Book Publishing and Literary Agents
Interview – Writer Gives Advice on Finding a Good Book Agent
Aug 19, 2009
Sharon Siamon's children's books have passed the one-million mark in sales. In an email interview with Suite101 writer Jennifer Jensen, Ms. Siamon talked about finding and getting a good literary agent.
About Sharon Siamon
Sharon Siamon is the author of 38 children's books, including the series Saddle Island, Mustang Ranch, and Wild Horse Creek. Her books have been published in the US, Canada, Great Britain and Commonwealth countries, and seven other European countries to date. Her latest book is Wild Horse Creek #3: Heartbreak Hills.
Are Book Agents Necessary?
I don’t think an agent is necessary. Many good and successful books find their way to the market without one. But I really feel fortunate to have a good agent for three reasons: he sorts out the contracts that are getting increasingly difficult and time-consuming to negotiate with all the electronic rights; he speeds up the process of getting books accepted by publishers. (They know and trust his name and if he puts forward a book it goes closer to the top of the pile.) And finally he finds and negotiates contracts with foreign publishers that I wouldn’t have access to. My books are published around the world because of my agent.
What Were You Looking for in a Literary Agent, and How Did You Find Yours?
I wasn’t really looking - I met my agent through a friend who was also one of his clients. We pitched a picture book together which was never published, but the agency took me on, anyway.
But if I were looking, I would look for someone exactly like my agent. He’s enthusiastic but never pushy, honest, full of good ideas, and represents his clients with integrity. Your image in the publishing world is largely determined by your agent. On the other hand, I know writers who represent themselves brilliantly and enjoy the negotiating process. It’s very individual.
How Can a New Writer Find the Right Literary Agent?
Write a very good book! It’s no use going to all the work of getting an agent to read your work if she or he isn’t going to say “Aha! This is great!”
With that in mind it’s useful to be in a writing group with people who can review your work, or take a writing for children course, or even hire a freelance editor to go over your book, once you’ve made it as good as it can be. Sometimes those editors know agents who might be a good match with you. The point is you work hard for a chance to be read by someone, whether it’s an editor or agent. You might only get one chance, so make sure your book’s ready.
Find more from Sharon Siamon about the writing life, writing a series, and writing for children in How to Write a Children's Book and Find an Agent.
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