Patricia Ocampo leaves Transatlantic Literary Agency, joins Annick Press ~ Still four agents at Transatlantic seeking new authors

Patrica Ocampo  

Patricia Ocampo has left the Transatlantic Agency to return to editing full-time, beginning with an interim managing editor position at children's book publisher Annick Press, covering for another editor on a maternity leave, effective November 10. This leaves four agents at Transatlantic actively looking for new authors:

Amy Tompkins represents both adult and children’s authors and is also the international rights agent for Orca Book Publishers Ltd. and Islandport Press. “I am an omnivorous reader with eclectic tastes,” says Amy. “On the adult side, I am interested in literary fiction, historical fiction, women’s fiction including smart romance, narrative non-fiction, and quirky or original how-to books. On the children’s side, I am interested in early readers, middle-grade, young adult, and new adult. No picture books, please.”

Amy Tompkins

Query Amy at: amy@transatlanticagency.com

Submissions should include a short biography, past publishing credits, and a 20-page writing sample in Word or PDF format.

Stephanie Sinclair has been a lover of all things book related for over 30 years. For many years, authors, journalists and theatre writers have benefited from Stephanie’s uniquely attuned and effective advice in her work as an award-nominated freelance editor. Under the mentorship of Samantha Haywood, Stephanie Sinclair currently is building her own client list of authors of literary fiction, upmarket women’s fiction, narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism and true crime.

Stephanie Sinclair

Query Stephanie at: Stephanie@transatlanticagency.com

Submissions should include a short biography, past publishing credits, and a 20-page writing sample in Word or PDF format.

Fiona Kenshole joined Transatlantic just two years ago, but brings a lifetime of passion and experience of children's and YA books. She spent 20 years as a senior publisher, holding key positions in the UK as Publishing Director at Oxford Univeristy Press Children's Books, as Deputy Managing Director of Hodder Children's Books, and as Editorial Director at HarperCollins. Her authors have won or been nominated for every major British children's literary award. Several have become million-copy bestsellers.

Fiona Kenshole

Fiona moved to the U.S. and spent several years creating a development slate of new projects for an animation studio. Fiona has worked with major directors and screenwriters, acquiring and adapting children's books and original scripts into movies, including the Academy nominated Coraline and Paranorman.

Query Fiona at: fiona@transatlanticagency.com  
For novels, submit a query letter with the first three chapters of your book and a full synopsis plus a short biography, pasted into the body of the email NOT as an attachment.

For picture books, submit a query letter and short biography, with your full text pasted into the body of the email NOT as an attachment. If you are illustrator, you may submit one illustration in a small file. Illustrators should also include a link to your portfolio, blog, or website.

“I personally read everything that is sent and consider it carefully,” says Fiona. “So due to the volume of submissions received, replies will be sent only for submissions actively being considered.

Anne Shone of children's book
publisher Scholastic

Brian Henry will lead a “Writing for Children & for Young Adults" workshop on Saturday, Nov 8, in Guelph (see here).

On Saturday, Nov 29, Brian will host "From the Horse’s Mouth: Strategies for Getting Published" at Ryerson University in Toronto, with literary agent Rachel Letofsky of the Cooke Agency, senior editor Anne Shone of Scholastic Books, and Marketing and Publicity Manager Stephen Myers of Penguin Books (see here).

And Brian will lead "How to Get Published" workshop in Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, March 1, with literary agent Olga Filina (see here).

Kelley Armstrong

Other upcoming workshops, include: “How to Write a Bestseller" with New York Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, Saturday, Nov 22, in Burlington (see here) and Saturday, Dec 6, in London (see here) and Secrets of Writing a Page-turner Saturday, Jan 17, 2015, in Toronto (see here). 

But the best way to get your manuscript ready for publication is with a weekly course. Starting in the new year, Brian will be offering classes for beginners through experienced writers. See details for all six courses here.

For details of “Welcome to Creative Writing” on Tuesday afternoons in Burlington see  here, for “Writing Your Life & Other Personal Stories” on Tuesday mornings in Oakville see here, for “The Next Step in Creative Writing” on Wednesday evenings in Burlington, here, on Thursday afternoons in Mississauga here, and on Thursday evenings in Georgetown here, and for “Intensive Creative Writing” on Wednesday afternoons in Burlington here,

For details of any course or workshop or to register, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

See Brian’s full schedule here, including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Barrie, Brampton, Bolton, Burlington, Caledon, Cambridge, Collingwood, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Kingston, London, Midland, Mississauga, Newmarket, Niagara on the Lake, Orillia, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Stouffville, Sudbury, Toronto, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.