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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Australian author Kate Morton has won a $500,000 lawsuit against her former literary agent Selwa Anthony. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Selwa Anthony had sued the bestselling writer, claiming she was entitled to 15% commission on all royalties Internationally bestselling Australian author Kate Morton has fended off a lawsuit by her former literary agent, who instead has to pay the writer more than $500,000.Selwa Anthony sued... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2018-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rachel Mann is joining Jo Unwin and Ella Berthoud as a literary agent at JULA, where she will build a list focusing primarily on children’s fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Frankfurt 2018 kicks off, Publishing Perspectives spoke with a number of literary agents about their books and deals this year. By Olivia Snaije The LitAg and the Publishers Rights Corner continue to be successful spaces where literary agents and rights directors increasingly hold their... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The longtime independent literary agent, best known for representing political and military nonfiction, died at his home in Front Royal, Va., on August 15. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A literary agent who doesn’t “believe in contracts” is suing Australian author Kate Morton over allegedly breaching an agreement. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At the 2018 Abu Dhabi Book Fair, Flora Rees of the Emirates Literature Foundation talks about the editor-author relationship and the role of literary agents in publishing across the Arab world. The post At the Abu Dhabi Book Fair: An Industry Ready for Editorial Rigor and Literary Agents... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For advice on selling rights into the Chinese market, we speak with Andrew Nurnberg Associates' Jackie Huang of Beijing, who will address the Taipei International Book Exhibition's Frankfurter Buchmesse professional program next week. The post Selling Rights Into China: Interview with Literary... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seeing the French president join the German chancellor in opening France's Guest of Honor program at Frankfurt, French literary agents survey the market. The post As France is Fêted at Frankfurt, French Literary Agents Take Stock appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Agents shift their meetings from the hotels to the Literary Agents Center on Frankfurt Tuesday, and some literary agencies share their big books of the fair. The post Early Birds: Frankfurt’s Literary Agents Center Heats Up on Tuesday appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gloria Ferris, the former London literary agent behind Scott Ferris Associates, has died aged 84. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Borough Press will open submissions for un-agented literary novels on Monday (1st May), offering one stand-out author a book deal worth £10,000. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former HarperCollins editorial director Martin Redfern is set to turn his hand to agenting, joining Diane Banks Associates as a non-fiction agent next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary Agents tell us about the titles they will be bringing to London Book Fair 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary agent and bestselling author Carole Blake, a familiar face in the UK and global book community, passed away on October 25, 2016. The post Remembering Carole Blake, Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Not least because publishers traditionally accept and commission direct submissions from authors in India, literary agents there are relatively new to the scene. The post Literary Agents in India: Not Your Traditional Gatekeepers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orion Fiction’s senior commissioning editor Jemima Forrester is moving to David Higham Associates to become a literary agent. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary agent Carolyn Whitaker has died, aged 79, following a long battle with cancer. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former Orion editor Julia Silk is forging a new career path as a literary agent in association with MBA Literary Agents. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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