Elizabeth represents numerous New York Times bestsellers, and both Agatha and Edgar Award winners and nominees. Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. "I do everything from commercial to literary. Danya works as a literary agent for one reason: she loves books. Whether youre pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more. Simply enter your first name and email address in the form to the right and get instant access. Tyrell Johnson #agentdreams #pubtip. Michelle Brower. Colleen McKeegan Christopher Buehlman Keziah Weir The original title was Little Twitch. View the profiles of people named Michelle Brower. Fiction/Christian K. Sargent 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." . Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Diane Les Becquets The third one has a really, really great character that everybody wanted to read about. 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. Michelle Brower Photo Credit: Folio Literary Management. DO NOT QUERY THIS AGENT AT THIS TIME: Michelle is not currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Fiction/Mystery B. Harper Q: What compelled you to make offers to the last authors you signed? Michelle BrowerPhoto Credit: Folio Literary Management. "The intern brought me this story, and I thought, I love this. Health and Psychology. Michelle Brower Literary Agent is a book agent with Trellis Literary Management with offices in New York City. 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. This is an alert from our security service. History and Narrative Nonfiction. Michelle: Amazon rankings are important for different reasons. What stands out in a new novel? Watch videos, listen to audio clips, and view slideshows related to articles and features published in Poets & Writers Magazine. And just like that, it's 2020! The great part is that we didn't know each other at all. 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! Alex Brunkhorst One author I signed earlier this year came through my slush pile. 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. #mswl Some really, really grounded science fiction would be nice, with a literary bent. I cross-reference those two numbers to calculate about how many sales a publisher would be able to reasonably expect. 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. I think that at 100 reviews, a book doesn't have the sales yet to necessarily translate into traditional publishing. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Believe me, we notice. Mikki Brammer Tara Conklin, Kirstin Chen, Hazel Gaynor, Jason Mott, Erika L. Sanchez, Commercial Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction. Part of HuffPost News. Always verify agent's information before sending your query, and review the agent's website(s) for more up-to-date information. Genres: Humor/Satire. The novel is author Erika Swyler's second, following her much-lauded 2015 debut, The Book of Speculation. 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. Reviews are important because they affect visibility in the Amazon system. Keep in mind that readers buy the successor books for one of two reasons. Aline Ohanesian Vice President, Operations and Personnel; Director, ACM UK, Creative Executive, Development & Book-to-Film, Assistant to VP of Development & Book-to-Film. Related: Spine Podcast, Interview with Erika Swyler. Thank you for subscribing to my newsletter. Interviews with this agent from across the web. 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. My list has been trending literary over the years and I'd like to bring in a little balance. #MSWL and authors and characters of diverse backgrounds (economic, too). Success Story Interview - Heather Young . Bookmark. Simone Gorrindo Swyler shared first-draft pages of Little Twitch, and the two discussed where the book was going, and where else it might go. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs. Allison Hunter Founding Partner Literary Agent. Erin Swan Part of HuffPost News. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. How do agents choose which authors to represent? Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more. [Click here to see all Mark Malatesta reviews], Fiction/General J. Jago We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere. Find details about every creative writing competitionincluding poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and morethat weve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. Thank you! Karissa Chen "Berkley Books recently published my book in hardcover after Mark helped me get multiple agents interested in my work. Join thousands of other subscribers. Her list spans the spectrum of literary and commercial fiction, from thought-provoking story collections to page-turning thrillers. This series, in the words of the agents themselves, seeks to find out. Michael Poore "One of my intern tasks is keeping an eye out for writers who seem promising," Brower told Spine. Working with her has Ultimately, when presenting to a publisher, I provide a cross-section. Thanks joycesherry, 1/9/23: Form query, 95K historical mystery. Book signed, Brower is stepping back so editor Beresford and Swyler can finesse the manuscript. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Q&A With Literary Agents Jeff Kleinman and Michelle Brower (Part II of III). Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more. What can I do to prevent this in the future? Julia Wertz 50,000 sales at $.99 is one thing. View the complete profile for Michelle Brower Literary Agentand every other book agent in ourDirectory of Literary Agents. 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. We are not here to keep them out. 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. I loved it. 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. Dear Michelle Brower: "I spent two days in a cage at the SPCA until my parents finally came to pick me up. 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. April Wolfe Q: How important is it for an author to have more than one book? Oops! Raymond Fleischmann Also on my #mswl, I want some really good commercial fiction. Ultimately, an author needs to submit the best manuscript they can possibly deliver. Meet the agents and team members who make our work possible. Bring the literary world to your doorat half the newsstand price. Jamila Gleason We certainly encourage all of our authors to be on Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads and Instagram. Your submission has been received! Childrens/YA L. Moe. These cookies do not store any personal information. "I became the juggler of the various professional aspects of the book.". Ultimately, the ranking for us is really not what we are looking at though. For self-published authors, I would generally recommend starting with a little bit higher price point, but getting sales so that the rankings improve. 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. She loves the business of publishing, and she comes to both her writing and agenting careers with a sense of dedicated focus. Brenda Peynado Michelle Brower is on our list of Book Agents Seattle (publishing agents in Seattle), Book Agents Washington (publishing agents in Washington),Book Agents USA (publishing agents in the United States),Fiction Book Agents (publishing agents who represent fiction authors), Young Adult Book Agents (publishing agents who represent YA books for teens),and Nonfiction Book Agents (publishing agents who represent nonfiction, not just novels). But, if you look back at the numbers I gave you about my slush pile (see Part II) we just can't. Did she have a book in the works? Our agents and staff share a vision for new growth in literature. She loves the business of publishing, and she comes to both her writing and agenting careers with a sense of dedicated focus. Brower doesn't believe pressuring them will yield the best result, and so she simply stays in touch. Fiction. 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. Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Boston Magazine, BANG!, Failbetter, and Publishers Weekly. More author comments available to members. Founder and Creative Director of PathBinder Publishing and Land and Seascape Photographer. New York, NY 10010. Id like to see more underrepresented writers published in all of these spaces, particularly in the crime sector. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She reads literary fiction. We can't sell books at $.99 and make money. It's really important to actually connect with a reading community, and for self-published authors that's pretty much the best and only way they can get the word out about their book. We're not out to say no to authors, we actually want to say yes. Michelles favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, feel free to get in touch! I have a #MSWL, one that I've wanted for a long time. Completing the CAPTCHA proves you are a human and gives you temporary access to this website. This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. What inspired you to write it? Michelle received her Masters degree in British and American Literature from New York University. There are a lot of Indie authors who want to stay Indie. Editors Note: The title of this novel has been renamed Light from Other Stars since the original publication of this article. report a missed issue; contact us. That is something any author should be thinking about as they write because in order to have a loyal fan base, you need to make a character who is strong, quirky, and interesting enough to support multiple books. 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. Michelle: It definitely depends on genre because an author would need more romance sales to actually impress an editor in that market; whereas in women's fiction, historical fiction, or literary fiction, an author doesn't need quite as many sales. Which historical novelist(s) do you represent? Here's my #mswl for the year: obv, your transcendent literary works. Nonfiction/Diversity S. Peer Michelle Brower Literary Agent Book Agents List. 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. The 34th installment in this series is with agent Michelle Brower (Folio Literary) and her author, Michele Young-Stone, for the . The more readers hear about and buy a book, the more the book gets reviews, and it sort of all snowballs. For self-published books, I don't know that it takes an immediate platform, but what it takes is a lot of engagement, especially community engagement. So, yes, I will work incredibly hands-on, but almost only ever for someone I have a relationship with. Co-founder of Trellis Literary Management. 2007-2023 QueryTracker. If you need to flag this entry as abusive. "Writing a book is often a very lonely process," she continued. Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. May 2, 2008. If a reader likes an author, they are more likely to go back and purchase something else or wait for the next release. Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; We just don't know how to find that specific audience. This agent is seeking the following genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Young Adult, Literary, Patrick (Admin), Profile Update: Closed to queries. Michelle Brower will be closed to queries until May 8th, 2023. If a book has 250 reviews with 4 and 5 stars, and 70,000 in sales, this author has a lot of promise. Copyright 2011-23 The Bestselling Author, LLC. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft. I think both of those scenarios can work. Something went wrong while submitting the form. If you're an Indie author looking for an agent, take note! Erin Crosby-Eckstine Humor, Music, and Pop Culture. Sasha Vasilyuk Nonfiction/Business D. Hamme @michellebrower. She loves reading books, she loves editing books, she loves the people who write them. So, it's not going to be just about the author. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox. Mansion Street Literary Management. But, a book's price point is also important. #mswl I want a deep, smart, sharp, scathing version of chick lit. Food and Cookbooks. Online, you can find her at susannabaird.com and on Twitter @SusannaBaird. All Rights Reserved. So, I had to really, really fight for her to choose me. With a writer she's already representing, such as Swyler, Brower gets involved early with a manuscript, though she keeps her touch light. "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. If an author is doing well, readers will come back whether they are sci-fi, fantasy, or romance. 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. 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). 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. However, readers didn't necessarily read the other two books because the character wasn't in it. Nonfiction/Environment J. Biemer I want something where the natural setting is almost a character in the book. As a reader, Im naturally attracted to literary fiction with particularly propulsive storylines. Michelle Brower: Photo Courtesy of Folio Literary Management. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. 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. 50,000 sales at $6.99 is entirely another. Heather Young. Please use the submission form via theagencys website. Molly Jean Reid Scroll below to view this information FREE in our Directory of Book Agents. Her novel is literary women's fiction, and we are in the process of selling it now. Big ideas wanted! Often she'll reach out to a writer and they're not ready with a manuscript. Rebecca Romney Michelle is honored to work with books that have received a . Finally an agent for crime!! 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Dominica Phetteplace It didn't do very well and her agent has since left the industry. "I just gave her my feedback about things I thought were interesting, working or not working. I'm that kind of reader. 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. Allison Devereux Facebook gives people the power. So rock me with your crime fiction and suspense, your genre bending reads, and your love stories. Heather Webb 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. She's tackling things such as foreign sales and film sales. Riley Sager