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Q
and A with June's speaker, agent, Danielle Zigner
Danielle
is an agent at LBA Literary Agency and we were thrilled to catch up with
her this morning for a quick Q and A ahead of our event on Monday, 22nd
June.
1/Please
give us a brief biog.
After reading Philosophy and Theology
at Oxford University Danielle spent a year working with a number of
publishers and agencies. In 2014 she joined the team at LBA as a Junior
Agent, and has since been actively building her list.
2/What are you working on at the
moment?
My newest project is a fantasy novel
with a twist - there's no magic. I won't give away anymore except to say
that the writing is phenomenal and the story is completely genre-bending.
I love books that aren't afraid to do something new, and this one
definitely a master at that.
3/What are you looking for in a debut
author?
I have two main criteria for this -
firstly, they have to be a fantastic writer. It's impossible to quantify
or to teach this, but really easy to recognise in a submission. Secondly,
their story has to fill a gap in the market. As much as I love dystopian
fiction, I know that for the next few years at least I won't be able to
sell it, so I avoid it. Similarly when assessing new submissions I look
for stories that I know publishers are keen to take on at the moment.
Once these two criteria have been met it's simply about chatting with the
author to make sure we get on and have the same vision for the story.
4/What top tip could you give an author
when writing a submission letter?
When reading covering letters I'm most
interested in finding out about the author, so tell me about yourself. A
line or two about your story is also great, but I don't need a full
synopsis here (I actually ask for that separately). I want to know who
you are, what you do, and which books have influenced you. I'm always
much more attentive reading submissions if the person from the covering
letter sounds interesting to me.
5/What three writers would you invite
round for tea (and cake)?
Trudi Canavan, who writes epic fantasy
stories. I fell in love with her first series when I was a teenager and I
totally fangirled when I met her editor a few months ago.
Jeffrey Eugenides, because I never
really got over reading The Virgin Suicides. I'm working on a
beautiful novel with very similar themes and I'd want to hear his
thoughts on it.
John Green, whose video blogs I'm
obsessed with. He has an deep understanding of the power of fandom, and
how it can change the world for the better. Being around him would make
me feel like a lesser being but I think he'd be a fascinating
conversationalist.
Join us to find out all about Danielle - and the other
agents at LBA.
When: Monday 22 June, 6.30-8.30pm
Where: Lumen URC, 88 Tavistock Place, London WC1H9RS
£20 for non-members for event, plus a free copy of Write a
Bestseller by Jacq Burns, director of LWC
Fiction Workshop June
25: we still have TWO places left for our forthcoming proposal
workshop.
Who
is this suitable for? anyone considering submitting their book to an
agent/publisher. Anyone who has been submitting to agents and wants to
turn those 'no's to yes's'. Anyone who wants to road test an idea
on two industry professionals.
Led by literary
agent, Kirsty McLachlan of DGA and LWC Director and author of Write a
Bestseller, Jacq Burns.
Members get a great discount on the full price (£197) and
only pay £157.
Members:
£157
Non-members: £197
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and the Fiction Workshop of 25 June 2015:
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