A number of the approximately 75 registered AAP publishers had left the organization’s annual meeting yesterday due to the Clinton-delayed program before the final event, a lunchtime q&A between Twelve publisher Jon Karp and attorney Bob Barnett (who joked that it was “defamatory” when Pat Schroeder introduced him as an agent.) Asked “what makes for a good political book,” Barnett recommended “the more personal and the less policy, the better.” He agreed with the notion that in political books, “sadly, the far right and the far left are the ones that sell. Particularly in this economy…the center and the sensible […]
Agency News
Weisbach Launches Management Company, and Much More
Rob Weisbach is starting a “new generation management company,” Rob Weisbach Creative Management, designed to “re-conceive the traditional literary agency as a cross-training development company–one that will work with new and established talent on all aspects of career building. Weisbach represented Norman Ollestad’s CRAZY FOR THE STORM last July. At the time he expressed little interest in serving as a full-time agent, but he explains that his new venture “is broader in scope and service, allowing me to take significant advantage of my range of experience as an editor, publisher, promoter, and entertainment executive. I’ll get to work with both […]
People and Announcements
Agents Jill Marsal and Kevan Lyon have left the Sandra Dijkstra Agency to form the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. Marsal was at the Dijkstra agency for eight years and practice as an attorney representing authors prior to that. Lyon spent four years at Dijkstra and worked in the wholesale and distribution side of the publishing business for over 17 years before becoming an agent. Well-known indie publishing spark plug Richard Nash is leaving Counterpoint, where he is currently executive editor, as well as editorial director of Soft Skull Press, on March 10. CEO Charlie Winton indicates the company will maintain […]
Vig v. Dykstra
Literary agent David Vigliano has sued former client Lenny Dykstra, claiming “he lent Dykstra $250,000 last May with an agreement Dykstra would pay him $300,000 by early November,” the NY Post reports. They add that “according to the lawsuit, Vigliano was to receive a $300,000 payment after Dykstra sold some $23 million in notes tied to his former car wash franchise businesses. Vigliano claims he kept a $106,000 book advance that was supposed to go to Dykstra. As a result, the ex-ballplayer owes the literary agent $194,000.” Dykstra made a deal to write a book based on financial advice he […]
People: Agency Moves, and More
Ethan Friedman has joined LevelFiveMedia as an agent. He was most recently a senior editor at Collins. He will be developing his own client list with an emphasis on business, along with such other categories as sports, current affairs, judaica, self-help/personal growth, and general non-fiction. Marlene Stringer is leaving the Barbara Bova Literary Agency and is starting the Stringer Literary Agency. She writes, “this is an amicable parting of ways, and Barbara and I have great admiration for each other.” At Wendy Sherman Associates, Michelle Brower has been promoted to agent. She has been with the agency since 2004. Elise Proulx […]
People: Jackson Moves Agencies; Elek to AP Watt
Eleanor Jackson has left the Queen Literary Agency, and is now working at the Elaine Markson Agency. Jon Elek is moving to AP Watt as an agent in January. For the past two and a half years Jon has been an assistant editor at Viking, working with Tony Lacey, in addition to developing his own projects.