Literary Agents

Paradigm and a pair of literary agents, Alysia Thomas and Kelsey Roberts, have parted ways, sources tell Deadline.

Paradigm declined comment.

Thomas has already made her exit, and we’re told this was entirely amicable. What prompted Roberts’ exit is unclear, but she’s still finishing up her time at the agency.

Writer also told a mention of her book was dropped over the 'hassle' involved in mentioning Jews or Judaism

An anonymous literary agent has said that half of publishing houses in the UK will not take books that have Jewish content or are by Jewish authors.

The agent was speaking to Stephen Games, founder of the independent publisher EnvelopeBooks, who revealed their conversation to The Telegraph.

Games said: “A very well-known literary agent of great repute and associated with books that one would immediately recognise said that he is having difficulty with his Jewish authors or writings on Jewish subjects because he just finds that much of literary London is now a no-go zone for Jews.

“He said there is no point putting proposals up to commissioning editors as they just are not interested,” Games went on.

According to Games, there is “a climate of growing hostility against Jews”.

In her nearly 30-year career in publishing, Anjali Singh has worn many hats. Before joining Ayesha Pande Literary as an agent in 2015, Singh was the editorial director at Other Press, and prior to that had worked as an editor at Simon & Schuster, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Vintage Books. And before all that, she got her start as a book scout. She's perhaps best known for her work in world of graphic novels, having acquired and championed Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis after stumbling across it during a trip to Paris. She later went on to help launch the careers of such authors as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Samantha Hunt.

Now Singh is making yet another exciting pivot: launching her own literary agency.

At Anjali Singh Literary, launching this month, Singh will continue to represent literary fiction, nonfiction, children's literature, and graphic novels. She will bring her entire list over to the new boutique agency, comprising roughly 55 authors and illustrators. Her literary authors include Susan Abulhawa, Nawaaz Ahmed, Zara Chowdhary, and Bridgett Davis, and her graphic novel clients include Joel Christian Gill, Tessa Hulls, John Jennings, Deena Mohamed, Steenz, Salman Toor, and Ivy Noelle Weir. She will also offer consulting services through the agency.

Stewart Talent is expanding its literary footprint with the hires of A3 veterans Ron Gwiazda and Amy Wagner, who will launch the agency’s New York literary division.

“We at Stewart Talent are thrilled to welcome Ron Gwiazda and Amy Wagner to our organization,” the Agency said in a statement. “Their extensive knowledge of the industry, coupled with their passion for cultivating literary talent, makes them the perfect duo to spearhead the launch of our New York literary division. We are confident that under their leadership, Stewart Talent will continue to thrive and solidify its position as a leading force in the entertainment industry.”

Gwiazda brings over 36 years of experience in literary representation, having played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of numerous artists. Wagner boasts an impressive background in talent management and development, having garnered widespread recognition for her ability to connect talented artists with meaningful opportunities, according to the Agency.