Bestelling author Fredrik Backman has signed with UTA for representation in all areas, after terminating his longtime representatives at the Salomonsson Agency earlier this year and waiting for a notice period to pass. UTA says they “will represent Backman across various divisions, expanding his publishing business alongside media rights, theater, podcasts and more.” Co-head of UTA Publishing Byrd Leavell said in their announcement, “We’re thrilled to welcome Fredrik Backman to the UTA family. His emotionally resonant and insightful work has made an impact on countless readers across generations, myself among them, and we’re looking forward to helping him reach even […]
Agency News
Agency News: Irene Goodman Agents to Start New Agencies
The Irene Goodman Literary Agency has announced that as of July 1 all of their senior agents will be transitioning into a variety of new agencies. In a statement provided by Goodman, the agency says: “This is a natural progression based on growing interests and diverging needs. We will all miss being under the umbrella of IGLA, but remain excited for the future. We will continue to enjoy warm collegial relationships with each other, with our clients, and the many publishers with whom we work.” Irene Goodman will remain president of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. At least three new […]
Pagnamenta Joins Kneerim & Williams to Form New Agency, Calligraph
The Kneerim & Williams Agency and The Zoë Pagnamenta Agency have joined together to form a new literary agency, Calligraph, based in New York and Boston. Katherine Flynn and Zoë Pagnamenta serve as managing partners, joined by Alison MacKeen as partner. Kneerim & Williams co-founder John Taylor (Ike) Williams says in the announcement, “I am thrilled we are uniting with Zoë and her distinguished agency. My late co-founder and friend, Jill Kneerim, and I had long treasured our friendship with Zoë and admired her many successes. My colleagues and I look forward to working with her and her team to […]
WME Acquires Ross Yoon Agency
Consolidation continues among the big representation agencies, as WME announced Friday morning their acquisition of Washington, DC-based literary agency Ross Yoon Agency. Ross Yoon’s president Gail Ross and principal Howard Yoon will join WME as partners. The office becomes WME’s first physical location in the DC region. “Gail and Howard set the gold standard of nonfiction representation,” head of WME’s book department Jay Mandel said in the announcement. “They have impeccable taste, unparalleled editorial chops, and an admirable sense of purpose about the authors they represent. Ross Yoon is the perfect complement to our book business, with a brilliant client base […]
Agency News: Bernstein to Take Over for Bergholz
Agent Susan Bergholz at Susan Bergholz Literary Services will retire as of June 1 and transfer control of her agency to Stuart Bernstein Representation for Artists. A number of Bergholz’s authors, including Julia Alvarez and Sandra Cisneros, had already begun working with Bernstein on new projects in recent years, and now control of their backlists will follow. Separately, “A number of authors who already have new representation will transfer backlist to those agents or take control themselves.” Bernstein said in the announcement, “Meeting Susan Bergholz helped me plan the direction of my life and shape my approach to working with […]
Authors Guild Updates Statement On New Leaf Literary
The Author’s Guild met with New Leaf Literary & Media to discuss the transition for their clients affected by Jordan Hamessley’s abrupt departure. Twenty-seven of Hamessley’s 45 clients were let go from the agency, while 18 were offered new agents. The AG writes in a statement, “New Leaf’s leadership has assured us that they have been addressing affected authors’ concerns and will continue to do so.” The agency has committed to a number of courses of action for active clients. Authors with books on submission can choose to have New Leaf pull the project “or to continue with the submission […]