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7 new or updated listings in the past month

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firstwriter.com's database of literary agents includes details of 2,444 English language literary agents and agencies that don't charge reading fees. The database is continually updated: there have been 7 listings added or updated in the last month. With over a dozen different ways to narrow your search you can find the right literary agent for your book, fast.

News

thebookseller.com – November 13, 2024

Ex-Hodder & Stoughton managing director Oliver Malcolm has launched his own consultancy, Oliver Malcolm Publishing Transformation. 

Designed to empower publishers, agents and authors, the consultancy “aims to help navigate the rapidly changing world of publishing” and includes free support for neurodiverse individuals.

The announcement follows news of Malcolm’s departure from Hodder & Stoughton after two years as managing director.

thebookseller.com – October 17, 2024

The sizzling trend across the British Isles for this autumn/winter? No, it’s not wide shoulders or the return of boho—though we are absolutely here for both of those—it is agents from established larger firms going out on their own.

The exhaustive list of new companies springing up includes (but is not limited to) United Agents duo Seren Adams and Kat Aitken starting up Lexington Literary (see their Frankfurt profile); ex-Darley Anderson colleagues Tanera Simons and Laura Heathfield opening Greenstone Literary; The Marsh Agency joint m.d. Jemma McDonagh kickstarting Jemma McDonagh Associates; Kemi Ogunsanwo launching Seventh Agency after leaving The Good Literary Agency; three-time British Book Awards Literary Agent of the Year shortlistee Amanda Harris announcing she would depart YMU at the beginning of 2025 to start an as-yet-unnamed new company; and Marilia Savvides stepping out from the 42 M&P umbrella to found The Plot Agency.

The trend is so red-hot, other publishing professionals have jumped on board: former HarperCollins Ireland boss Conor Nagle set up The Nagle Agency at the beginning of the year, while just two weeks ago ex-David Fickling and Usborne publicist Carolyn May McGlone launched her Oxfordshire-based May Literary Agency.

thebookseller.com – October 2, 2024

Watson, Little has appointed Gabrielle Demblon as foreign rights manager and literary agent effective 1st October. Demblon succeeds Rachel Richardson, who departed the agency in September to embark on her own venture.

In her new role, Demblon will lead the sale of translation rights for Watson, Little’s roster of authors, while also curating her own list. Demblon joins from Mira Trenchard Literary Scouts (MTLS), where she has worked for the past six years on behalf of a list of international publishers and media clients. Her expertise spans all adult book genres, as well as graphic novels and podcasts, with particular interest in literary fiction, speculative and high-concept narratives, and LGBTQ+ voices. Demblon will work with the assistance of Annie Ku, Rights Assistant, who joined Watson, Little in 2023.

thebookseller.com – September 26, 2024

Gemma Cooper, director and literary agent at The Bent Agency UK (TBA), is launching her own agency, Gemma Cooper Literary.

She takes her full list of authors, including Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Younger Readers winners Robin Stevens and Jessica Townsend, as well as B B Alston and Sibéal Pounder, Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sophie Anderson, and Waterstones Crime Thriller of the Month author Katy Watson.

Cooper will continue to represent authors from across the world, and sell their work directly into the UK, US and Australia. She will be working with Rich Lit Rights for foreign rights.

Articles

firstwriter.com

J. B. Bergstad recently acquired an agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agencies. We asked him about his writing, and how he found success.

By J. Paul Dyson
firstwriter.com

For as long as there have been writers eager to get published, there have been con artists ready to prey upon them for a quick buck. Nowadays, the internet is rife with phony literary agencies offering writers false hope in return for a small (or not-so-small) sum of money. In this article I'll look at some of the ways you can spot a dodgy agency, and avoid your time, money, and aspirations being abused. While none of the points below guarantee by themselves that an agency is dubious, together they can make a compelling case, and they should all make you tread a little more cautiously.

By J. Paul Dyson
firstwriter.com

In last month's article, Avoiding literary agency scams (fwn 44), we identified the warning signs to watch out for in order to avoid bad agents. In this article I'll be reversing the question and providing tips on how to find good agents.

firstwriter.com

Charles Heaton Allen recently acquired a literary agent using firstwriter.com's database of literary agents. We asked him about his writing, and how he found success.

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