2024, after research showed female writers were far less likely than men to be reviewed or win prizes The Women’s prize is to launch a non-fiction award to sit alongside its long-running fiction prize, in response to research that found... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-02-08 08:00:10 UTC ]
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Al Pacino is reportedly writing his first memoir.

As Tony Montana would probably say if he were a literary agent: In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the memoir. That’s right! Al Pacino is reportedly in talks to sell his first memoir […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-10-05 14:49:52 UTC ]
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Sterling Lord, uniquely enduring literary agent, dies at 102

The uniquely enduring literary agent who worked for years to find a publisher for Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and over the following decades arranged deals for everyone from true crime writer Joe McGinniss to the creators of the Berenstain Bears has died Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2022-09-04 21:08:59 UTC ]
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‘More zeros than I’ve seen in my life’: the author who got a six-figure deal via ‘BookTok’

After she was dropped by her agent, Alex Aster turned to a books-obsessed corner of TikTok to gauge interest in her YA novel … and now Lightlark is one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the yearHaving finally published her first novel, Alex Aster was feeling disheartened. The book had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-16 13:32:30 UTC ]
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Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent

Richard Charkin offers 'a heartfelt apology,' writing that he now finds literary agents 'trusted go-betweens and understanding partners.' The post Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-10 17:00:17 UTC ]
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How to get your own book published: a step by step guide

Allow a budget of £4,000 to do-it-yourself, from the editing and design through to marketing“A top-of-her-game literary agent tells us she receives about 3,000 submissions a year,” says Joe Sedgwick, the head of writing services at The Literary Consultancy. “Of those, she requests to see the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-09 06:00:19 UTC ]
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Dollars, Cents, and Being Left With the Bill: Jillian Medoff on Breaking Up With Her Literary Agent

In 2008, after 13 years together, my literary agent and I parted ways. (To preserve her anonymity, let’s call her Michael Ovitz.) Between 1995 and 2002, Michael Ovitz sold two of my novels, including my debut, Hunger Point. By any measure, our partnership was a terrific success. Michael Ovitz... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-05 08:53:09 UTC ]
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AALA Names Weltz Director of the Board

In a changing of the guard, the Association of American Literary Agents has named a new director, with Jennifer Weltz stepping into a role that Gail Hochman had occupied for 20 years. With the move, the Jean V Naggar Literary agent becomes the next president of the board of the professional... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Malcolm Nance, TV pundit turned fighter in Ukraine: ‘I believe in the defense of democracy’

The MSNBC counter-terrorism expert and former US navy servicemember discusses his decision to take up arms in UkraineMalcolm Nance, MSNBC’S former military and counter-terrorism expert, is always fighting someone.As a personal and professional acquaintance of Nance, I wasn’t the least bit... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-04-29 10:00:38 UTC ]
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France’s Catherine Nabokov: An Editor in Business as a Literary Agent

As Friday's opening of the 2022 in-person Festival du Livre de Paris approaches, Catherine Nabokov talks about nurturing 14 writers' work. The post France’s Catherine Nabokov: An Editor in Business as a Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-04-20 20:27:46 UTC ]
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Children’s Books Edition: Agent Karolina Jaszecka’s Outlook for Bologna

The Barcelona-based literary agent Karolina Jaszecka heads for Bologna with a specialty in Polish literature for young readers. (Sponsored) The post Children’s Books Edition: Agent Karolina Jaszecka’s Outlook for Bologna appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-03-11 13:30:36 UTC ]
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Seymour joins Johnson & Alcock from Andrew Nurnberg Associates

Charlotte Seymour has left Andrew Nurnberg Associates to join Johnson & Alcock as a literary agent, as part of a strategic expansion of the agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-05 09:36:50 UTC ]
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As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome

For decades, I sat in meetings with all-white teams. The industry needs an independent body to advise on equalityI’m a literary agent and at the height of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests I was sent a list, with accompanying photographs, of the top editors working across the major... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-01 10:00:46 UTC ]
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PW Notable: Tanya McKinnon

Over the course of her more than 20 years as a literary agent, Tanya McKinnon, founder of McKinnon Literary, has fought the good fight for the books and words of a long list of talented Black authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-12-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Strange and Janson-Smith join Gleam Futures

Adam Strange has joined Gleam Futures as head of publishing while Oscar Janson-Smith has been appointed as literary agent.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-15 14:45:09 UTC ]
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Osei promoted to junior agent at The Good Literary Agency

The Good Literary Agency (TGLA) has promoted Gyamfia Osei to junior literary agent to build a commercial and upmarket fiction list alongside one for non-fiction authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 05:38:45 UTC ]
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