We spoke with literary agent, Bill Gladstone of Waterside about the over 5000 books he has personally placed with publishers, his client, Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth and what he is currently seeking. Here is what he had to say:
Tell us about your agency and for those considering representation, why do you think your agency would be the best choice?
President, owner, founder, Waterside Productions. [I] have personally placed over 5000 books, a total which may exceed any other literary agent alive today. Additional accomplishments include having represented the most successful book ever selected by Oprah Winfrey for her bookclub, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle and representing the creators of the For Dummies book series.
There are so many changes happening right now in the economy and in the book world, what has your agency done to brace for the economic changes to the industry?
Represent fewer bigger books and authors.
So many authors dream of being able to quit their job and support themselves writing. What can authors do to avoid struggling?
Be sure to recognize that money is made from what a book brings them in terms of exposure and not the book royalties themselves. Although many of my clients started out modestly and have made millions from their books, I never encouraged any of them to quit their day jobs and still don’t.
You’ve been in the business for quite some time, what do you think of all the technological changes happening in the industry such as the iPad, the WePad, the Kindle, etc?
It’s great for the younger generation [but] challenging for traditional publishers.
Do you think they’ll be a real game-changer for the marketplace?
[I think] it’s too soon to know.What would you say is hot now, what are editors looking for?
Great books from established authors.
What type of manuscripts and proposals are you currently looking for at Waterside?
We get the best of the best. [I’m] not personally taking on new clients at this time though some of the other Waterside agents, on a selective basis, may be.
What’s the best way for writers to approach you?
Query letter and [it’s] best if they are referred by existing client or bestselling author.
And finally, what is something about you that very few people know?
I won the golf championship at my local golf club although [I] was three stokes down with only six to play.