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| Hideaway by Nicole Lundrigan, represented by WCA |
Westwood Creative Artists
386
Huron Street
Toronto, Ontario
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Westwood Creative
Artists {WCA} is one of Canada's oldest and most respected literary
agencies. Clients include Mark Sakamoto, Justin Trudeau, Thomas King, Alan
Doyle, Rosemary Sullivan, Kyo Maclear, and Nicole Lundrigan. There seven agents on the team: Meg Wheeler and Chris Casuccio {who are both actively looking for new authors}, Jackie Kaiser, Michael A. Levine, Hilary McMahon,
John Pearce, and Bruce Westwood.
Meg Wheeler, International Rights Director and Associate
Agent.
Meg did her undergraduate degree at Glendon College {part of York
University but bilingual and with its own small, beautiful campus hidden
off Bayview Ave and tucked behind the Bridle Path in Toronto} and an M.A. in publishing
at University College London. This was followed by work in HarperCollins UK’s
children’s foreign rights department, Penguin UK’s Puffin marketing department,
and across departments at Head of Zeus Books. She returned to Canada and found
a spot with WCA in 2015.
She regularly attends the London and Frankfurt book fairs and the Salon
du Livre, representing WCA’s authors to the wider international publishing
community.
She is also an associate agent and is actively building her own
client list. Her inbox is open to submissions of all kinds, but she has a particular
soft spot for literary fiction, women’s commercial fiction, and the gamut of
nonfiction.
Note: Meg will be the guest speaker at the How to Get Published workshop Saturday, Sept 21, in
Barrie. Details here.
Chris Casuccio, Literary Agent
Chris is actively growing his client list.
He’s looking for stories he hasn’t heard told well – stories that need to be
told, particularly ones that aren’t often shared, the dark corners most people don’t
explore. He’s especially attracted to big ideas, diverse voice, inspired
experts, and driven journalism – to authors who know something he doesn’t and
who care deeply about sharing their knowledge; people fearless enough to stand
up and tell their truths.
“I have represented journalists,
scientists, chefs, adventurers, poets and activists,” says Chris, “and have
worked tirelessly to promote their books.”
Chris also loves literary fiction that’s
told fearlessly and authentically. “If your novel is strong and you’re
passionate about the industry,” he says, “send me your best work.”
Query Chris at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Jackie Kaiser,
President and COO
Jackie says that while she’s not taking on many new clients these
days, she’s always open to being wowed. She’s also more likely to be interested
in nonfiction. But Jackie also represents “a small carefully curated roster of
children’s authors and illustrators and would love to make room for another
exceptional author-illustrator.”
Michael Levine, Chairman
At Westwood, Michael’s talents are focussed not only on book deals,
but also on the sale of rights for TV, film, and other media.
“My passions, taste and expertise are largely focused on nonfiction,” says Michael, “including
history, politics, ideas books, memoirs. I have also been privileged to do work
in the fiction area with such authors as the late Mordecai Richler.”
Hilary McMahon, Executive Vice President
“Now that I have a robust client list I’m very
selective about taking on authors, “says Hilary, “but I still love the thrill of discovering a new voice. I’m
particularly proud of the authors I’ve nurtured since the beginning of their
careers, such as Susan Juby, Susin Nielsen and Carrie Snyder. I love narrative
nonfiction that makes me look at the past and the present in a new way; that
engages my curiosity and provokes contemplation and discussion. Drink by Ann Dowsett
Johnston, The Massey Murder by
Charlotte Gray and Empire
of Deception by Dean Jobb are recent highlights.”
In fiction, Hilary is drawn to compelling and unique voices and
fresh stories that provoke a strong emotional reaction, whether it’s laughter
or tears. She’s always hunting for those crossover literary/upmarket fiction
titles that are perfect for word of mouth success, such as The Translation of Love by
Lynne Kutsukake.
She’s also open to realistic, accomplished, middle-grade and YA.
In nonfiction, Hilary wants the singular project that only that
author has the authority, skill and perspective to deliver, whether it’s a
memoir like Juliet’s Answer, an
expose like Jacques Poitras’ Irving
vs Irving, or a cookbook like Lucy Waverman’s Flavour Principles.
John Pearce,
Literary Agent
John is taking on only a handful of new clients, but he’s always on
the lookout for that special new discovery.
In both fiction and nonfiction, John looks for a distinctive voice,
vivid story-telling, insightful characterization and scintillating prose. If
the book has the potential to win awards or attract film deals, all the better.
“I love working with journalists; historians; biographers; I also
love memoir, popular science, humour, travel and Big Ideas,” says John. “What I
respond to is the combination of the author’s passion for the subject and their
ability to write about it engagingly.”
In fiction he leans towards novels that are literary but
narrative-driven; also to high-quality mysteries, thrillers/suspense,
historical fiction and young-adult novels. No romance, SF or fantasy. No
short-story collections. No children’s books. And in nonfiction, no books of
practical advice.
Bruce Westwood, Founder, Managing Director, and CEO
Bruce Westwood has been in the business for more than 20 years.
He’s still always on the lookout for literary fiction, commercial fiction,
narrative nonfiction, “and,” he says, “what one might call current events
(business, politics, industry, government, etc. Really any sociological
nonfiction. My tastes are extremely broad (except when it comes to rosé, garlic, and roasted lamb).”
“While I represent a very limited number of
children’s authors, the rest of my clients are pretty evenly split between
writers of fiction and nonfiction – and some that cross that divide with
aplomb.”
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| Literary Agent Meg Wheeler |
If you’re interested in getting published, now or sometime in the
future, don’t miss our upcoming How to Get Published workshop with
literary agent Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists, Saturday, Sept 21, in
Barrie (see here). How to Get
Published will also be offered Saturday, Nov 23, in Niagara on the Lake with
literary agent Stephanie Winter of P.S. Literary (see here).
Also, don’t miss Plotting Novels & Writing Short
Stories, Saturday, Sept 14, in Toronto (see here) and Writing for
Children and for Young Adults with Kids Can Press senior editor Yasemin Uçar and
children's author Jennifer Mook-Sang at the Burlington
Central Library, Saturday, Oct 5. Details here.
Also, this September, there’s a
full range of weekly course starting up, beginner
to advanced:
Oakville
Central Library: Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday
evenings, Sept 26 – Nov 28 (no class Oct 31). Details here.
Toronto: Writing
Personal Stories, Friday afternoons, Sept 27 – Nov 29 (no class Nov 1).
Details here.
Burlington: Writing
Personal Stories, Thursday afternoons, Sept 26 – November 28 (no class Oct
31). Details here.
Burlington: Next Step in
Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, Sept 24 – Dec 11 (no
class Oct 8 or Nov 5). First readings emailed Sept 17. Details here.
Toronto: Intensive
Creative Writing, Friday mornings, Sept 20 – Nov 8. First readings
emailed Sept 13. Details here.
Georgetown: Intensive
Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, Sept 18 – Dec 11 (no
class Oct 9). First readings emailed Sept 11. Details here.
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| Author Kelley Armstrong |
And
don’t miss …
“You
can write great dialogue,” Sunday, Oct 20, in Sudbury (see here)
and How to Write a Bestseller with New York
Times #1 bestselling author Kelley Armstrong, Saturday, Oct 26, in Waterloo
(see here).
November
at the Briars Writing Retreat
Friday,
November 1 – Monday, November 4; four days of creativity in a setting
that provides the warmth of a country estate steeped in history while providing
all the benefits of an extensive, modern lakeside resort. Details here.
To
reserve a spot in any upcoming weekly course, weekend retreat, or Saturday
workshop, email Brian at: brianhenry@sympatico.ca
See Brian’s complete current schedule here, including
Saturday writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend
retreats in Algonquin Park, Alliston, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton,
Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Jackson’s
Point, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, New Tecumseth,
Oakville, Ottawa, St. Catharines, Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, Woodstock, Halton,
Muskoka, Peel, Simcoe, York Region, the GTA, Ontario and beyond.
Navigation tips: Always check out the Labels
underneath a post; they’ll lead you to various distinct collections of
postings. If you're searching for more interviews with literary agents or a
literary agent who represents a particular type of book, check out this post.
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