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Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Canadian-based literary agency Transatlantic has nine agents looking for authors

Megabat by Anna Humphrey, Illustrated by
Kass Reich, represented by Transatlantic
Transatlantic Agency
2 Bloor Street East
Suite 3500
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

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Transatlantic Agency offers a full spectrum of career representation to authors (Adult, Children’s & YA, and illustrators) and storytellers (Speakers, Industry leaders & Influencers) across all genres and formats for book, content development, speaking and TV & Film. Eight agents at Transatlantic are currently open to queries. 

Evan Brown was recently promoted to Associate Agent {Congrats, Evan!} and is currently developing his list of authors. Evan has been in publishing since 2012. Prior to joining Transatlantic in April 2019, he worked at a major trade publisher based in Toronto as a marketing specialist for adult and YA novels, including multiple New York Times bestsellers across a wide range of genres; as an acquisitions committee reader; and in online rights, helping authors combat digital piracy and plagiarism. He has experience copyediting, proofreading and freelance editing.
Evan holds an MA in 18th Century Studies from the University of York in the UK and a BA combined honours in Early Modern Studies and English from Dalhousie and The University of King’s College, where he was editor-in-chief of the Early Modern Studies programme student journal, Babel, in 2009.
Evan is looking for submissions in the following genres:
Literary fiction, featuring unique voices, intriguing characters, writing ranging from real to the surreal, and stories that ponder big questions – even when narrow in scope.
Historical fiction, literary rather than genre, featuring epic settings, multi-generational legacies, and compelling character drama.
Fantasy fiction written for adult readers, meaning mature themes more than mature content, laced with intricate lore, tangled politics, and relatable motivations.
Science fiction set in unique and evocative locations, challenging elements of contemporary society through a futuristic lens or alternative reality.
Sports history and memoir, ideally narrative driven and reflecting to some extent on bigger issues or the wider world beyond sports.
Include a synopsis and 20-page sample in Word or PDF.
Note: Evan will be our guest speaker at the How to Get Published workshop Saturday, Oct 3, in Toronto. Details here.

Laura Cameron is an Associate Agent based out of Vancouver. She joined Transatlantic after six years at Penguin Random House Canada, where she worked in editorial, sales and publicity. 
Before her career in publishing, Laura did a Master’s in Journalism at Columbia University, interned with the Economist Group, and worked for Canadian Business magazine. During her time as a freelance reporter, she wrote for the Economist Intelligence Unit and contributed stories to various publications including the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
Laura is interested in both fiction and nonfiction. In fiction for adults, she’s seeking plot-driven literary, upmarket and women’s fiction.
For children’s and young adult, Laura looks for unique characters and imaginative stories that reflect contemporary culture. In addition to YA novels, she’s looking for picture books and middle grade graphic novels.
“Specifically,” says Laura, “I would love to see a comedic, locked-room mystery (along the lines of Knives Out) as a picture book or middle grade graphic novel.  
“I'm also on the lookout for plot-driven literary fiction like The Secret History by Donna Tartt; engaging and richly layered narrative nonfiction along the lines of Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe; and morbidly funny page-turners like My Sister the Serial Killer.”  
Laura is also interested in research-based narrative nonfiction, and she is open to memoir with a strong voice and perspective.
Attach a synopsis, author bio and the first 20 pages in a double-spaced word doc or PDF. If it's an author/illustrator submitting a picture book or graphic novel, she’d like to see finished artwork samples and a link to the artist's portfolio. 

Elizabeth Bennett is a senior agent {promoted June 26, 2020}. She has spent her career in the children’s publishing industry with positions in marketing, product development and editorial at such companies as Scholastic, Reader’s Digest and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Prior to joining the Transatlantic Agency, she was an Executive Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. At HMH, she says, “I focused on brand-forward publishing around classic properties like Curious GeorgeLittle Blue Truck and The Little Prince as well as novelties, board books and picture books. During my tenure I established an IP program launching several middle grade series including The Next Best Junior ChefSurvivor Diaries, and Junior Ninja Champion.”
Elizabeth is interested in middle grade and YA fiction and graphic novels at all age levels. For Picture Books, she’s looking for submission only from author/illustrators. “I’m particularly looking for a great YA romcom. I tend to be partial to books with humor; books that approach contemporary issues in a fresh, new way; books that are inspired by pop-culture and current trends.  I love books that pull at the heart strings, make me laugh, make me think, make me smile; and especially books that make even a reluctant reader want to curl up in a nook and read.
“Contrary to evidence suggesting otherwise, my favorite book is not Pride and Prejudice.”
Query Elizabeth through her query manager here
Recent sales include:
Odd Ettie by Kayla Miller. Graphic novel to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Sleigh Pullers Wanted by Russ Willms. Picture book to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
The Wish Library by Christine Evans. Chapter book series to Albert Whitman.
A Fish Out of Water by Meagan Mahoney. Middle grade novel to Owl Kids.
Sloth Sleuth by Cyndi Marko. Graphic novel series to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Friendbots by Vicky Fang. Graphic novel early reader series to HarperCollins.
Lia and Beckett’s Abracadabra by Amy Parks. YA romantic comedy to Abrams.

Devon Halliday joined Transatlantic as a Literary Agent in the summer of 2020, with prior experience at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Susanna Lea Associates, Writers House, Maria B. Campbell Associates, and Folio Literary management in agenting and scouting. She grew up in Athens, Ohio, and studied Comparative Literature at Brown University. After years in the New York City publishing scene, she has returned to Ohio and is excited to build a list at Transatlantic.
Devon represents both fiction and nonfiction. On the fiction side, Devon leans toward adult fiction, but will also consider YA and cross-over projects. She is interested in literary and upmarket fiction with sharp, insightful writing and vivid characters. She’s partial to speculative fiction, women’s fiction, contemporary fiction, metafiction, light psychological suspense, and romcoms. She is not the right agent for most thrillers, horror, mystery, or historical fiction.
On the nonfiction side, Devon is on the lookout for creative and narrative nonfiction, investigative journalism, broad-perspective memoir, and popular science/ psychology/ medicine/ philosophy. She’s interested in any strong narrative voice that can bring a complicated or niche subject to the average reader.
Across the board, her interest is always piqued by manuscripts that feature tangled-up morality; internet culture; climate change; millennials; unusual story structures; or love stories between flawed characters. She seeks to represent a diverse range of voices and perspectives. For more detail on what she’s looking for, please view her website or her #mswl tweets on Twitter.
Include a 20-page sample (for fiction) or a proposal (for nonfiction). Please include “Query” in the subject line, and notify her if another offer of representation is received.

See details of four more agents at Transatlantic who are accepting queries here. And a ninth Transatlantic agent here.

Paige Sisley en route to our
2018 workshop in Collingwood 
If you’re interested in meeting an agent and in getting published, don’t miss our upcoming How to Get Published workshops Saturday, Oct 3, in Toronto with Evan Brown of Transatlantic Literary Agency (see here) and Saturday, Oct 24, in Guelph with Paige Sisley of the CookeMcdermid agency  (see here).

And if you’re specifically interested in writing and publishing Kid Lit, don’t miss Writing for Children and for Young Adults, with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, September 12, in Mississauga (see here) and the Writing Kid Lit weekly class this fall on Thursday evenings, online (see here).

In the meanwhile, the best way of upping your game as a writer may be with a weekly course. This summer, Brian’s offering several courses online and accessible anywhere there’s Internet:
Online:  Writing Personal Stories, Tuesday evenings, July 7 – Aug 18. Details here.                          
Online: Welcome to Creative Writing, Wednesday afternoons, July 8 – Aug 19. Details here
Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Tuesday afternoons, July 7 – Aug 25 and Wednesday evenings, July 8 – Aug 26. Details here. – Both currently full, waiting list only.

Beyond that, Brian’s post-lockdown workshop schedule continues to take shape:

July and August
Algonquin Park Writing RetreatsJoin me for a magical weekend at Arowhon Pines Resort, an outpost of luxury in the middle of the wilderness,  for a writing retreat. Two sessions: Thursday, July 9  – Sunday, July 12 (see here) and Friday, Aug 28 – Monday, Aug 31 (see here).
Southampton Art School: Head out to this lovely beach town on Lake Huron for two workshops: How to Build Your Story, Saturday, July 25 (see here) and  How to Write Great Characters, Sunday, July 26 (see here).
Oakville: "You can write great dialogue," Saturday, Aug 8. Details here.  
Collingwood: "You can write great dialogue," Saturday, Aug 15.  Details here.
St. Catharines: How to Make Yourself Write," Saturday, Aug 22.  Details here.

September
Mississauga: Writing for Children and for Young Adults with Anne Shone, Executive Editor, Scholastic Books, Saturday, September 12. Details here.

Fall Classes
Online: Welcome to Creative Writing, Thursday afternoons, Sept 24 – Dec 3. Details here.
Online: Writing Kid Lit, Thursday evenings, Sept 24 – Nov 26. Details here.
Burlington or Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Tuesday mornings, Sept 15 – Dec 15.  If you’re interested in this class, please tell me which venue you prefer or need: an online class or an in-person class in Burlington. Email: brianhenry@sympatico.ca 
Online: Intensive Creative Writing, Wednesday evenings, Sept 16 to Dec 9, online – this  class is almost full. Details here.
Toronto: Intensive Creative Writing, Friday mornings. Sept 18 – Dec 4.   Details here.

See Brian’s complete current schedule hereincluding writing workshops, weekly writing classes, and weekend retreats in, Bolton, Barrie, Brampton, Burlington, Caledon, Collingwood, Georgetown, Georgina, Guelph, Hamilton, Jackson’s Point, Kingston, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Midland, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Peterborough, St. Catharines, Southampton, 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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