Pan Macmillan in the UK announced that “it no longer requires a US-based scout” and “will part ways” with Mary Anne Thompson Associates “after a long and fruitful relationship.” They noted: “The continuously developing bonds and collaboration within the Macmillan Group of our US, UK and German editorial teams means that Pan Macmillan is alert to exciting new projects from around the globe and welcomes submissions directly.” Managing director of the adult division Jeremy Trevathan said in the announcement, “Mary Anne has been a wonderful colleague and friend to me, our publishers and the various iterations of editorial teams over […]
Agency News
Wylie Reports on Rushdie’s Wounds, Tells Tales About The Trial
Spanish newspaper El Pais interviewed Andrew Wylie at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where he reported the sad news that Salman Rushdie has “lost the sight of one eye” and “one hand is incapacitated because the nerves in his arm were cut.” Wylie underscored, “it was a brutal attack” and Rushdie “has about 15 more wounds in his chest and torso.” More broadly, the full interview is classic Wylie. He provides a colorful account of what he believes he said in court during the Penguin Random House antitrust trial: “The mistake the Department of Justice made was they were talking about […]
International, Estate Rights Discussed in BISG Panel
In a recent Book Industry Study Group program on rights, speakers discussed the changing landscape for translation, international, backlist rights, and more. The BISG also shared their rights tools and resources, including two papers on publishing rights and a multi-part rights education series on the BISG Youtube. BISG has also launched a four-part FAQ on rights on the Language of Rights, Acquiring Rights, Selling Rights, and Rights Best Practices, available on the BISG website. Literary agent at Sebes and Bisseling in Amsterdam Willem Bisseling described the agency’s new policy of selling English-language rights to Dutch publishers. He said that the […]
CAA Announces International Rights Team
As expected since CAA finalized their acquisition of ICM in late June, the agency has now formally acknowledged recently “bringing the agency’s translation rights business in-house.” Previously, ICM had a longstanding substantial co-agenting agreement with Curtis Brown UK, in which the UK agency had represented UK and translation rights to ICM titles. (Curtis Brown UK was itself acquired by CAA rival UTA in June.) CAA’s London-based rights team comprises a number of Curtis Brown UK veterans, run by Helen Manders and Daisy Meyrick, and joined by Claire Nozieres, Sarah Harvey (previously at CB UK, most recently head of rights at […]
Survey: AALA Members Are “Strongly Against” PRH Merger
Over the course of the last five days, the Association of American Literary Agents conducted a survey of its members about Penguin Random House’s plans to acquire Simon & Schuster, asking whether they are for or against the merger with most respondents replying “strongly against.” A release notes that “nearly nine out of ten” of the people who responded oppose it. The survey was conducted from August 11 to August 16, as the government’s antitrust trial against PRH stretched into its third week. The AALA could not provide a number of people who responded, as they said more surveys continue […]
Agencies: YMU Launches U.S. Books Division
Talent management company YMU has launched a books arm in the U.S., led by Aram Fox. Fox comes from Aram Fox Literary Scouting, which represented international publishers and US film companies. The U.S. opening follows that of a literary division in the UK, headed by global managing director, literary Amanda Harris, which “has grown exponentially over the last two years” according to a release. Based in New York, Fox will report to Harris and represent YMU’s clients–including music, entertainment, sports, social, and arts talent–in North America, and sign new clients.