With our previous two industry interviews, they’ve actually been with those working at a publishing house, and I realised we didn’t have any book agents to ask to interview so we put the call out amongst authors and the fab Tara Hyland offered up her agent, Maddie Buston who works at the Darley Anderson Agency. She was thrilled to be part of our Industry Interview series and here are her answers!

1. Can you tell us, in as little or as much detail as you like, what it is you do in the publishing agency.

I consider my main roles as a literary agent to be talent spotting, deal making, author care and editing. I need to find talent, work on the manuscript with the writer, submit to the best possible publishers for the book and negotiate the highest advance and royalties as possible. Caring for our authors needs is a huge part of being an agent – helping with book ideas, editorial work, publicity, pitching books at all the major book fairs, drawing up contracts, doing everything to ensure that the publisher grows sales book after book, the list goes on….

I am also head of the Rights Department selling rights to our authors’ works in the US and across the world, and have recently been appointed as Deputy MD of the Children’s Book Agency.

2. How did you end up working as the head of rights & women’s fiction agent at Darley Anderson?

After graduating from St Andrews University I worked in Germany for an international exchange scheme with the European Training Services. I worked for a small independent publisher out there and spent every evening researching the world of literary agents and publishers. I have to admit I didn’t know much about literary agents – not many people can name an agency like they can a publisher. I found the world fascinating, particularly the Frankfurt book fair and applied to do some work experience with Blake Friedmann before landing my first job at A P Watt Literary, TV and Film Agency where I worked in the Rights department. Two years later I moved to the Darley Anderson Agency as the Rights Manager and was promoted the following year to Head of Rights. With a special interest in Women’s and general fiction, I started to take on my own clients that year. I am now also the Deputy MD of the Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency so will agent exceptional work in that area – particularly YA and cross-over books.

3. What would I need to do to become a book agent myself?

I think, as with a lot of creative jobs, you have to start by getting your foot in the door, either by doing work experience or applying for a junior job within an agency. Starting out in a much smaller agency will probably give you more of an insight into every aspect of how an agency works. You need to have a long term vision in this business – good timing has a lot to do with it. Once you are in the world though it is easier to spot the openings. You need to have a strong business mind and, contrary to what a lot of people think, it’s not just about loving books - you have to be a tough negotiator to ensure maximum success for your clients. To put it plainly, you have to love doing deals.

4. I hope this isn’t a stupid question, but how do you choose which female authors you would like to represent?

I choose books that totally engage me – one’s that tap into a whole range of emotions. I like escapist, gripping reads with a very strong voice. I want to believe in the characters I am reading about, to bond to the main character and be taken on a journey, and I want to be left thinking about them for a long time after reading the book. Great storytelling and a great character are key ingredients.

It’s very important to have a long term vision for a writer – I have to see them as a success ten years down the line – it takes time to grow talent. Who I represent has as much to do with the manuscript as it does with the author – I have to love them both. We have such close relationships with our authors that it’s important to share the same vision.

5. Another potentially stupid question but when you’re trying to sell book rights, what exactly does that entail?

It’s a lengthy submission process – selecting the right publishers and editors for the book, getting them interested, choosing the right time to submit, getting offers from a number of publishers so that you can auction the rights and get the best possible deal for the writer, ensuring that the publisher has the same vision as you for the book and the long term career of the author. As the Head of Rights I also submit internationally – to all the major book markets across the world and to film & TV companies. We have a very international vision for our authors - we want their books to work across the globe.

6. Who has been your favourite author to represent?

That is an unfair question! All our authors are wonderful in their own ways.

7. Tara Hyland is one of your agency’s clients, how did you come to represent Tara?

Darley Anderson spotted Tara’s manuscript in the slush pile. He has an incredible eye for talent as you can see from our list of bestselling authors including Lee Child, Martina Cole, John Connolly and Lesley Pearse. From the first chapter we knew Tara’s debut DAUGHTERS OF FORTUNE was going to be a winner – it takes you on an epic journey following the lives of three sisters, heiresses to a famous fashion dynasty. Darley took her on and we both worked editorially on her manuscript before submitting to publishers. Darley sold UK & Commonwealth rights to Simon & Schuster in the UK and Atria in the US for a major six figure advance. We have already sold translation rights in ten different territories before it has even been published. Simon & Schuster is publishing in hardback on 18th March. It is a major blockbuster and I’d recommend it to anyone – readers and writers alike.

8. Would you ever write a book yourself?

I have tried that! I prefer this side of the fence.

9. What kind of books do you enjoy reading when not reading the books of your clients?

I am always reading manuscripts! The little time I have left I pick the latest bestseller or popular fiction like THE BOOK THIEF, THE LOVELY BONES and THE TIME TRAVELER’S WIFE. I love pure entertainment like Sophie Kinsella and reading books by authors such as Maggie O’Farrell, John Fowles, Anne Michaels and Jenny Diski.

10. Finally, can you tell us a random fact about working as a book agent?

You get so attached to your authors and their books that they become like your children! I want to do everything I can to make our authors bestsellers. It’s the ethos of this Agency – bring your talent to us and we will make you a success. OUR WRITER’S MEAN BUSINESS!

Thanks so much, Maddie!

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