it is now so easy to jump on a video call with any industry professional you need a catch-up with has also meant that meetings don’t necessarily mean a costly trip. In a challenging period, it actually feels easier to work as a literary agent from Scotland than ever before.”
Building on this, Langlee waxes
lyrically about the tremendous pool of writing talent in Scotland, the close proximit to many independent publishers and the support of organisations such as Creative Scotland, Publishing Scotland and Scotish Book Trust. But she adds, “The biggest opportunit is that we have exactly the same opportunities as London agencies—but we get to do it from Scotland.” Langlee explains: “This is not to say that London-based agents do not want to be in London, but simply that Scotland’s agents do not. We have found a way to do the work we love from the corner of the world we call home. We atract authors not only from Scotland but from all over the world. We work with publishers from all over. We can compete against any agency.” Jenny Todd, agent and founder of The Literary Office, agrees. “I love the fact that the industry is becoming geographically decentralised. It’s healthy and overdue,” she says. “But equally, it would be wrong to assume businesses are regionalised due to location of office. The BBC move into Media Cit in Manchester didn’t narrow its programming. It
“Being in an area with a strong literary culture but a low density of literary agents offers fantastic opportunities to find writers” Robbie Guillory, literary agent
ROBBIE GUILLORY SET UP UNDERLINE LITERARY AGENCY LAST YEAR
widened it. The literary heritage of Scotland has a worldwide reputation, spanning centuries.” She adds: “I represent authors from all over the world but they are all brought together by the big-hearted centrifugal force of Scotland. One of the authors I represent, Chris Carse Wilson, lives in Dundee and works for the V&A. He is being published by HarperNorth, and was introduced to me by someone I met in San Francisco. It’s a small world.”
FRASER ROSS CLIENTS JOAN LENNON AND JOAN DRITSAS LAUNCH THEIR BOOK, TALKING HISTORY
TheBookseller.com
Under pressure Similarly, Robbie Guillory, who founded Underline Literary Agency in 2021, says: “Being in an area with a strong literary culture but a low densit of literary agents offers fantastic opportunities to find writers who might otherwise have slipped through the net. Many aspects of publishing (including literary agents) are arcane to a lot of people, and there is a great deal of good that can be done in being visible, approachable and holding and atending events.” While the pandemic enabled the widening of the publishing orbit beyond London, this decentralised approach has not come without its challenges. Lindsey Fraser of Fraser Ross Associates says: “Maintaining meaningful contact with publishers while they are not working in the office can be tricky.
LINA LANGLEE AGENTS FOR THE NORTH LITERARY AGENCY FROM EDINBURGH
We are longing for the return of the central switchboard. Most publishers have been great, but the deafening silences can be grim, for us and our authors and illustrators.”
Langlee also voices concern about the blurring of boundaries between work and home life: “As much as I think many have enjoyed working from home, I am seeing more late-night emails from editors than before. Whether that is because their workload is too heavy or they are struggling to switch off while working from home I can’t say, but it isn’t a good thing.” Brown also highlights that authors’ incomes were badly affected by months of bookshop closures triggered by the pandemic, and that débuts, in particular, “struggled to be noticed”. The agents are united in their
view that the return of “IRL” live events will be a good opportunit to inject some much-needed energy into the industry aſter a tough couple of years. “I am hoping we will feel safe in planning and atending events,” says Langlee. “I say this partly because it will be great for trade and authors, but also because I personally need some launches and general mingling. There are so many people that I would naturally bump into who I just haven’t [met] since the start of the pandemic. These days I long for warm white wine.” While Brown says she is “thrilled” at the prospect of live events including the London Book Fair, the Scotish Book Trade Conference and author launches and festivals, Guillory takes a more cautious view: “On a personal level, I’m finding it hard to get back out into the world. I love book events, but the thought of larger spectacles like London Book Fair is playing havoc with my anxiet levels. It will take some geting used to.” Fraser hopes the return of in-person events will enable those published during the pandemic to be celebrated: “It would be great if event organisers and publicists could look back further than the books coming out now... so many were published into a quiet landscape sales-wise, and deserve a bit of a song and dance.” Fraser also highlights VisitScotland’s themed campaign for 2022, “Year of Stories”, which offers “great opportunities to spotlight and celebrate Scotland’s writers and illustrators, past and present”.
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