michelle brower agent interview
Those could have halo effects. The more readers hear about and buy a book, the more the book gets reviews, and it sort of all snowballs. Health and Psychology. 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. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. 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 talks about books with the affection of someone who could spend all day reading, but most of Brower's daylight hours are devoted to the full stable of authors she represents. . Join Facebook to connect with Michelle Brower and others you may know. Molly Jean Reid Q: What compelled you to make offers to the last authors you signed? Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books. Scroll below to learn more and see how you can submit your book to Michelle Brower for representation. We offered two kinds of services to potential clients: LITERARY REPRESENTATION. 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. All articles are copyright Richard Lee 2017. Jeff: The reality is, it's a brave new world of publishing, and agents are only one part of it. QueryTracker will not function correctly without javascript. Because of these factors, we find the e-book market to be very price sensitive. Michelle BrowerPhoto Credit: Folio Literary Management. . More author comments available to members. I would want to hear from them when they are ready to show something.". As a reader, Im naturally attracted to literary fiction with particularly propulsive storylines. All Rights Reserved. Finally an agent for crime!! Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer Sally Franson 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. Because it doesn't matter at the end of the day if a book ranks #2 on Amazon because it sold 1,000 copies in one day but it never sold anymore or very few. I know, I know, "literary" and "happy ending" don't seem like they go together, but hey, that's the challenge here! Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Brower doesn't believe pressuring them will yield the best result, and so she simply stays in touch. 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. Erin Swan 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. If you are running into one dead end after another, not sure which way to turn, Poets & Writers can demystify the process and help you reach your destinationpublication. Michelle Brower Photo Credit: Folio Literary Management. Danya works as a literary agent for one reason: she loves books. Q: How important is it for an author to have more than one book? Before contacting an agent, authors should verify and assess the agent's requirements and suitability by visiting the agent's website(s), and Danya works as a literary agent for one reason: she loves books. I love these anyway and since life is a locked room at the moment, I'd like the opportunity to think about murder. News and updates to get a top literary agent, publisher, and book deal. This literary agent profile is part of a series from ourLiterary Agents Listof the most searched literary agents online. Ill be in touch with information about my new book, event appearances, and more. Facebook gives people the power. Anissa Gray Also, if this exists, tell me so I can read it. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked. I find books in different ways, by different avenues.". This series, in the words of the agents themselves, seeks to find out. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to this website. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Interviews with this agent from across the web. 20 Apr 2020. The third one has a really, really great character that everybody wanted to read about. Most of the successful self-published authors will get a new reader on their second book who will go back and read the first one. Also on my #mswl, I want some really good commercial fiction. Kaya Oakes SUBRIGHTS MANAGEMENT. Andrew Roe Michelle Brower Literary Agent is a book agent with Trellis Literary Management with offices in New York City. . We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Erika Swyler Childrens/YA D. Bester With a writer she's already representing, such as Swyler, Brower gets involved early with a manuscript, though she keeps her touch light. I offered representation and found out that there were seven other agents who also offered her representation! "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. Part of HuffPost News. Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. The stigma of bringing your undead son home to . 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. What stands out in a new novel? To help her keep on top of who might be her next big thing, she relies on help from interns. So rock me with your crime fiction and suspense, your genre bending reads, and your love stories. Dear Michelle Brower: "I spent two days in a cage at the SPCA until my parents finally came to pick me up. She wrote a new novel and hired a freelance editor for it, and that editor contacted me and suggested I read it. So, we came up with a living, breathing version of what Poets & Writers already offers: Poets & Writers Live. Home Literary Agents List Most Searched Book Agents Michelle Brower Literary Agent Book Agents List. Erin Crosby-Eckstine The agency was founded in order to better serve and support her authors and create an agency with a lasting positive impact in the world of publishing. 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. I want it rich and dark and deep, definitely not a cozy, but maybe a cozy dressed up for a really special occasion. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us. David Heska Wanbli Weiden Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs. If a reader likes an author, they are more likely to go back and purchase something else or wait for the next release. 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. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. History and Narrative Nonfiction. It was amazing. Memoir/Women L. Lehr "I do everything from commercial to literary. Zaina Arafat #MSWL and authors and characters of diverse backgrounds (economic, too). So rock me with your crime fiction and suspense, your genre bending reads, and your love stories. 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. Michelle Brower. "I just gave her my feedback about things I thought were interesting, working or not working. Beginning to End is a new series from Spine following a book idea from acquisition to bookshelf. 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. ): 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. I think both of those scenarios can work. I want something where the natural setting is almost a character in the book. Brower emphasized that all interactions are not so fluid. Jeff Kleinman: Photo Courtesy of Folio Literary Management. she/her. This week we are presenting the insights of our agents on querying and the publishing business in general. For example, Darcie Chan had a Kirkus Review that ended up really launching her. Spine Authors Editor Susanna Baird grew up inhaling paperbacks in Central Massachusetts, and now lives and works in Salem. One author I signed earlier this year came through my slush pile. Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. Fiction/Mainstream K. Cox Hilary Campbell If you're an Indie author looking for an agent, take note! Sarah Domet There's something about having somebody I already know, like, and whose work I respect pass me something to look at. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. That kind of incredible micro-level attention, however, is only the case for clients I already represent. View Tweet Twitter @michellebrower. It depends on how strong a character is. The 34th installment in this series is with agent Michelle Brower (Folio Literary) and her author, Michele Young-Stone, for the . Michelle Brower Founding Partner Literary Agent. report a missed issue; contact us. Also on my #mswl, I want some really good commercial fiction. 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. Founder and Creative Director of PathBinder Publishing and Land and Seascape Photographer. Colleen McKeegan 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. Id like to see more underrepresented writers published in all of these spaces, particularly in the crime sector. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At Trellis Literary Management, she works closely alongside Michelle Brower. Please use the submission form via theagencys website. Practically speaking, I'm opening up to queries again in mid-January, exact date TBD, so watch this space. Find information about venues that host readings and author events, including bookstores, bars, cafes, libraries, literary arts centers, and more. Michelle Brower, Aevitas Creative Management New York, USA . Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more. Bookmark. By Heather Hummel, Contributor She also enjoys contemporary retellings of classic works, particularly by authors from underrepresented and marginalized groups. She loves the business of publishing, and she comes to both her writing and agenting careers with a sense of dedicated focus. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Copyright Poets & Writers 2023. Unlikely friendships, unexpected kindnesses, tragedy that turns into hope. Alternatively, if a book has 200 reviews and only 10,000 sales, it's going to be so much more challenging to present them and say, "You should invest money in this author.". If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. ", As Little Twitch neared its final form, Brower set to work seeking publishers. My list has been trending literary over the years and I'd like to bring in a little balance. The job will be split between assisting the Vice President and assisting other agents as needed; more details below. Wake up to the day's most important news. 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 Julia Wertz Alex Brunkhorst Im less interested in historical fiction, short story collections, YA, and memoir, but will of course consider these genres for particularly compelling and dynamic work. Michelle: I have two very different examples of authors who came to me, and they are both really great in their own ways. #mswl and as always, underrepresented voices. Memoir/Inspirational L. Subramani Rebecca Romney Cari Scribner . Something went wrong while submitting the form. What began as an interview with literary agents Jeff Kleinman, Founding Partner, and Michelle Brower, Senior Vice President, of Folio Literary Management turned into enough material for a three part Q&A series on what agents really want from authors. Heather Young. Food and Cookbooks. Jamila Gleason However, some want to use the fact that they found their audience as a way to break into traditional publishing. Obviously, I and others want this right now (also, I'll take your reading recs if you have them!). Part of HuffPost News. Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, filmsanything and everythingthat has inspired and shaped the creative process. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. We just don't know how to find that specific audience. Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets. The other example, which is a very different way of going about landing an agent, occurred while I was working with an author who published her first novel with a major publisher 10 years ago. Brenda Peynado Tyrell Johnson What inspired you to write it? Erika Sanchez Thank you! An Interview with Heather Young (fourteenwords on QT) upon receiving an offer of representation from agent Michelle Brower of Trellis Literary Management.03/06/2015. She did: The Book of Speculation. 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]. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Seattle with her family. I'm hungry for a book where I gnaw on the sentences and wander around the house sniffling with emotions for a few hours afterward. 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. Michelle Brower @michellebrower. Ultimately, an author needs to submit the best manuscript they can possibly deliver. "I try to step back from being the agent during that part of the process. #MSWL I also want a locked room mystery! [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago 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. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Michelle is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Believe me, we notice. Michelle Brower of Aevitas represents Swyler; Bloomsbury . She loves reading books, she loves editing books, she loves the people who write them. Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. Jake Keiser What can I do to prevent this in the future? Allison Devereux 304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor. Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. #mswl I want a deep, smart, sharp, scathing version of chick lit. 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. Did she have a book in the works? Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more. View the profiles of people named Michelle Brower. She reads commercial fiction in its many iterations, from mysteries to histories to horror. Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Michelle Brower of Aevitas represents Swyler; Bloomsbury will publish Little Twitch next year. Eventually, book two Little Twitch was ready, and Brower sold it to Bloomsbury, where Swyler was matched with editor Lea Beresford. Meet the agents and team members who make our work possible. She loves reading books, she loves editing books, she loves the people who write them. Though we do our best, QueryTracker can not guarantee the accuracy of any information provided. My list has been trending literary over the years and . DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Michelle is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Your submission has been received! A good place to start is Writers Beware, a watch group that helps inform and protect authors from shady practices. CLIENTS INCLUDE: Andromeda Romano-Lax Why do I have to complete a CAPTCHA? Jamey Bradbury If a book has 250 reviews with 4 and 5 stars, and 70,000 in sales, this author has a lot of promise. 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. Mansion Street Literary Management. Genres: Humor/Satire. Tara Conklin Write like Elena Ferrante, with all the romance beats and a happy ending.#MSWL, Since the political atmosphere is most likely going to get me retreating to a cozy book cave any minute now, I have a request #MSWL, Wanted: literary sci fi novel. Lincoln Michel 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. All of those pieces came together and made me pull it out of the slush pile, read it and decide to offer on it. Michelle Brower: Photo Courtesy of Folio Literary Management. So, yes, I will work incredibly hands-on, but almost only ever for someone I have a relationship with. It's so strange. What are the qualities of a new voice? 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 not wrangling words, she spends time with her family, mostly trying to pry the cat's head out of the dog's mouth, and helps lead The Clothing Connection, a small Salem-based nonprofit dedicated to getting clothes to kids who need them. 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! Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Boston Magazine, BANG!, Failbetter, and Publishers Weekly. Reviews are intensely important for visibility. Michele Young-Stone 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. 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. Mikki Brammer 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. In the Literary Magazines database youll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact informationeverything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work. She's the founder of the Salem Longform Writers' Group, and serves on the Salem Literary Festival committee. I think that that's something in publishing that's not really considered the brand. QT: Can you tell us a little bit about the book for which you've found representation? Stay informed with reports from the world of writing contests, including news of extended deadlines, recent winners of notable awards, new contest announcements, interviews with winners, and more. Online, you can find her at susannabaird.com and on Twitter @SusannaBaird. Diane Les Becquets For self-published authors, I would generally recommend starting with a little bit higher price point, but getting sales so that the rankings improve. Ultimately, when presenting to a publisher, I provide a cross-section. For our first "season," we're honing in on Light from Other Stars, about a young astronaut hopeful and an invention that alters time. Humor, Music, and Pop Culture. #mswl is on! Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. Childrens/YA C. Plum-Ucci She didn't seek long; Bloomsbury showed interest, early and strong. Kari Shemwell The Reading Venues database includes details about how to schedule your own reading, admission fees, audience size, parking and transit information, and more. Rita Chang-Eppig I have a #MSWL, one that I've wanted for a long time. Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. Always verify agent's information before sending your query, and review the agent's website(s) for more up-to-date information. Join thousands of other subscribers. Kathy Wang This agent is seeking the following genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Young Adult, Literary, Patrick (Admin), Profile Update: Closed to queries. Get answers to this, and many more agent questions at QueryTracker. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer I loved it. "Agent Advice" (this installment featuring agent Michelle Brower of Folio Literary Management) is a series of quick interviews with literary agents and script agents who talk with Guide to Literary Agents about their thoughts on writing, publishing, and just about anything else. Kirstin Chen So, although we are willing to work with people, we want to work with people who are ready to be worked with. Success Story Interview - Heather Young . Allison Malecha Director of Foreign Rights Literary Agent. If an author has a series, that can definitely help, but I also think it's just the book. Childrens/YA L. Moe. Michelle Brower Literary Agent Book Agents List. She is now a founding partner of Trellis Literary Management, which was established in 2021. Our agents and staff share a vision for new growth in literature. Trying to get your work published can feel like wandering in a maze. 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. Feb 2 SLL is hiring! I cross-reference those two numbers to calculate about how many sales a publisher would be able to reasonably expect. Editors Note: The title of this novel has been renamed Light from Other Stars since the original publication of this article. 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. Back in 2012, her intern delivered up Erika Swyler. It's important for self-publishers to work at increasing reviews and hopefully having them snowball into more reviews and sales. I read it. Laura Guidry Big ideas wanted! Memoir/Mainstream E. Armstrong 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. If you thought the worst a penguin could do is make you feel guilty about global warning, think again. We had a long discussion about it, and he is now sitting down and reworking the outline. Manuel Aragon 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. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident Media and a short time later I had a publishing contract! While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Watch videos, listen to audio clips, and view slideshows related to articles and features published in Poets & Writers Magazine. Scroll below to view this information FREE in our Directory of Book Agents. Swyler shared first-draft pages of Little Twitch, and the two discussed where the book was going, and where else it might go. Find Michelle Brower online at Aevitas's "Our Team" page aevitascreative.com/agents and on Twitter @michellebrower. Memoir. Co-founder of Trellis Literary Management. Children's, Middle Grade, and Young Adult. Her primary interests include literary fiction, women's fiction, historical fiction, romance, mystery/suspense, and memoir, along with narrative non-fiction, history and current affairs. The original title was Little Twitch. "It's perfectly reasonable if an author is in the middle of a manuscript. If Brower likes something, she tells the author, and asks if they have a book in the works. Bring the literary world to your doorat half the newsstand price. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Zeyn Joukhadar Her list spans the spectrum of literary and commercial fiction, from thought-provoking story collections to page-turning thrillers. Yay. Jason Mott Jacquira Diaz Brittany Bronson 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. 50,000 sales at $3.99 is another. 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.
