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Sunday, September 8, 2019

Canadian literary agency Westwood Creative Artists has 7 agents who want great books


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.
Query Meg at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines 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
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here. 


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.”
Query Jackie at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here.

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.”
Query Michael at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here.

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.
Query Hilary at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here.

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.
Query John at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here.

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.”
Query Bruce at: wca_office@wcaltd.com
Include the word “query” in the subject line. See Westwood’s full submission guidelines here.

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
See details of all the fall courses here.

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).
 Plus…
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
Read reviews of Brian’s courses, retreats, and workshops here.
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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