Previous to joining TLA in January 2004, Samantha was the Assistant Rights Manager for Random House of Canada Limited where she actively sold subsidiary rights and foreign rights, selling direct to the US, UK and ANZ markets and for translation in coordination with 23 subagents world-wide. Prior to that she was the Foreign Rights Manager for Westwood Creative Artists selling their client list for international publication.
Samantha represents professional adult trade writers and graphic novelists of various genres (see submission guidelines). Please note that she is not taking on any children's authors as clients at present. Samantha also represents world rights (excluding Canada) for several independent North American publishers (select titles) and annually attends the London International Book Fair, the Frankfurt Book Fair, along with regular sales trips to New York.
Drawn & Quarterly Montreal-based Drawn & Quarterly is the leading publisher of literary graphic novels in North America, attracting fans and critical acclaim from around the world. The company's cartoonists Chester Brown, Julie Doucet, Seth, Adrian Tomine, Guy Delisle, and many others are among the best in graphic novel literature.
For more information visit:www.drawnandquarterly.com
Orca Book Publishers
Based in Victoria, BC and Custer, WA, Orca Book Publishers is a publisher of quality, award-winning books for children and teens and reluctant readers of all ages. From beautifully illustrated picturebooks through captivating juvenile fiction and compelling novels for teen readers to professionally-written teachers' guides, Orca is dedicated to bringing the best possible books to young readers.
For more information visit: www.orcabook.com Thomas Allen Publishers Thomas Allen & Son Limited is the oldest family-owned and operated agency publisher in Canada, serving the Canadian book trade for more than eight decades. In 2000 they launched a new publishing division, Thomas Allen Publishers, which saw the company return to the business of publishing "Books of Merit" by and for Canadians. Under the direction of Publisher and veteran literary editor Patrick Crean, Thomas Allen Publishers began to acquire, develop and publish Canadian titles. The mandate for Thomas Allen’s publishing division is to seek out and publish quality literary fiction and non-fiction: original voices, fine writing and uncommon ideas. Books of Merit was a slogan first used by their founder Thomas Allen in 1916. The Thomas Allen Publishers’ list today continues this tradition with Books of Merit that both entertain us and challenge us in our ways of thinking about our place in the world.
Over the past 5 years, Thomas Allen Publisher’s authors have won 10 important Canadian prizes – the Giller Prize (Austin Clarke in 2002); the Governor-General’s Award for Fiction (David Gilmour in 2005); the Governor-General’s Award for Non-fiction (Karolyn Smardz Frost in 2007); the Commonwealth Prize (Austin Clarke in 2003); two BC Book Awards (Caroline Adderson in 2004 and Charlotte Gill in 2006); the Trillium Prize (Austin Clarke in 2003); the Pearson Writers Trust Non-Fiction Prize (Brian Fawcett in 2004); the Danuta Gleed Literary Award (Charlotte Gill in 2005); and the Marian Engel Award (Caroline Adderson in 2007). As well, their authors have been finalists for another 14 awards.
For more information visit: www.thomas-allen.com
United States
Steerforth Press
When four partners launched Steerforth Press in 1994, its first catalogue featured "Manifesto for a New Press" which declared "Our interests fall into no category, no field, no niche; the company's tests of a book's worth are whether it has been written well, is intended to engage the full attention of the reader, and has something new or important to say." Steerforth's commitment to high quality general interest publishing has been unwavering and their books demonstrate that a small independent house, publishing with sophistication and energy, can have an outsized impact on our culture and society. The Steerforth Press imprint remains the company's primary frontlist, hardcover line, and is also the paperback home for its most enduring works of nonfiction.
For more information visit: www.steerforth.com
Fiction Mandates: Literary fiction and upmarket commercial fiction.
Getting more specific, yes to: literary thrillers and upmarket mystery, historical fiction, smart contemporary fiction, upmarket women’s fiction (but no romance writing), and cross-over novels (but no young adult novels unless they have adult trade potential as well).
Non-fiction Mandates: Narrative non-fiction preferred, especially on culturally relevant topics. Some examples: investigative journalism, politics; women’s issues; memoirs (must be truly original or well known subjects); environmental issues; historical narratives handled in refreshing ways; sexuality; and true crime with societal implications. Essentially I’m looking for a strong narrative drive and distinctive voice at all times.
Graphic Novels (fiction/non-fiction): Preferably full length graphic novels, although story collections will be considered. Memoirs, biographies, travel narratives and other nonfiction graphica also welcome.
Guidelines: Submissions queries via email only. Authors are encouraged to email a cover letter with an attachment of maximum 20-page writing sample/excerpt (Microsoft Word document), along with a publishing history and synopsis. Please note if other agents are also considering the project. Due to the volume of submissions received, replies will be sent only for submissions being actively considered.
