The Chopping Blog

Book Broker – An interview with Isabel Atherton

April 24, 2019

Potential clients need to really nail their query letters. It is the absolute key to making an agent want to read your submission. Craft it, hone it, nail it.

Agent interviews

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Book Broker – An interview with BJ Robbins

April 15, 2019

BJ Robbins established her Los Angeles-based agency in 1992 after a multi-faceted career in book publishing in NY, first in publicity at Simon & Schuster and later as marketing director and then senior editor at Harcourt.

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Book Broker – An interview with Jennifer March Soloway

April 02, 2019

It's not so much the query letter as the opening pages. I see potential in almost every submission, but most projects I receive are at too early a stage for me to offer representation.

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Book Broker – An interview with Ella Marie Shupe

March 07, 2019

A good submission stands out when the author has a good command of the genre they are writing. It speaks volumes if an author notes the genre, compiles a concise 250-word synopsis, and includes comparable titles. A great first page with a compelling voice and sufficient atmosphere always stands out.

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Book Broker – An interview with Sharon Belcastro

March 05, 2019

We are currently open to submissions. I am looking for all genres in young adult, anything strongly character driven that doesn’t pull any punches. Nova Ren Suma, Rin Chupeco, Mindy McGinnis, April Genevieve Tucholke, Courtney Summers, Laini Taylor, and Frances Hardinge are a few my favorite YA authors. Although I do enjoy my YA romcom as well.

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Book Broker – An interview with Jessica Craig

February 24, 2019

I most love discovering a talented new writer and being one of the first readers of their work. Since I recently launched my own agency and handle everything on my own, I find keeping up with new submissions the most challenging part of my work, since I also think it’s essential to be reading at least one published book for pleasure alongside new manuscript

Agent interviews

Book Broker – An interview with Kat Kerr

February 22, 2019

I love being an advocate for books I believe in.

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Book Broker – An interview with Andrew Lownie

February 11, 2019

Andrew Lownie is a former director of Curtis Brown and has run his own agency since 1988. A former Cambridge history fellow, he is president of the Biographers’ Club and the author of lives of the writer John Buchan, the spy Guy Burgess, and a forthcoming dual study of Lord and Lady Mount

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Book Broker – An interview with Andy Ross

February 08, 2019

In fiction, I am mostly looking for a writer with a strong voice. Voice is ineffable. But it's easy to see, usually in the first paragraph. The next thing I look for is the concept of the story. Publishers like subtle literary fiction but they still want something with a high concept. I am also looking for authors who have previously been published, who have successful sales records, and who have won prestigious awards. But if I fall in love with a novel by a debut author, I'll champion it.

Agent interviews