1) Why did you become a literary agent? How did you get your start?

I got into the industry quite randomly and first started as an intern for Wunderkind PR based in Hudson Valley, NY. I am so thankful for Elena Stokes for taking a chance on me and giving me my first job in the industry. From there, I became more active and involved in publishing twitter – talking about books, tv/film, and storytelling – and built a rapport with industry professionals (editors, agents, authors) that helped me when I began applying for internships in editorial and agenting in 2016. Amy Boggs brought me in for an interview with Donald Maass Agency and I’ve been with them from internship to acquiring agent.

2) What’s your favorite thing about being an agent?

It has to be connecting with a writer in their shared vision and clicking in that way. To be trusted by a writer to work with them to continue to develop their work into the best version of what they envision. 

3) What challenges do you think there are specifically for BIPOC agents that everyone should be aware of?

Sometimes, it feels like there is a pointed lack of inherent trust in the ability of BIPOC agents, from writers or editors alike, to be on the same level as our white peers.

4) How would you like to see the industry change for BIPOC agents in general?

I’d like to see more mentorship programs for BIPOC agents that demystify processes that typically require you to learn on the spot. It definitely feels harder to not know something as readily or as immediately as a white peer and feel that I am not given the same room to breathe and learn because of implicit bias. 

5) How would you like to see the industry change for BIPOC authors in general? And how would having more BIPOC agents help BIPOC authors thrive?

I desperately need the industry to financially invest in BIPOC stories of whimsy; especially with black authors. Publish black authors writing whatever the fuck they want, not just the pain of navigating a white world. 

6) If you could give a word of advice for those hoping to become agents, what would it be?

Be voraciously reading current titles in the markets you’re interested in selling and work to develop the eye to imagine how those titles will evolve into what you can sell in the future to those publishers.

7) If you could give aspiring authors a word of advice, what would it be?

Center your career aspirations around building your craft. The only thing you can control is the work you create and that is the only consistent thing about this business.

8) What’s currently at the very top of your manuscript wishlist?

I desperately want an Adult Horror novel with queer BIPOC main characters that is tonally similar to the movie Cam (Netflix), the french show Marianne (Netflix) about main character(s) in their twenites. Bonus points if set in a city rather than a small town. The more atmospheric and emotionally visceral the better. 

1) Why did you become a literary agent? How did you get your start?

My path was kind of backwards. I graduated from Cornell in 2005 and was very lucky to land my first job at Penguin pretty quickly. I worked in reprints, where I learned a lot about the importance of backlist. After a year, I left so I could apply for law school. I took the LSATs and got my letters of recommendation, but I couldn’t bring myself to actually apply. I missed publishing, so I figured it would be so easy to get back into publishing. Silly me.

I had to do several unpaid internships to get back in. I wanted to get into an editorial role, but I wound up doing everything from foreign rights to production to editorial to marketing at Dorchester Publishing, Simon and Schuster, Random House, and Writers House literary agency. Luckily, Random House took pity on me and hired me on full-time in their children’s marketing department. I worked there for five years and while I was there, I got my MFA in children’s writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. After that, I made the move to Prospect Agency and eventually, Gallt & Zacker, where I’ve been for the last few years.

2) What’s your favorite thing about being an agent?

Another agent likened it to being like a fairy godmother, where we make people’s dreams come true. My favorite part of agenting is getting to call a client with the news that they received an offer of publication.

3) What challenges do you think there are specifically for BIPOC agents that everyone should be aware of?

Things are shifting now, but the lack of access to certain social networks to help BIPOC agents progress and solid incomes can be impediments. The access has been improved some with the connections being made on social media, though the financial struggle has essentially remained the same. Agents don’t typically receive salaries, which makes it hard to stay in the industry long-term unless client success is found relatively quickly.

4) How would you like to see the industry change for BIPOC agents in general? 
I’d really love to see a better standard of payment across agencies. I’m lucky to be at an agency that pays me fairly and generously, but not every BIPOC agent can say the same, unfortunately.

5) How would you like to see the industry change for BIPOC authors in general? And how would having more BIPOC agents help BIPOC authors thrive?

I’d like to see publishers to move beyond the “we already have one” mentality. Where they might, for example, hesitate to take on a book featuring a Puerto Rican protagonist simply because they have another book with a Puerto Rican protagonist, even if the two books are completely different. I do believe that having more BIPOC agents–along with more BIPOC industry folks across the board–will help BIPOC authors thrive. There often tends to be a shared perspective that can help BIPOC navigate the murky waters of publishing. Also, the mere existence of BIPOC publishing people can signal a welcome to BIPOC authors who might  feel more included in the space as opposed to feeling like outsiders.

6) If you could give a word of advice for those hoping to become agents, what would it be? 

Much like I tell aspiring writers, be persistent. It’s a tough industry to break into and even stay in, but don’t be afraid to fight for your seat at the table. If you really want it, go for it.

7) If you could give aspiring authors a word of advice, what would it be? 

Build a community of writers and keep them close. You’ll really need their support no matter how far along you get in your career.

8) What’s currently at the very top of your manuscript wishlist? 

I represent a little bit of everything, so it changes regularly, but now I’m really seeking adult romance and women’s fiction!