Annette Green of Annette Green Author’s Agency offers advice to aspiring authors
Annette Green
In the first of our conversations with literary agents, we interview Annette Green of Annette Green Author’s Agency. After several years of working at A M Heath & Co, she decided the time was right to establish her own independent agency in 1998, working with writers ranging from Meg Cabot who won over legions of YA readers with The Princess Diaries series, to Simon Conway, who wrote the acclaimed Damaged and Rage. Annette expresses a passion for work that reveals vision, imagination, originality and invention, whether in the guise of fiction or non-fiction.
How did you come to set up Annette Green Authors’ Agency?
I’d worked for a leading literary agency in London for some years and had been itching to have the scope to expand my client list and work with new associates, so it seemed like the right and proper thing to do to start the agency.
What is your professional background?
My first job was in the library of the Architectural Press at the beautiful offices in Queen Anne’s Gate by St James Park where I worked on the Architects’ Journal and Architectural Review. It didn’t take too long to realise that wasn’t quite right for me, and I was lucky enough to get a job as a secretary to a literary agent in a small by long-established and well-respected firm.
Did you receive any formal training?
Training really was ‘on the job’ but over many years and was really quite rigorous. There was much to learn about assessing manuscripts, selling rights and licences and negotiating publishing agreements.
What makes Annette Green Authors’ Agency different to other literary agencies?
I work directly with one other agent and then we have a number of ’satellite’ associates who are handpicked by us as the best people to exploit for example film/TV, American and translation rights in our authors’ books. We don’t employ assistants in the office as we aim to offer each client a totally personal and first-class service.
What kind of books does Annette Green Authors’ Agency take on?
We take on general fiction and non-fiction and novels for older children. We aim to take on work of the very highest quality.
Which publishing houses have you worked with?
We have worked with all the major publishing houses in London including Random House, HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, Faber, Macmillan, Picador and so on. There are of course others.
What happens to a submission once it reaches your office?
We aim to open all submissions promptly, read the material and then get back to the author.
What do you look for in a submission?
We look for the highest level of storytelling ability along with writing of the highest standard.
How can a new author get past the slush pile?
By writing a brief, informative and attention grabbing letter. No gimmicks, not too much biographical information: let the book speak for itself. A pedigree helps enormously, such as a recommendation or having completed, say, a Masters degree in creative writing at a top university.
Once you have accepted a manuscript for representation, what happens next?
We approach editors on the author’s behalf to introduce them to the work and to ascertain if they’d like to read it.
What is your favourite part of the process?
Two parts: the first the call from the publisher with the magical words ‘I’d like to make an offer for……’, second, the subsequent call to the author to deliver this life-changing news.
What is the most challenging part of it?
Trying to get a manuscript accepted and finding editors who want to acquire it but are unable to get full support from their colleagues/publishing team. Publishing by committee is I guess a very challenging part of any agent’s job.
Whose writing has excited you recently?
Aside from my clients’ books, which I’m passionate about, I have just finished reading Kathryn Stockett’s The Help and found it absolutely wonderful.
What would you say the main challenges are for an aspiring author?
To get a good recommendation to an agent and then to be accepted by that agent.
What advice would you offer an aspiring writer?
Be realistic: look at what is being published and honestly compare the standard of those books with your own writing. If you genuinely believe you have talent to match and excel what has been published, don’t give up - true quality will win through.
For more information, please visit www.annettegreenagency.co.uk
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