How do I become ... a literary agent

A keen business mind and real commitment to the publishing industry are vital for a job that is all about selling – shy and retiring types need not apply Gordon Wise has been a literary agent at Curtis Brown for 10 years, and has a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Miranda Hart to novelists such as Armistead Maupin. He is also vice-president of the Association of Authors’ Agents. But becoming an agent wasn’t part of his original career plan and he reached this point via a varied and winding path through the world of books.Wise studied History and English at Edinburgh university, both, he says, “heavy reading” subjects. But his real introduction to books as business came when, as an undergraduate, he won a place on a scholarship programme at the University of Pennsylvania. “I was allowed to work under my visa and I got a part-time job as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble, which had a big downtown bookstore,” he says. The job gave him an insight into publishing and sparked a vocation that would lead him to his current career. “What I enjoyed about publishing was that it is the place where business and creativity meet; you would be working with these wonderfully creative people – the writers – but trying to turn what they have created into something of commercial value.”If you are made an offer straight away, ask for a better offer. If you don't ask, you will never know Related: Small publishers are benefiting from changes in the industry Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Hachette Acquires Sterling Publishing from Barnes & Noble

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s Book of the Year is….

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[ Book Riot | 2024-11-15 20:04:44 UTC ]
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This Bookstore Historian Sees Bookselling as Activism

In The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore, history professor Evan Friss explores how bookstores have shaped reading, publishing, politics, and community, beginning in the 18th century. I talked with Friss about the value of indie bookstores, the bygone dominance of Barnes & Noble,... Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2024-10-22 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing’s ‘Super Thursday’ includes books by Boris Johnson, Stanley Tucci and Kate Mosse

A total of 1,900 titles are being published today, including a Rebus from Ian Rankin, memoir from Miranda Hart and children’s fiction by AF SteadmanBooks by Boris Johnson, Stanley Tucci and Miranda Hart are among those being published today, on this year’s “Super Thursday” – the day when more... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-10 07:01:36 UTC ]
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Book Club Picks for October 2024

Barnes & Noble and Read with Jenna spotlight the new novel from Pulitzer winner Louise Erdrich, Belletrist nabs Sally Rooney's buzzy latest, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-10-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Club Picks for September 2024

Reese Witherspoon spotlights her former high school English teacher's new book, Danzy Senna's latest novel gets love from Barnes & Noble and 'Good Morning America,' and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-09-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s Len Riggio, Dead at Age 83

Len Riggio, former chair of Barnes & Noble, dies at 83. The visionary entrepreneur revolutionized bookselling in the US. The post Barnes & Noble’s Len Riggio, Dead at Age 83 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-08-27 22:00:47 UTC ]
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Leonard Riggio, who forged a bookselling empire at Barnes & Noble, dead at 83

Leonard Riggio, a brash, self-styled underdog who transformed the publishing industry by building Barnes & Noble into the country’s most powerful bookseller but later saw his company overtaken by the rise of Amazon Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2024-08-27 20:22:22 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble is opening 58 stores in 2024: Here’s a full list of cities that will get new locations

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[ Fast Company | 2024-08-16 20:13:57 UTC ]
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Book Club Picks for August 2024

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Derek Holland Named Managing Director of Tattered Cover

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s Purchase of Indie Bookstore Approved by Court

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[ Book Riot | 2024-07-31 18:23:52 UTC ]
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PRH's Annette Danek-Akey to Head B&N Supply Chain

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Lovely, Dark and Deep: PW Talks with Julia Heffernan

Painter Julie Heffernan’s lush, surrealism-infused graphic memoir debut, Babe in the Woods: The Art of Getting Lost (Algonquin, Sept.), follows her winding path through fear and memory after taking the wrong turn on a hike with her infant son. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Sweden’s Marie Tomičić: A Small Publisher Goes Green

Small publishers can contribute to the green transition, publisher Marie Tomičić says: 'Connect the change to your brand.' The post Sweden’s Marie Tomičić: A Small Publisher Goes Green appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-07-11 18:30:22 UTC ]
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Book Club Picks for July 2024

Barnes & Noble and Read with Jenna pick two distinct titles featuring kidnappings in the year 1975—the former in the Adirondacks, the latter in Missouri—and more in this month's selections. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Customer Traffic Improving at Books-A-Million, Half Price Books

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Report Finds Customer Traffic Rising at Barnes & Noble

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-07-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble’s Best Books of the Year (So Far)

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[ Book Riot | 2024-06-05 13:00:00 UTC ]
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At PubU 2024, IBPA Members Consider Distribution and B&N

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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