Agents on the Move

Allison Hunter has joined the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency as an agent. Previously she was an agent at Inkwell Management, and at SKLA will continue to actively acquire literary and commercial fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, cultural studies and pop culture. 

Agent Sara Megibow, who recently left the Nelson Literary Agency, is joining KT Literary.

Nan Vermylen Thornton will join Zachary Shuster Harmsworth as an agent. 

Stephen Barbara will move to Inkwell Management on January 5 after six years at Foundry Literary + Media, and he will be followed by all 50 of his clients.

Rayhane Sanders will join Lippincott Massie McQuilkin as Agent, effective January 1, continuing to build her list of upmarket and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, and memoir. 

Sheree Bykofsky Associates has taken over the list of DSM Agency.

Natasha Alexis and Lana Popovic have joined Chalberg & Sussman as agents. Both were previously at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth

Publisher's Lunch 11-4-2014

Here's more news from Publisher's Lunch:

Former ceo of Atlantic Books Toby Mundy has established  his own literary agency, Toby Mundy Associates. He will use Ed Victor Ltd.'s service operation Bedford Square Literary Management for "turn-key back-office service." 

Caitie Flum has joined Liza Dawson Associates as assistant agent, also working on audio rights for the agency. Previously she was editorial coordinator of Bookspan's Children's Book Club.

Natasha Alexis and Lana Popovic have joined Chalberg & Sussman as agents. Both were previously at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, where Alexis supported business affairs and Popovic managed international rights.

Dave Fessenden formerly acquisitions editor at CLC Publications, has joined WordWise Media Services as literary agent.

Literary Agents Update

Leon Husock joins L. Perkins Agency as an associate agent specializing in speculative fiction, as well as young adult and middle grade novels. 

At the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, Laura Rennert has been promoted to executive agent. Jennifer Laughran has been promoted to senior agent, and Jennifer Mattsonhas been promoted to agent. 

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg has joined the D4EO Literary Agency. She was previously at Foreword Literary Agency.

Lydia Moëd has joined The Rights Factory as foreign rights associate, and will also build her own domestic list. In addition, Cassandra Rodgers has been promoted to associate agent.

Literary agency Alive Communications has hired Lisa Jackson, former associate publisher of Tyndale, and Brian Thomasson (a senior editor at NavPress) to join the Colorado Springs-based firm as agents. 

James Lance formerly publisher at Kumarian Press, has joined WordWise Media Services as literary agent and can be contacted at Jlance007@comcast.net.

William LoTurco has joined Kuhn Projects as an associate agent. Previously, he was at Vigliano Associates and WME.

Noah Ballard has joined Curtis Brown as a literary agent. He had previously been with Emma Sweeney Agency. He will continue to represent literary fiction, thrillers and narrative non-fiction.

Looking For An Agent?

Sandy Lu has returned to the L. Perkins Agency as senior agent after a brief departure, and will also oversee the agency's foreign rights.

At Foundry Literary + Media, Matt Wise has been promoted to agent. He is interested narrative nonfiction and commercial fiction.

At Kuhn Projects, Nicole Tourtelot has been promoted to agent.

Rachel Marks has joined Rebecca Friedman Literary, representing young adult, fantasy, science fiction, new adult and romance. She has worked as a publicist for authors for the past three years.

Sergei Tsimberov has joined Ayesha Pande Literary as an associate agent, specializing in literary fiction and nonfiction. He was previously with Anderson Literary Management.

Heather Alexander has joined Pippin Properties as an agent. Previously she was an associate editor at Dial.

Thanks to Publishers Lunch for this information.

Publishing News 6-12-14

Simone Garzella Literary Scouting has been appointed US literary scout for the Lira Publishing Group in Hungary.

After 25 years at Ed Victor Ltd., Sophie Hicks has set up her own literary agency. For more information, see the new site for the Sophie Hicks Agency.

Tisse Takagi has teamed up with The Science Factory as an agent, based in New York, focusing on non-fiction in the areas of biography, food, and music as well as science.

At Trident Media Group, Alexander Slater has been promoted to domestic agent, and he will focus on children's, middle grade and YA authors. He was a foreign rights agent for TMG, also focused on children's authors.

Agents on the Move

If you're looking for a literary agent, it can be a bit frustrating. You hear of one you'd like to query, but then you can't find them. Agents tend to move around. Some stay with the same agency their whole career. Others don't. New agents join. Some retire.

Here's some information on agents (on the move) that you might find helpful.

Maria Ribas and Paul Lamb have joined the Howard Morhaim Literary agency as literary agents. Ribas was an associate editor at Adams Media and will continue to focus on cookbooks, self-help, health, diet, parenting, and humor. Lamb was most recently senior marketing manager at Viking, and will focus on representing non-fiction in the areas of business, memoir, political science, sociology and sports, as well as crime, mystery and literary fiction.

Jana Burson has launched The Burson Agency, a literary agency and speakers bureau. She had been an editor for the FaithWords and Center Street imprints of Hachette Book Group and before then, the imprints' director of publicity.

Dr. James Lance has joined WordWise Media Service as a literary agent. He was an acquisitions editor for Kumarian Press. He'll focus on scholarly but reader-friendly books in international relations, environmental science and policy, anthropology, economics, history, public health, cultural studies, public administration, US foreign policy, and philanthropy.

Michelle Richter is joining Foreword Literary as an associate agent. She has been an editor at St. Martin's. She is planning to represent a broad selection of fiction, and nonfiction focused on fashion, film, television, science, medicine, sociology/social trends, and economics for trade audiences.

Publishing News 4-21-14

Maria Ribas and Paul Lamb have joined the Howard Morhaim Literary agency as literary agents. Ribas was an associate editor at Adams Media and will continue to focus on cookbooks, self-help, health, diet, parenting, and humor. Lamb was most recently senior marketing Manager at Viking, and will focus on representing non-fiction in the areas of business, memoir, political science, sociology and sports, as well as crime, mystery and literary fiction.

Mike Salisbury has joined Yates & Yates as associate literary agent. Most recently he was marketing director of trade books at David Cook.

Sara Sciuto is joining Foreword Literary as an agent, specializing in children's books. She was previously an agent with Full Circle Literary.

(From Publishers Lunch)

Updates from Publisher's Lunch 4-21-14

At Sterling Lord Literistic, Caitlin McDonald and Mary Krienke have been promoted to associate agents, while Nadyne Pike moves up to managing director.

Jon Baker is leaving Mary Ann Thompson Associates after 7 years to start his own scouting company, Baker Literary Scouting, Inc. 

Julia Kardon joined Mary Evans as a foreign rights director and agent. Previously she was an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic.

Kirby Kim joined Janklow & Nesbit, effective March 18. Kim was at William Morris Endeavor.

Publishing News 3-28-14

At the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, Evan Gregory has been promoted to agent.

After more than 20 years at ICM, agent Heather Schroder left the firm recently to start her own agency, Compass Talent. 

Just as Kirby Kim joins Janklow, Nesbit from WME, Alexandra Machinist is leaving Janklow, Nesbit after 3 years with the agency for ICM Partners.

Rebecca Friedman has started her own agency, Rebecca Friedman Literary.  She can be reached at rebecca@rfliterary.com. The agency is interested in commercial and literary fiction with a focus on literary novels of suspense, women’s fiction, contemporary romance, and young adult, as well as journalistic non-fiction and memoir.

Publishing News 3-4-2014

At Red Sofa Literary, Jennie Goloboy has been promoted to agent, and Laura Zats has joined as an associate literary agent.

Nicole James has joined Chalberg & Sussman as an agent. Previously she was an agent and foreign rights director at the Aaron Priest Agency, where she worked for 9 years, and is bringing her client list with her.

Sean McCarthy has left Sheldon Fogelman Agency to start his own agency, Sean McCarthy Literary Agency.

Emily Keyes has joined Foreword Literary as an agent. Previously she was an agent at the L. Perkins Agency.

Publishing News 2-21-14

Catherine Luttinger has rejoined Darhansoff & Verrill as an agent focusing primarily on science fiction and fantasy (all sub-genres). She is also interested in representing historical fiction, thrillers, horror, scientific non-fiction, and YA.

At MacGregor Literary, Holly Lorincz has been promoted to agent. She will focus on representing contemporary and historical romance, political or conspiracy thrillers, women’s fiction, literary fiction, and both literary and classic westerns.

At Inkwell Literary Management, Allison Hunter and Lauren Smythe have both been promoted to agent.

Larry Kirshbaum will join the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency as a senior agent starting February 24, the WSJ reported.

Publishing News 2-3-14

Susan Brower has joined the Natasha Kern Literary Agency, Inc., as literary agent. She previously worked as an executive editor at Zondervan.

Maria Vicente has joined P.S. Literary Agency as an associate agent. She was

previously an assistant at D4EO Literary Agency.

Christopher Rhodes has joined the James Fitzgerald Agency as an agent. Previously he worked at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington library, and before then held positions in the sales & marketing divisions of Simon & Schuster.

Sarah Younger has been promoted to associate agent at the Nancy Yost Literary Agency, where she has worked for two years.

Literary Agent News 1-28-14

Andrea Barzvi recently left ICM Partners after 13 years to start her own agency, Empire Literary, where she will continue to represent commercial non-fiction as well as women's fiction.

Beth Vesel has joined the Irene Goodman Literary Agency as a senior vice president. She previously ran the Beth Vesel Literary Agency for ten years, and before that was a senior agent at the Sanford J. Greenburger Agency for fourteen years.

Dara Hyde has joined the Hill Nadell Literary Agency as an agent. Previously she was permissions and film rights manager at Grove/Atlantic.

Helen Mackenzie has joined the Bell Lomax Moreton Agency as a literary agent, seeking new picture books. She worked previously at Random House UK Children's and Harper UK Children's.

PW Daily 1/15/14

Dara Hyde has joined the Hill Nadell Literary Agency as an agent, working out of the company's Los Angeles office. Hyde was an editor at Grove/Atlantic and then, later, the permissions and rights manager there.

Devon LaBerge has been promoted to associate agent at The Rights Factory.

Brianne Johnson has been promoted to senior agent at Writers House.

Shannon O'Neill has joined Lippincott Massie McQuilkin as agent. She was previously editorial director and agent at The Sagalyn Agency. O'Neill will remain based in Washington, DC, focusing on narrative nonfiction, popular science, current affairs, and the history of ideas, as well as literary and upmarket fiction.

Skyhorse's newest imprint is Yucca Publishing, which will publish authors "with intent, literary strength, and fresh, new visions" in partnership with literary agency and book packager International Transactions. Agency president Peter Riva will serve as Yucca's executive editor, and the imprint will launch its first list of 20 titles in fall 2014.

Literary Agent News 1-10-14

Jill Corcoran has left the Herman Agency, and started her own agency, the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency. 

Charlotte Robertson has moved to United Agents. Formerly, she was with Aitken Alexander.

Dan Balow has been appointed director of publishing development and literary agent at the Steve Laube Agency.

Emma Parry has joined Janklow & Nesbit as a literary agent, five years after selling her half of Fletcher & Parry.

Donald Winchester joined Watson, Little Ltd. as a literary agent. Winchester began his career in Penguin Press editorial before joining AP Watt in 2008. 

Publishing News 1-2-2014

In the UK, Jo Unwin has left her position as deputy publishing director at Doubleday UK after a brief stretch to return to agenting. Her new Jo Unwin Literary Agency will work in association with Rogers, Coleridge and White, and she will be based in their offices.

Jill Corcoran has left The Herman Agency after 4 years to create the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency. She notes, "I am lucky to be starting not only with Ronnie's support and blessings but also with the clients that I signed while at Herman Agency."

Louise Fury is joining The Bent Agency as an agent in their New York office. She represents young adult, new adult, romance, commercial fiction, pop culture and select nonfiction. Fury was previously at the L. Perkins Agency.

Publishing News 12-17-13

Julia Kenny has joined Dunow Carlson & Lerner as an agent, rejoining her recent colleague Eleanor Jackson.

Julie Just, who became an agent at Janklow & Nesbit in late 2010 after working at the NYT Book Review as children's book editor, has moved to Pippin Properties.

Grand Central's romance imprint Forever and their companion digital imprint Forever Yours will expand to publish 120 titles in 2013 and more than 190 titles in 2013 -- up from 64 titles in 2012 -- as part of a "major initiative" celebrating the imprint's 10th anniversary.

Penguin's self-publishing and workshop community Book Country announced new changes and features, including a free ebook creation tool and a online editor. Book Country has also raised the royalty rates offered to authors who use their services to self-publish from 70 percent of net sales to 85 percent of net sales.

Publishing News 12-11-2013

Here are some tidbits from the publishing world:

Ruth Pomerance has joined Folio Literary Management as literary and dramatic rights agent. She will build her own client list while adding to Folio's presence in the feature film, television, theater, and gaming industries.

A poll conducted for USA Today and Bookish finds that 40% of adults — including 46% of those ages 18 to 39 — own an e-reader or a tablet. That's more than double the numbers less than two years ago.

At the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, Ross Harris has been promoted to literary agent.

In the UK, the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency has hired David Newton as finance manager. He worked previously for Rogers, Coleridge & White and The Wylie Agency. Newton replaces, Adrian Clarke, who is leaving after nine years to pursue interests outside publishing.

Laetitia Rutherford has joined Watson, Little as an agent. Previously she was an agent at Mulcahy Associates

Publishing News 11/2/13

Chelsea Lindman has joined Sanford J. Greenburger Associates as a literary agent. She was previously with the agency as the director of foreign rights for The Nicholas Ellison Agency, a division within Sanford J. Greenburger Associates.

William Callahan has rejoined Inkwell Management as an agent. Previously he worked at Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. He focuses on representing non-fiction, especially American history and memoir, pop culture, humor, and illustrated books, as well as voice-driven fiction.

Claire Anderson-Wheeler has joined Regal Literary as an agent. Previously she was an agent at Anderson Literary Management.

At Liza Dawson Associates, Monica Odom has been promoted to associate agent, and also serves as manager of finance and social media development.

Source: Publisher's Lunch

Publishing News 9/27/2013

Belgian researchers report the enticing aroma of chocolate inspired bookstore shoppers to stick around longer, and boosted sales of certain genres.

They report shoppers  are more likely to engage in leisurely browsing—and ultimately purchase books in certain popular genres, including romance novels—if the store is infused with the scent of chocolate.  

Agents:

Laney Katz Becker has joined Lippincott Massie McQuilkin as an agent. Previously she was at Markson Thoma.

Hellie Ogden has joined Janklow & Nesbit UK as an agent.  She will be building a list at Janklow & Nesbit for a range of authors. She has been translation rights manager and agent at Greene & Heaton.

Harry Endrulat has joined The Rights Factory as an associate agent.