Two Canadian literary agencies – The Cooke Agency and The McDermid Agency – have amalgamated as CookeMcDermid, and they’re looking for authors

Strangers with the Same Dream,
by Alison Pick, represented
by the CookeMcDermid Agency

The Cooke Agency and The McDermid Agency announced that they have amalgamated to become one new company to be known as CookeMcDermid. The new company will be owned in equal part by Chris Bucci, Dean Cooke, Sally Harding, and Martha Webb. Bucci and Webb are the owners of The McDermid Agency, formerly Anne McDermid and Associates, whose founder, Anne McDermid, will remain with the new company in the role of agent, continuing to represent her authors.

There will be nine agents working with the new company: Suzanne Brandreth, Chris Bucci, Dean Cooke, Ron Eckel, Sally Harding, Rachel Letofsky, Anne McDermid, Monica Pacheco and Martha Webb. Eckel and Brandreth are also the owners of the independent company, The Cooke Agency International, which remains unaltered by the amalgamation. There will be no change to authors’ representation; clients will continue to be represented by their current agent.

The CookeMcDermid client list will consist of more than 300 writers, among them Man Booker nominees, Giller and Governor General’s award–winning authors, prize-winning journalists, New York Times bestsellers and some of the literary world’s most notable names, including: Jen Agg, Omar el Akkad, Deborah Campbell, Michael Crummey, Robyn Doolittle, John Irving, Rupi Kaur, Scaachi Koul, Geddy Lee, Robert Munsch, Jordan B. Peterson, Alison Pick, Andrew Pyper, Bob Rae, Nino Ricci, David Adams Richards, Amy Stuart, Guy Vanderhaeghe, Jeff VanderMeer, Sarah Waters, and Jesse Wente.

Literary agent and part owner of the new company Martha Webb will be one of the guest speakers at the How to Get Published mini-conference on Nov 18 in Guelph.

Martha represents a wide range of books, but her list focuses primarily on literary fiction, narrative nonfiction (including memoir and true crime) and ideas-driven nonfiction. She is especially drawn to approaches that are thought-provoking, controversial, change the conversation on a given subject or have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Query Martha at: info@mcdermidagency.com

You are welcome to include the first 5–15 pages of your manuscript. Please do not send any further material unless invited. And naturally, you should address your query to one agent in particular. Full submission guidelines here.

Note: Martha will be the guest speaker at the How to Get Published workshop Saturday, February 24, 2018, in Oakville. Details here. 

Other agents at CookeMcDermid of especial interest for authors looking for representation include:

Rachel Letofsky joined the Cooke Agency in 2010. She frequently travels throughout Canada and the US to various writer’s festivals and literary events such as Bloody Words, PNWA, CanSCAIP, SiWC, VWF, NorthWords and Quick Brown Fox workshops.

Rachel is actively seeking ground-breaking and heart-breaking middle grade and young adult titles in all genres. She is drawn to works with a whimsical nature or a grounded, gritty edge in equal measure, though in either instance, unforgettable characters and original concepts are a must. Rachel also has a natural soft-spot for exquisite literary fiction.

In nonfiction, Rachel is looking for narrative-driven memoirs, and anything quirky and life-affirming. Rachel is particularly committed to working with previously unpublished authors in a focused, collaborative and hands-on manner.

Read an extended interview with Rachel here.

Direct queries to Rachel c/o Elizabeth Griffin at egriffin@cookeagency.ca

In the subject line, you must include “Author Query” to get around the spam filter. Also include your name and the title of your work. Include the first four pages of your manuscript pasted into the email. No attachments. Full submission guidelines here.

Monica Pacheco joined the McDermid Agency in 2008 and represents a growing list of writers, focusing on Young Adult, science fiction and fantasy, and literary fiction

Her clients include:

Actress/writer/director Sarah Polley (Didi and the Bean, forthcoming from HarperCollins Canada)

Yves Meynard (Chrysanthe trilogy, Tor/Macmillan 2012)

Madeline Ashby (Company Town, The Machine Dynastyseries, Angry Robot)

Irina Kovalyova (Specimen, forthcoming from House of Anansi spring 2015)

Sarah Henstra (Mad Miss Mimic, forthcoming from Penguin Canada summer 2015)

Janice Poon

Eli K.P. William

and Bram Stoker Award-winning horror writer David Nickle.

Query Monica at: info@mcdermidagency.com
You are welcome to include the first 5–15 pages of your manuscript. Please do not send any further material unless invited. And naturally, you should address your query to one agent in particular. Full submission guidelines here.

Chris Bucci represents bestselling authors such as Bob Rae, Timothy Caulfield, Susan Delacourt, Jowita Bydlowdka, James Grainger, and Kerri Sakamoto.

Chris began his career at the University of Toronto Press and soon became an acquisitions editor in social sciences and cultural studies. Chris joined HarperCollins Canada in 2003 as a nonfiction editor. Moving to McClelland & Stewart in 2004, Chris helped revitalize their nonfiction program, establishing relationships with international authors, agents and publishers.

Chris represents both fiction and nonfiction. In particular, he’s looking for  literary fiction, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, commercial literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. For nonfiction, he seeks popular science, sports, popular culture, politics, essays, and history.

Query Chris at: info@mcdermidagency.com
You are welcome to include the first 5–15 pages of your manuscript. Please do not send any further material unless invited. And naturally, you should address your query to one agent in particular. Full submission guidelines here.

Anansi editor Douglas Richmond

If you’re interested in and finding an agent or publisher (someday soon or down the road), don’t miss the From the Horse’s Mouth ~ Strategies for Getting Published  seminar, with literary agent Stacey Donaghy, House of Anansi Press editor Douglas Richmond, and Simon & Schuster managing editor Patricia Ocampo on Saturday, Dec 2 at Ryerson University in Toronto (see here).

You’ll also be interested in our How to Get Published mini-conference, with literary agent Martha Webb, author Hannah McKinnon, and HarperCollins editor Michelle Meade on Saturday, Nov 18, in Guelph (see here). This mini-conference is currently full, but to get on the waiting list, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca.  A space may open up!

For details of the most recent How to Get Published workshops, see here (and scroll down).

Brian is also leading a Writing for Children and for Yong Adults  workshop, on Saturday, November 11 in London (see here).

Also, this fall, Brian will lead a Secrets of Writing a Page-turner on Saturday, Oct 28, in Caledon at the Bolton Library (see here), Writing with Style on Saturday, Nov 4, in Barrie (see here) and How to Build Your Story on Saturday, Nov 25 in Burlington (see here).

Simon & Schuster editor Patricia Ocampo

In the new year, Brian will again offer a full range of weekly writing classes, from introductory to intensive:

Exploring Creative Writing, offered at two times: Thursday mornings, Jan 25 – March 29, in Oakville (see here)

and Friday afternoons, Feb 2 – March 23, in  Toronto (see here).

Writing Personal Stories,  Thursday afternoons, January 25 – March 15, in Burlington (see here).

Intensive Creative Writing, offered at three times: Tuesday afternoons, 12:30 – 2:45 p.m. Jan 16 – March 20, at Appleby United Church, in Burlington

Thursday evenings, 6:45 – 9:00 p.m., Jan 18 – March 22, at Appleby United Church in Burlington

and Friday mornings, 10:15 – 12:45, Jan 19 – March 23, Glenview Presbyterian Church in Toronto

For details or to reserve a spot in the Intensive course or for more information or to reserve a spot in any workshop, retreat, or weekly course, email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Read reviews of Brian’s courses and workshops here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule here,  including writing workshops and creative writing courses in Algonquin Park, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Georgetown, Guelph, Hamilton, Ingersoll, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Saint John, NB, Sudbury, Thessalon, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton, Kitchener-Waterloo, Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.

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