michelle brower agent interview


Though we do our best, QueryTracker can not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided. Michelles favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, feel free to get in touch! I think that's a great choice for many of them. What can I do to prevent this in the future? She reads commercial fiction in its many iterations, from mysteries to histories to horror. Our agents and staff share a vision for new growth in literature. All of those pieces came together and made me pull it out of the slush pile, read it and decide to offer on it. Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. I really love when that happens because I do think there are a lot of very talented writers out there who aren't living in New York or attending the same parties or know colleagues who referred them to me or who don't have that kind of connectedness to the industry; and yet, they are good writers who have an excellent book. She co-founded Trellis Literary Management in 2021 in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent All Rights Reserved. Oops! Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. It depends on how strong a character is. Christopher Buehlman Rickey Fayne Author: Elia Anie. Childrens/Pic Book M. Leshem-Pelly Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Aevitas Creative is a full-service literary agency, home to more than thirty agents in New York, Boston, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and London, representing scores of award-winning authors, thinkers, and public figures. She is primarily interested in work that focuses on storytelling and emotional connection, rather than formal experimentation, and believes that the best reading experience engages both the heart and the head. "I try to step back from being the agent during that part of the process. This series has more than 170 interviews so far . Laura Guidry Jessica George Vice President, Operations and Personnel; Director, ACM UK, Creative Executive, Development & Book-to-Film, Assistant to VP of Development & Book-to-Film. Lincoln Michel For example, I was reading a revised version of a novel, and while reading it I got lightheaded, my fingers went numb, and I was hyperventilating! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So, we came up with a living, breathing version of what Poets & Writers already offers: Poets & Writers Live. #mswl and as always, underrepresented voices. "The reality is, it's a brave new world of publishing, and agents are only one part of it.". Cari Scribner . To help her keep on top of who might be her next big thing, she relies on help from interns. ", As Little Twitch neared its final form, Brower set to work seeking publishers. "It's perfectly reasonable if an author is in the middle of a manuscript. However, some want to use the fact that they found their audience as a way to break into traditional publishing. 20 Apr 2020. Fiction. She reached out to Swyler. Another #MSWL: something generally uplifting, that makes me believe that humans can sometimes be good. But, about halfway through it disintegrated. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. In this Part III of the series from my interview with literary agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management; they continue to shed light on the industry by discussing what compels them to sign an author and how willing they are to edit. Poets & Writers Live is an initiative developed in response to interviews and discussions with writers from all over the country. Soon, Swyler signed on with Brower, and the book sold. But, a book's price point is also important. I am fortunate to be working with Michelle Brower, formerly of Folio Literary Management but now at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. Having connections is better than a platform because, honestly, when one of my authors recommends a friend who's in their writing group, I pay attention, even if they're not always for me. How do agents choose which authors to represent? 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. What stands out in a new novel? Before contacting an agent, authors should verify and assess the agent's requirements and suitability by visiting the agent's website(s), and #mswl horses, baking, private schools, murders, nature (particularly magical nature) in combo and sep, adult and kid. Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Her list spans the spectrum of literary and commercial fiction, from thought-provoking story collections to page-turning thrillers. If that's you, query me. Michelle Brower Founding Partner Literary Agent. Kari Shemwell I'm generally looking for a book with upwards of 100 reviews, and that they're good reviews because certainly if a book has 200 reviews with several 2 star reviews, that won't interest me. She co-founded Trellis Literary Management in 2021 in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. That kind of incredible micro-level attention, however, is only the case for clients I already represent. Childrens, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. I have definitely picked up authors who have been self-published because I've seen that they've managed to find an audience without anyone's help. So, although we are willing to work with people, we want to work with people who are ready to be worked with. Download our free app to find readings and author events near you; explore indie bookstores, libraries, and other places of interest to writers; and connect with the literary community in your city or town. Trellis Literary Management is a boutique agency dedicated to collaboration, creativity, and excellence in literature. Here are a few of the books I wish I could represent: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill, Into the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado, Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, The Third Rainbow Girl by Emma Copley Eisenberg, The Fact of a Body by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich. By Heather Hummel, Contributor Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. she/her. "Writing a book is often a very lonely process," she continued. Trying to get your work published can feel like wandering in a maze. So, I had to really, really fight for her to choose me. Vanessa Chan This is an alert from our security service. If the intern likes something, they tell Brower. Jeff KleinmanPhoto Credit: Folio Literary Management. Danya Kukafka, Agent, Trellis Literary Management. Her authors have received recognition from MacDowell, the Whiting Awards, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, the Steinbeck Fellow Program, the Sewanee Writers Conference as well as from many other organizations. She wrote a new novel and hired a freelance editor for it, and that editor contacted me and suggested I read it. Some of those "other reviews" have made a big difference for authors. I want something where the natural setting is almost a character in the book. She loves the business of publishing, and she comes to both her writing and agenting careers with a sense of dedicated focus. Country: United States Established in: 2021 This agency has the following active literary agents: Michelle Brower Stephanie Delman Natalie Edwards Allison Hunter Danya Kukafka Allison Malecha Dana Murphy Mariah Stovall Q: How important is it for an author to have more than one book? Spine Authors Editor Susanna Baird grew up inhaling paperbacks in Central Massachusetts, and now lives and works in Salem. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Co-founder of Trellis Literary Management. I think that at 100 reviews, a book doesn't have the sales yet to necessarily translate into traditional publishing. She didn't seek long; Bloomsbury showed interest, early and strong. Little Twitch will be published in Spring 2019. But, if you look back at the numbers I gave you about my slush pile (see Part II) we just can't. Michelle Brower. . I am seeking mostly fiction, with a preferential eye toward very high-brow thrillers, literary suspense, speculative fiction, and experimental fiction. Memoir. David Heska Wanbli Weiden Childrens/YA D. Bester In our next Beginning to End we'll talk with Swyler and Beresford about the editing process. Allison Malecha Director of Foreign Rights Literary Agent. The original title was Little Twitch. She co-founded Trellis Literary Management in 2021 in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. When we asked what Poets & Writers could do to support their writing practice, time and again writers expressed a desire for a more tangible connection to other writers. Jeff: The reality is, it's a brave new world of publishing, and agents are only one part of it. Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Something went wrong while submitting the form. We're not out to say no to authors, we actually want to say yes. She's the founder of the Salem Longform Writers' Group, and serves on the Salem Literary Festival committee. She really was a blind submission. Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more. She has a career, but being a novelist is what she always wanted to do, and now we are making it happen. It was amazing. #mswl is on! Elizabeth represents numerous New York Times bestsellers, and both Agatha and Edgar Award winners and nominees. Michelle BrowerPhoto Credit: Folio Literary Management. I will do some #mswl tweets in the next few weeks as I figure out what I'm really in the mood for, but honestly anything of stellar quality in any genre will catch my attention. It didn't do very well and her agent has since left the industry. Her novel is literary women's fiction, and we are in the process of selling it now. Michelle Brower Literary Agent began her agenting career at Wendy Sherman Associates, and was with the agency for 15 years, after graduating from New York University with a MA in American and British Literature. Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Wake up to the day's most important news. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Seattle with her family. These cookies do not store any personal information. View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine, from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987. She loves the business of publishing, and she comes to both her writing and agenting careers with a sense of dedicated focus. With a writer she's already representing, such as Swyler, Brower gets involved early with a manuscript, though she keeps her touch light. Heather Webb I love these anyway and since life is a locked room at the moment, I'd like the opportunity to think about murder. Michelle: We are not here to be mean to them. Dominica Phetteplace 304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor. It's important for self-publishers to work at increasing reviews and hopefully having them snowball into more reviews and sales. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. Founder and Creative Director of PathBinder Publishing and Land and Seascape Photographer, "If a book has 250 reviews with 4 and 5 stars, and 70,000 in sales, this author has a lot of promise." That's when it works. My list has been trending literary over the years and . I want it rich and dark and deep, definitely not a cozy, but maybe a cozy dressed up for a really special occasion. Ill be in touch with information about my new book, event appearances, and more. Jake Keiser Ultimately, the ranking for us is really not what we are looking at though. Also, if this exists, tell me so I can read it. Join thousands of other subscribers. Interviews with this agent from across the web. Narrative Nonfiction D. Cohen Brittany Bronson For our first "season," we're honing in on Light from Other Stars, about a young astronaut hopeful and an invention that alters time.The novel is author Erika Swyler's second, following her much-lauded 2015 debut, The Book of Speculation. I have a #MSWL, one that I've wanted for a long time. For self-published authors, I would generally recommend starting with a little bit higher price point, but getting sales so that the rankings improve. If you're an Indie author looking for an agent, take note! So, it's not going to be just about the author. Kris Waldherr Michelle Brower Literary Agent began her agenting career at Wendy Sherman Associates, and was with the agency for 15 years, after graduating from New York University with a MA in American and British Literature. #MSWL and authors and characters of diverse backgrounds (economic, too). 2007-2023 QueryTracker. There are a lot of Indie authors who want to stay Indie. View the complete profile for Michelle Brower Literary Agentand every other book agent in our, Author Success Story: Nonfiction/Narrative Nonfiction, Literary Agents List Most Searched Book Agents, [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews]. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Elise Hooper Michelle: We tend to put reviews into two sections: customer reviews from Amazon or GoodReads only and "other reviews," because we know there are a lot of services out there providing reviews. Grounded, character driven, exquisitely written. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Practically speaking, I'm opening up to queries again in mid-January, exact date TBD, so watch this space. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Michelle is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Michelle picked my novel out of the slush pile one snowy afternoon, and changed the course of my life. History and Narrative Nonfiction. We are here to let in the books we think can work with. Clare Beams Swyler shared first-draft pages of Little Twitch, and the two discussed where the book was going, and where else it might go. Natalie Lima Michelle: I have two . 2022 Aevitas Creative Management. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Get in touch. View the complete profile for Michelle Brower Literary Agentand every other book agent in ourDirectory of Literary Agents. Q&A With Literary Agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower (Part II of III). Michelle Brower will be closed to queries until May 8th, 2023. Michelle Brower has spent over fifteen years as an agent, first at Wendy Sherman Associates and most recently as a partner at Aevitas Creative Management. Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani Beginning to End is a new series from Spine following a book idea from acquisition to bookshelf. Memoir/Christian S. LeRette DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Michelle is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Hazel Gaynor Manuel Aragon She is particularly drawn to accessible voices with a literary sensibility, in the vein of Ann Patchett and Zadie Smith, especially when they let her in on a subculture or historical truth she's never encountered before. Here's my #mswl for the year: obv, your transcendent literary works. We had a long discussion about it, and he is now sitting down and reworking the outline. The worst that can happen is when I pass on a submission, and I tell the author that I liked everything except X, Y and Z. and they respond with, "Gosh, I was afraid of that." Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. "I only want to look at material a writer feels strongly about, feels proud of," she said. becoming familiar with ways to spot and avoid bad agents. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. In this Part II of my interview with literary agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management, they open up about industry numbers that tend to grab their attention by sharing the importance of Amazon rankings, reviews, price points, and book sales. The House Girl by Tara Conklin (William Morrow), Perfect Birds by Michele Young-Stone (Simon & Schuster), The Crows of Kusaka Town by JP Romney (Farrar, Straus Childrens), Helen of Sparta by Amalia Carosella (Amazon Publishing), Trails of the Earth by Mary Mann Hamilton (Little, Brown), The Homing Pigeons by Alex Brunkhorst (Mira), The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth Church (Algonquin), The Home Place by Carrie LaSeur (William Morrow), Things Half In Shadow by Alan Finn (Gallery), The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor (William Morrow), Bourbon Empire: Whiskey and the Story of America by Reid Mitenbuler (Viking). Themes of parents/children and the passage of time more than usual, I think, given changes in my personal life. Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world. #MSWL I also want a locked room mystery! Jeff: I have been known to sit down with an author, develop the concept with characters and an outline, and then they send me three chapters at a time. As a reader, Im naturally attracted to literary fiction with particularly propulsive storylines. Allison Hunter Founding Partner Literary Agent. I fought very hard, and so I'm very, very excited about that one as well. The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. I think that that's something in publishing that's not really considered the brand. Anissa Gray "The intern brought me this story, and I thought, I love this. Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more. Thank you to Jeff and Michelle for sharing their industry expertise, views, and stories!Read Part I of the seriesRead Part II of the series. And just like that, it's 2020! Michelle Brower @michellebrower. Zaina Arafat Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci Erika Sanchez Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writersall in one place. What I'm ultimately looking for is sales north of 60,000. Bookmark. -- Michelle Brower. The job will be split between assisting the Vice President and assisting other agents as needed; more details below. Michelle is honored to work with books that have received a variety of accolades, including NY Times Bestsellers, National Book Award finalists, and Read with Jenna, Target, and Barnes and Noble book club selections. Brower emphasized that all interactions are not so fluid. Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. So, yes, I will work incredibly hands-on, but almost only ever for someone I have a relationship with. A good place to start is Writers Beware, a watch group that helps inform and protect authors from shady practices. We are not here to keep them out. She co-founded Trellis Literary Management in 2021 in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. Find Michelle Brower online at Aevitas's "Our Team" page aevitascreative.com/agents and on Twitter @michellebrower. Bring the literary world to your doorat half the newsstand price. Michelle Brower Literary Agent is honored to work with authors who have received a variety of accolades, including: National Book Award finalists, NY Times Bestsellers, and Read with Jenna, Target, and Barnes and Noble book club selections. 1. Publisher: Simon Spotlight; Gallery; Original edition (August 5, 2008) In Evil Penguins, Elia Anie captures the antics of cute little birds who have gone over to the dark side. Danya works as a literary agent for one reason: she loves books. I haven't read a LITERARY romance that isn't Jane Austen. Michelle Brower Literary Agent is primarily interested in projects that focuses on storytelling and emotional connection, rather than formal experimentation, and believes the best reading experience engages both the heart and the head. Read three decades of essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine. Thanks joycesherry, 1/9/23: Form query, 95K historical mystery. Heather Young: THE LAKE CHILDREN is literary women's fiction. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! Mansion Street Literary Management. Tara Conklin, Kirstin Chen, Hazel Gaynor, Jason Mott, Erika L. Sanchez, Commercial Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction. Her authors have received recognition from the Whiting Awards, the Rona Jaffe Foundation, MacDowell, the Steinbeck Fellow Program, the Sewanee Writers Conference as well as from many other organizations. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft. Catherine Nichols Part of HuffPost News. Michelle is honored to work with books that have received a . Katharine and Elizabeth Corr, The Witchs Blood, the witch's kiss, the witch's tears, author, writing, process, 2021 AU Presses, Book, Jacket, and Journal Show Selections, Beginning to End - Dark Factory: Creative Collaborator, AV/VR Design of Dark Park, Charlie Athanas, Spine Podcast, Bonus Episode: Jasmin Kaur. Michelle Brower: Photo Courtesy of Folio Literary Management. Q:If you had one message for Indie authors, what would it be? The sixth installment in this series is with agent Michelle Brower ( Folio Literary Management, formerly of Wendy Sherman Associates) and her author Scott Browne, for his novel, Breathers. There's something about having somebody I already know, like, and whose work I respect pass me something to look at. In this Part II of my interview with literary agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management, they open up about industry numbers that tend to grab their attention by sharing the importance of Amazon rankings, reviews, price points, and book sales. Allison Devereux So rock me with your crime fiction and suspense, your genre bending reads, and your love stories. Having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable." Michelle Brower has spent over fifteen years as an agent, first at Wendy Sherman Associates and most recently as a partner at Aevitas Creative Management. Keep in mind that readers buy the successor books for one of two reasons. Read interviews with authors who have signed with this agent. I would love, LOVE, to work with a female veteran who is writing the Great American War Novel, where women and their lives are centered instead of on the periphery. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Scroll below to learn more and see how you can submit your book to Michelle Brower for representation. This agent is seeking the following genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Young Adult, Literary, Patrick (Admin), Profile Update: Closed to queries. She is looking for book club novels (a commercial idea with a literary execution), literary fiction, literary suspense, genre fiction for a non-genre audience, and upmarket womens fiction. Big ideas wanted! Yay. All Rights Reserved. She wrote a great book, and as I said earlier, that's the heart of what is really important. For example, Darcie Chan had a Kirkus Review that ended up really launching her. Tara Conklin Did she have a book in the works? Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. I cross-reference those two numbers to calculate about how many sales a publisher would be able to reasonably expect. In all of these areas, she is looking to support underrepresented voices. Erika Swyler ): Maggie Shipstead, Lily King, Louise Erdrich, Deesha Philyaw, Kiley Reid, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Kazuo Ishiguro, Yaa Gyasi, Celeste Ng, Jennifer Egan, Shirley Jackson, Ann Patchett, Sarah Waters. Arts and Culture. Also on my #mswl, I want some really good commercial fiction. Mikki Brammer In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked.

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