Indie Authors: Working With Literary Agents
2:30pm - 3:30pm
Industry innovation and timely explorations of key market developments have long been running programme themes of the XpoNorth conference- and this session, featuring two leading international literary agents, will explore ways in which agents and indie authors can and are working together. Both John Jarrold and Amy Collins represent indie authors as well as those who choose the traditional route to publishing, and this insightful session will explore the key considerations in such representations. Our panel will also offer a general guide on the opportunities for indie authors and literary agents in this emerging field, and discuss the changing landscape of rights against the rising strength of self-publishing.
Chair
Peter Urpeth
Writing and Publishing Sector Specialist, XpoNorth
Peter is XpoNorth Sector Specialist in Publishing and Writing. He is a writer and multi-media journalist with more than 35 years of experience, and has worked in developing the publishing sector in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland for 18 years. Peter is also a pianist and documentary film-maker working in jazz and related musics.
Speakers
Amy Collins
Agent with the Talcott Notch Literary Services agency.
With 30 years in the publishing industry as a book buyer, Sales Director for large non-fiction publisher. She is a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author as well as an agent, Collins is a trusted expert, speaker, and recommended publishing consultant. In her agent role, Collins focuses on non-fiction/ history, historical fiction, fantasy and sci-fi.
She is on the national advisory board for IngramSpark, a member of Mensa, a featured columnist for Writers Digest, IBPA, and a trusted teacher at conferences world-wide. She has taught and spoken at many of the publishing industry’s top festivals and conferences including Scottish Writers Association, Publisher’s Weekly’s BookCon, Oklahoma Writer’s Conference, Rocky Mountain Writers Conference, AAPS, Dublin Writers Conference, BAIPA, PALA, St. Louis Writer’s Conference, Writers Digest, Las Vegas Writers Conference, and many others.
John Jarrold
John Jarrold - Between 1998 and 2002, John Jarrold ran three SF and Fantasy imprints in London publishing: Orbit, Legend at Random house UK and Earthlight at Simon & Schuster UK.
In 2004 he started the John Jarrold Literary Agency, also specialising in SF, Fantasy and Horror fiction. From doyens of the field like Ramsey Campbell to many debut novelists, the agency has grown from a start-up to being a major presence in the genre and in international publishing.
"Everyone I know who has worked with him has had nothing but praise for him.” Michael Moorcock
