Gail Fortune is an agent and partner at The Talbot Fortune Agency, LLC, and she really believes in her clients. In this interview, she tells us why it is important that a writer make their work ready for the marketplace, and keep in close touch with their editors.
What is your official job title at your agency, and why are you the best they’ve got?
Literary Agent and Partner, The Talbot Fortune Agency, LLC
There are a lot of great agents in the business, including my partner John Talbot, but I hope I’m always the best agent for my clients. I think the key is to treat each client individually and only take them on if you are utterly passionate about their writing and their work.
Quickly before we begin, let us in on a fact that not many people know about you.
I love to cook.
What are you looking for right now in the books that you represent?
I think editors are always looking for what agents are looking for-great new voices, writing that jumps off the page at you and stories that linger long after you close the book. I would certainly love to see more historical fiction, women’s fiction and narrative nonfiction-history, food narrative and science titles.
Do you think that ebooks are a good thing for the publishing industry? What kinds of worries could they open up in your work?
I think anytime people are talking about books-it’s a good thing. And any new device that opens up the world of books to more readers is a good thing. I think as agents we really have to keep a close eye on the new platforms and the royalty issues for our clients. Also piracy is becoming a huge concern.
Have you made any changes to respond to publishing’s low time right now?
I think that I’m focusing a bit more on ancillary rights these days with the help of our rights director Eileen Laverty. I’m also very involved editorially with my clients (I was an editor for 16 years) to make sure that projects are really tailored to today’s marketplace and are really ready for submission.
What about your writers? Would you suggest that they make any changes to keep ahead?
Authors need to focus on the writing-to polish and then polish again and make every proposal shine. Authors also need to maintain very good relationships with their editors and be open to suggestions and possible new projects that their editors need.
And finally, if an author wants to reach you after reading this interview, what is the best way for them to do it?
Via query per our guidelines on our website. I really don’t like it when my reply gets bounced back to me or I have to register with some spam filter to respond.
Gail Fortune is a literary agent and former book editor with over twenty years of publishing experience. Her clients include New York Times and USA Today bestsellers. Prior to becoming an agent she spent sixteen years at Putnam Berkley (now part of Penguin Group (USA)), where she rose from assistant to the Editor-in-Chief to Executive Editor. Her authors won six RITAs, and were nominated for Edgar and Anthony Awards. She published two Publishers Weekly Books of the Year. She edited many other national bestsellers in romance, mystery and narrative nonfiction. She is a graduate of Northwestern University ‘s Medill School of Journalism.