THIS WEEK
Country Focus: Scotland Literary agencies
Agents find fertile ground north of the border as agencies new and old toast success
The rise in home working has led to a decentralisation in the literary agencies space, with a number setting up shop in Scotland in recent months
Douglas Stuart scooping the 2021 Man Booker Prize for his Glasgow-set novel Shuggie Bain (Picador), the trade is eager to see what other gems will come from Scotland. “We have a wealth of extraordinary writing talent, from established writers to emerging voices,” Brown says. “We are particularly strong in literary and crime fiction, and narrative non-fiction, including writing about nature and landscape.”
A broad base
Natasha Onwuemezi @tashaonwuemezi
D
id you know that Scotland has more book festivals per capita than any other
nation on Earth? I didn’t, until exuberant agent Jenny Brown told me, adding: “There are over 60 at last count, meaning lots of opportunities for writers and readers to meet, from Shetland to Wigtown!” Even over email, I can sense the passion and verve she feels for the Scotish book scene and how this translates into her confidence and excitement about the strength of agenting in Scotland, too. She sees the presence of agenting stalwarts such as her own agency, Jenny Brown Literary Agency, and the Edinburgh-based Fraser Dunlop Associates (both are celebrating two decades in business this year), alongside new businesses including the Glasgow-based Underline Literary Agency and the London and Scotland-based The Literary Office, which have both set up shop within the past year, as a mark of confidence in the strength of the sector. With Scotish-American author
16 18th February 2022
Alongside phenomenal writing talent, the Scotish book trade also has the support of many individuals and organisations, which bolsters the strength of the sector. “The size of Scotland means we are able to build strong relationships across the trade, and we benefit from a strong literature infrastructure that supports writers, from Scotish Book Trust to Moniack Mhor Writers’ Centre,” says Brown.
“We have found a way to do the work we love from the corner of the world we call home. We attract authors not only from Scotland but all over the world” Lina Langlee, literary agent
JENNY BROWN’S SCOTTISH AGENCY IS CELEBRATING TWO DECADES OF TRADING
Lina Langlee is an agent at The North Literary Agency, which is based in the north of England, but she lives and works in Edinburgh. She is effusive in saying that it’s a “great time” to be a literary agent in Scotland. “Like publishers opening more regional offices, I think this is in recognition that having such a London-centric industry is untenable for many reasons,” Langlee says. “The pandemic has meant that many have been forced to trial remote working, with great success, so I am hoping to see more agents relocate or open new offices. The fact that
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