March 28, 2025 • 22 mins
Julia's ultimate goal to be a bridge between cultures, Julia began her career in publishing by interning in foreign rights and then spending the next several years as an associate book scout working for publishing houses around the world. Julia majored in linguistics, along with East Asian languages and cultures while minoring in French at Indiana University and Tokyo’s Temple UniversityShe is currently selling rights to Hungary, Estonia and other Baltic territories, Southeast Europe, as well as Greece, Israel, Turkey, the Arabic world, and Southeast Asia
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Writer's Class. Oh my goodness,
I've done a second writer's class in the same day.
It feels weird. Oh help me. You know you have
four podcasts. Uh, you get a little confused on which
one you're talking about. So till today we're doing the
(00:22):
writer's plots because we have someone from writing here. It's actual,
like a literary agent. So you know you want to
stay tuned. I'm gonna make this quick because you don't
want to hear from me, you really really don't. I'm
won one on one half of the Anti Thought Ladies,
and we have seven books out. Ooh, this is the
most professional beginning I've ever done. I'm not I'm not
like me. You see my faith. It's like, oh god,
(00:42):
Now this is normally jokes and sound effects and talking
about something silly that happened in my life. Okay, but
we're not doing that today. So those seven books are
and I thought The Vorce is bad, and I thought
being grown up with easy If only I were me,
a memoir in verse form, Coffee, wid those Web, and
Widow's Debt. Those are seven books and six books. There's
(01:03):
a missing one, but that's okay. Uh, you can find
those wherever audio books are sold, because those are the audiobooks.
And you can find the other twelve now, because this
is book nineteen, you can find the other twelve books
at www. Dot and I thought ladies dot com. Yeah,
that is so professional even my stomach's like it's But
(01:27):
you're not here to hear about me and Sam, who
doesn't like professionalism. You're here to hear about our wonderful guests.
Wonderful guest. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Hello, I'm Julia, and can I just say you're amazing
by the way. Okay, but okay, I'll go ahead introduce myself.
A few things you should know about me is that one,
I'm in the publishing industry now, but I actually started
as a writer tried to get published, so ask me
anything about that and I'm on your side. Two in
(01:57):
the industry, I'm a foreign right agent and literary agent now,
but I've worn a few hats like scouting and being
a children's literary agency associate and assisting in a lot
of different things, which is fun. And finally, I am
(02:18):
a huge otaku. I love Japanese and I speak Japanese.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Oh goodness, she just promected my good morning. I have
been saying it wrong for apparently, because like when I
grew up with someone from Japan that was teaching me
Japanese and I never I was like, why would I learn?
And so I was like, Oh, I thought that's how
you said it. So I've been saying it that way
(02:44):
since I was seven years old.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Well you got the Ohio correct and that's all you need.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Honestly, Okay, great, So she's really good Japanese apparently, at
least saying hello. But we're not here to talk about
that again. Narcissism takes over and I'm like, let's talk
about me in my life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, your life sounds fascinating, so I don't blame you.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Honestly, No, it isn't it really really isn't. Wait until
you see what I actually have to do after this,
you'd be like no, dah, So wait, how do you
go from being an author to getting a publishing gig?
Like was there schooling involved? And you just kind of
love on the publish and like, yo, I'm willing to learn,
(03:29):
I'll intern for free. That was not one of the questions.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Basically, please, I I don't mind. I'm an EMTP. Just
I go with anything. But yeah, so no special schooling involved.
Some people get their masters, but I actually I started
out in a completely different path. And then I was
fortunate enough to be able to do a remote internship
(03:54):
with two c's agency. They're a foreign rights agency, so
I actually started out with them, and yeah, it was
totally free, but the experience I gained is priceless.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So you started out in foreign rights, I'm really okay.
At this point I had discussed like I was going
to ask her six specific questions. I'm throwing them all
out of the window. Good conversation because she's real cool,
Like she's so chilled. I'm not sticky to it. Foreign rights.
(04:26):
Most people go okay. I wanted publishing, and then I
became a literary agent. What first one was for foreign
rights and then secondly, how do we get them?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, I managed to get in the very obscure jobs
where even other publishing industry people will be like book scouting.
What's involved foreign foreign rights is a little more well known.
It's essentially we represent authors in a certain language, well
language right now I'm working for a Finish literary agency,
(05:02):
but so we have books and Finnish authors who write
in Finnish and sometimes Swedish, and we go to publishers
in different countries and say, Okay, here's why you should
buy the legal right to translate this book from Finnish
into your language and sell them in your country. So
(05:22):
I'd be going to since I represented, say Italy, I'd say,
here's why you should purchase the rights to translate this
into Italian and then through your company sell it to
bookstores in Italy.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Okay, yeah, okay, that's what foreign rights are for those essentially. Yeah,
now is it possible for an author to negotiate their
own foreign rights?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Actually, I was just talking about this with someone. So
if you have an agent and a publisher, that will
be different if you're are you talking about being self published?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Both sounds were lovely.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
So so usually an agency has their own They either
go to a they go to a coagent, or they
have their own agent to sell rights. So if you're represented,
it'll be taking care of it'll be taking care of
(06:30):
for you. Essentially. If you're self published, you you can.
It's going to be really hard because what these publishers
want to see is they want to see media reviews.
They want to see maybe an award. They want to
see that it's sold into another territory, so essentially they
(06:55):
want to make sure that it's going to sell well.
So it's hard, but I think if you really put
yourself out there, it's doable.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So you said literary scouting, and I just want to
say it is a dream of mine to interdewce someone
who did literary scouting.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Oh really, yes, I am right.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I just found the list of like forty some literary
scouting companies and I was like, yeah, I'm just going
to go down and next everyone. Then you showed up
and I was like, so I don't have to I
don't need this listening where I'm still going to go
down and ask everyone.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Oh yeah, there are people who've been in there for
years who can answer your questions better for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Okay, so now we're just going to go with what
is literary scouting. I feel like this is the most
educational video we've done so far.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Oh great, So literary scouting is okay. So where I
worked it was at JMH Scouting. We had several mid
sized publishing houses as clients, so we basically advised them
what to buy rights for. So I was in charge
of fantasy. So I would read books like two years
(08:06):
before they came out, which was awesome, and then I'd say, Okay,
here's my here are my thoughts, here's why you should
or should not perhaps purchase rights. Is it will it
does it have international appeal? Will it sell in your country? Specifically?
Does it work with your list? And you know, how
(08:28):
are the sales figures? Et cetera, et cetera. And it's
basically literary consultants sort of.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
That's what I read. They're like, no, We're like, we're
like consult with the publishing houses, like, oh no, this
will work. No, no, because it did it right here
and then it's a similar calls, so I don't do
it here too. Okay. Of course you know the literary
scout that I want to talk to, it was a
literary scout for Hollywood. But this is too.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Okay, Oh okay, so they they pitched to they see
what would be good in film version. Okay, wait, cadet,
But I guess I can't ask who it is. Actually
I talked to someone recently. You like, no, just I
was wondering who you were. That's good.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Again, I have a list.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It's a very I have, I actually because I haven't
come across many scouts like that. I worked with one
when I was at I was at Andrew Brown for
a while, and I remember putting together a catalog of
our titles to give to someone to one of those scouts,
(09:52):
which is otherwise Yeah, otherwise. I've it would be really
cool to work for one of those scouting agencies. I
think I would.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Look Okay, out of all the literary jobs, that's the
one I want.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Really, where do you go for it?
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I mean, mostly because I just don't want to buy
to LA because I love I love the weather minus
right now it's a little hot.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah yeah, And I know I have a lot of
friends out there and I'm just constantly like, are you okay?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
It was oh my god, it was so insane to watch.
So now I'm dating the podcast in case, you know,
like it's supposed to be like an ever right podcastic,
So now you know it's like during the fires, well,
I think.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
There's one of the one of the fires.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
There's just like one left right exactly. It's so nice
to see just one. When I got up this one
and they were like, there's one, I was like, and
I was like normally when they say there was one,
you're like, oh my god, everybody and you're like one,
You're like, yes, yeah, you're safe. Now go outside minus
the Aeah okay, So what is the busy portion of
your year and do you get to go do anything cool?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Yes? So the busiest portions I work remote, so I
can't I didn't do the cool thing, but the book fairs.
So the two biggest book fairs are Frankfurt and London.
And actually, yeah, me and my colleagues are scheduling for London.
(11:29):
It's a little early, but for starting so ah, okay, okay,
this year, not this year.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
It was.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Other years it would be early, but this year actually
I think it's it's a good time one. All right.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
So do you get to travel to London and Frankfurt
or do you have to stay behind the computer?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
It depends. This year, I'm staying behind the computer unfortunately,
but I can run through how everything works and how
we were preparing everything. So let me know if there's
anything you're curious about.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
I'm sorry, Like you just told an author that like
the biggest book fair in the world. You're like, no,
peak behind the curtain. Yes please, yes, please, I'm like
a backstage past and I'm not even gonna ask a question.
I'm leaving it open. Just tell us what you think
we need to know actually, okay, things we should know
about getting ready for the for the Frankfurt or London
book fair.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Okay, So first we tend from my experience, we tended
to start scheduling in July because people fill up and
it is absolute chaos and everyone spells their own name
wrong in the emails. It's great, so July or August
would probably be the best time to start. And then
(12:51):
you know, then it's about seeing what the particular person
you're meeting likes, what they're looking for for their list too,
so both personal and where they work. And then it's
about narrowing it down to about three or four titles
to pitch because they people tend to get overwhelmed. I had,
(13:17):
like I went to Estonia to do a big pitch
session for editors, which was awesome, and I noticed we
ended up getting to six or seven titles in one go,
which is apparently unusual. So I would say, have some
extras on board, but three or four might be the
best number to go with.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Thank you. Okay, let me back it up because I
know what book pairs are, but my listeners probably don't
know what the book are. So they're not the book
fair where you show up and you're like, buy my
book reader. They are not that. Do not show up
at those fans being like buy my book reader. I've
seen authors who did that. Well, that was interesting. Could
(14:00):
you tell us what they are because they are not
those books?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, it's it would be hard to do that. It's
essentially a huge crowd of publishing industry people, editors, agents
and in writers, anyone, book scouts of course, anyone in
the industry, taking back to back meetings. No eating, no sleeping,
(14:26):
no just kidding.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Oh no, she's not really lying. No, they looked like
they didn't eat or sleep basically, but it's Frankfurt, l
Do you want to rest on a mi pill I
have a pillow? You like a map?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Seriously though, and a lot also a lot of editors.
I remember they only would go for two days or
arrive in the afternoon, so that's a good thing to know.
But yeah, lots of lots of pitching. And then they
have these beautiful displays where they have all their books
set up and you get to hear about them and
(15:02):
you get to meet and greet and it is super fun.
Possibly overstimulating, but super fun.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I think my favorite. So I have been to the
London and frank for book Fair and so as the
narcissis I'm going to insert my thoughts author. If you're going,
stay late because the Irish party is the best. Oh,
and the second best is the Australian party. And then
there's a bunch of parties you may or may not
be able to get into, but whatever, those two are awesome.
(15:32):
Ireland brings out guinness and whiskey.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Oh, I'm not surprised.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
They know how to party, yes, and then they bring
live music. It's so enjoyable. I'm sorry your work.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
That son's awesome. My late night was going to a
dinner with a bunch of editors and then my old
supervisor and I did that too.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
And then I made it back for Ireland. I was like, no, no,
we got to cut the sharp. Ireland has whiskey. I'll
see you soon.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I wish I do more Irish people. I know a
lot of UK like yeah, UK, English, Scottish, some Scottish,
but I need to know more Irish people. Seriously.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
The best drinking buddies I've ever had are like like
the Scottish ones of a number one in Ireland after that,
and then all Australians are wow, like all my drinking
buddies from Australia really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I'm not surprised. You need to know more Australians too.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, I want to know more Australians. But it's for
a completely different reason. It has nothing to do with literature.
So this is the writing class. Stay on tact. Oh
my goodness. Okay, So normally I would just like wrap
it up right about now, but I feel like, if
you're your first time going to a fair, you actually
need these three things. And that's survival tips. Mm hmmm,
(16:54):
because it's a it's a lot, and it is a lot. Yeah,
are there any survival tips?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Like tips like a pair of shoes, A meet, yeah, met,
meet for lunch when possible. Don't do the sandwich at
the table thing, just just be like, let's get lunch.
Survival tips. Yeah, don't meet past nine or don't meet
(17:24):
before nine thirty. I think you'll regret it. Uh, meditate beforehand,
find that inner piece.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Oh, I'm sorry, I question. I do have one more question.
And this is actually for my audience because I was
looking for survival tips. I'm not gonna less because you know,
it's like eight weeks from now, and and like, yeah,
so I need survival tips. Oh mm hmmm mm hmm.
So this one is for my actual my actual audience,
which is about as a self published author. I run
(17:59):
across the line of people who like, they'll have like
one book and they're like, I'm gonna go, and then
you're like, do you have anything else to make? And
so how do we kind of represent ourselves in a
in a light that we can be taken seriously? Because
I found that having one book and showing up for
a meeting does not work that as well. I could
(18:21):
be wrong. They might they might just not like me.
That might be the problem.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I'm I'm sure that's not it, to be honest, I
I'm not. I don't know about self published authors when
it comes to the book theirs, because I've just never
I've never had an opportunity either. The self published authors
come directly for representation and we represent them.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But I like that answer. You can go to her
for representation for that.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Not not me, not me, not not how it works
because so I'm inn so in Finland's fun fact, it
works differently than America. And also we kind of represent
so basically they're already published and or they're self published
and they have something exceptional and then like as a
group we represent and do foreign rights. But yeah, I
(19:18):
only I can help for self published writers, but not
in the context of affairs. Unfortunately, I just have had
zero experience with that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Kind answer though, So apparently we can go for representation,
not by her, but we can try to find someone
that can represent. It's the American way. It's different to
the American way. So what is the American way?
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Well, the American way is more like, well, for self
published it's different. I'm thinking more like Americans, they can't
really go to a publisher. They have to go to
a literary agent first, and in Finland that's backwards. But
if you're self published and you want to get an agent,
they it's quite hard. They want to see that you've
(20:07):
made a lot of sales, so it's it's happened, but
you have to you have to show them the numbers. Essentially, Yeah,
I wish I had better better douce, i' was sure
were easier.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
No, this is amazing like it is. So again, we
asked for a behind the scenes look, and now we
have a behind the scenes look. I mean, we all
know what a literary agent does, but we don't know
what a form rise agent does or a literary scout,
which I just absolutely love's would you come true? Huh
and silent?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Okay, thank you so much for being here with us.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And there's no way that you would want to give
out information for people to find you online and bother
you with questions. You're not in the interest of our
question battery.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, I don't find as long as long as it's
not pumbling me with questions. I do have a Twitter
account that I semi use. It is Julia Ray. Wait wait,
wait wait, Julia Ray twenty six. I'm pretty sure. Well, well,
(21:25):
if you if you find me, I will I'll I'll
get your message probably if I love you decide to
if they decide to email me. So if I'm okay
Julia Ray twenty six, because twenty six is I was
born February twenty six.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay, But so I was gonna be like y'all, y'all
are gonna have to put some initiative in and actually
find her like those who did the work would get
the answer.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, and so if I don't see
it or something though, I'm not ignoring you. I don't
ignore you unless you're maybe creepy and making me feel uncomfortable.
But yeah, feel free.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Thank you so much for coming on today. I really
really appreciate that. I'm gonna wrap it up for us
over here. And I keep saying us, and there was
no jade to this side. Yeah, the two of us.
I'm gonna wrap it up for the two of us.
Come we go again, I will nodah and I'm half
of the n I Thought Ladies. And you can find
out everything that your ladies are doing at www dot
Anti thought ladies dot com. And while you're there, go
(22:25):
down to the bottom of the page and you can
see the charities that we probably support. We asked that
you give a moment to think about supporting them as well.
It does not have to be monetary. You can give
some advice, which we found out was very useful they
needed knowledge, or you can, like you know, get your
hands dirty and get involved. Either way, we thank you
in advance for doing that. Remember that wisdom is always
around you if you're open to finding it and accepting it.
(22:47):
So peace in love you guys from will Noana and
the Missing Jade. Oh yeah, thanks for listening.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Writer's Class. Oh my goodness,
I've done a second writer's class in the same day.
It feels weird. Oh help me. You know you have
four podcasts. Uh, you get a little confused on which
one you're talking about. So till today we're doing the
(00:22):
writer's plots because we have someone from writing here. It's actual,
like a literary agent. So you know you want to
stay tuned. I'm gonna make this quick because you don't
want to hear from me, you really really don't. I'm
won one on one half of the Anti Thought Ladies,
and we have seven books out. Ooh, this is the
most professional beginning I've ever done. I'm not I'm not
like me. You see my faith. It's like, oh god,
(00:42):
Now this is normally jokes and sound effects and talking
about something silly that happened in my life. Okay, but
we're not doing that today. So those seven books are
and I thought The Vorce is bad, and I thought
being grown up with easy If only I were me,
a memoir in verse form, Coffee, wid those Web, and
Widow's Debt. Those are seven books and six books. There's
(01:03):
a missing one, but that's okay. Uh, you can find
those wherever audio books are sold, because those are the audiobooks.
And you can find the other twelve now, because this
is book nineteen, you can find the other twelve books
at www. Dot and I thought ladies dot com. Yeah,
that is so professional even my stomach's like it's But
(01:27):
you're not here to hear about me and Sam, who
doesn't like professionalism. You're here to hear about our wonderful guests.
Wonderful guest. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Hello, I'm Julia, and can I just say you're amazing
by the way. Okay, but okay, I'll go ahead introduce myself.
A few things you should know about me is that one,
I'm in the publishing industry now, but I actually started
as a writer tried to get published, so ask me
anything about that and I'm on your side. Two in
(01:57):
the industry, I'm a foreign right agent and literary agent now,
but I've worn a few hats like scouting and being
a children's literary agency associate and assisting in a lot
of different things, which is fun. And finally, I am
(02:18):
a huge otaku. I love Japanese and I speak Japanese.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Oh goodness, she just promected my good morning. I have
been saying it wrong for apparently, because like when I
grew up with someone from Japan that was teaching me
Japanese and I never I was like, why would I learn?
And so I was like, Oh, I thought that's how
you said it. So I've been saying it that way
(02:44):
since I was seven years old.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Well you got the Ohio correct and that's all you need.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
Honestly, Okay, great, So she's really good Japanese apparently, at
least saying hello. But we're not here to talk about
that again. Narcissism takes over and I'm like, let's talk
about me in my life.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, your life sounds fascinating, so I don't blame you.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Honestly, No, it isn't it really really isn't. Wait until
you see what I actually have to do after this,
you'd be like no, dah, So wait, how do you
go from being an author to getting a publishing gig?
Like was there schooling involved? And you just kind of
love on the publish and like, yo, I'm willing to learn,
(03:29):
I'll intern for free. That was not one of the questions.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Basically, please, I I don't mind. I'm an EMTP. Just
I go with anything. But yeah, so no special schooling involved.
Some people get their masters, but I actually I started
out in a completely different path. And then I was
fortunate enough to be able to do a remote internship
(03:54):
with two c's agency. They're a foreign rights agency, so
I actually started out with them, and yeah, it was
totally free, but the experience I gained is priceless.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So you started out in foreign rights, I'm really okay.
At this point I had discussed like I was going
to ask her six specific questions. I'm throwing them all
out of the window. Good conversation because she's real cool,
Like she's so chilled. I'm not sticky to it. Foreign rights.
(04:26):
Most people go okay. I wanted publishing, and then I
became a literary agent. What first one was for foreign
rights and then secondly, how do we get them?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, I managed to get in the very obscure jobs
where even other publishing industry people will be like book scouting.
What's involved foreign foreign rights is a little more well known.
It's essentially we represent authors in a certain language, well
language right now I'm working for a Finish literary agency,
(05:02):
but so we have books and Finnish authors who write
in Finnish and sometimes Swedish, and we go to publishers
in different countries and say, Okay, here's why you should
buy the legal right to translate this book from Finnish
into your language and sell them in your country. So
(05:22):
I'd be going to since I represented, say Italy, I'd say,
here's why you should purchase the rights to translate this
into Italian and then through your company sell it to
bookstores in Italy.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Okay, yeah, okay, that's what foreign rights are for those essentially. Yeah,
now is it possible for an author to negotiate their
own foreign rights?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Actually, I was just talking about this with someone. So
if you have an agent and a publisher, that will
be different if you're are you talking about being self published?
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Both sounds were lovely.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
So so usually an agency has their own They either
go to a they go to a coagent, or they
have their own agent to sell rights. So if you're represented,
it'll be taking care of it'll be taking care of
(06:30):
for you. Essentially. If you're self published, you you can.
It's going to be really hard because what these publishers
want to see is they want to see media reviews.
They want to see maybe an award. They want to
see that it's sold into another territory, so essentially they
(06:55):
want to make sure that it's going to sell well.
So it's hard, but I think if you really put
yourself out there, it's doable.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
So you said literary scouting, and I just want to
say it is a dream of mine to interdewce someone
who did literary scouting.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
Oh really, yes, I am right.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
I just found the list of like forty some literary
scouting companies and I was like, yeah, I'm just going
to go down and next everyone. Then you showed up
and I was like, so I don't have to I
don't need this listening where I'm still going to go
down and ask everyone.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Oh yeah, there are people who've been in there for
years who can answer your questions better for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Okay, so now we're just going to go with what
is literary scouting. I feel like this is the most
educational video we've done so far.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Oh great, So literary scouting is okay. So where I
worked it was at JMH Scouting. We had several mid
sized publishing houses as clients, so we basically advised them
what to buy rights for. So I was in charge
of fantasy. So I would read books like two years
(08:06):
before they came out, which was awesome, and then I'd say, Okay,
here's my here are my thoughts, here's why you should
or should not perhaps purchase rights. Is it will it
does it have international appeal? Will it sell in your country? Specifically?
Does it work with your list? And you know, how
(08:28):
are the sales figures? Et cetera, et cetera. And it's
basically literary consultants sort of.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
That's what I read. They're like, no, We're like, we're
like consult with the publishing houses, like, oh no, this
will work. No, no, because it did it right here
and then it's a similar calls, so I don't do
it here too. Okay. Of course you know the literary
scout that I want to talk to, it was a
literary scout for Hollywood. But this is too.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Okay, Oh okay, so they they pitched to they see
what would be good in film version. Okay, wait, cadet,
But I guess I can't ask who it is. Actually
I talked to someone recently. You like, no, just I
was wondering who you were. That's good.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Again, I have a list.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
It's a very I have, I actually because I haven't
come across many scouts like that. I worked with one
when I was at I was at Andrew Brown for
a while, and I remember putting together a catalog of
our titles to give to someone to one of those scouts,
(09:52):
which is otherwise Yeah, otherwise. I've it would be really
cool to work for one of those scouting agencies. I
think I would.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
Look Okay, out of all the literary jobs, that's the
one I want.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Really, where do you go for it?
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I mean, mostly because I just don't want to buy
to LA because I love I love the weather minus
right now it's a little hot.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Yeah yeah, And I know I have a lot of
friends out there and I'm just constantly like, are you okay?
Speaker 1 (10:29):
It was oh my god, it was so insane to watch.
So now I'm dating the podcast in case, you know,
like it's supposed to be like an ever right podcastic,
So now you know it's like during the fires, well,
I think.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
There's one of the one of the fires.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
There's just like one left right exactly. It's so nice
to see just one. When I got up this one
and they were like, there's one, I was like, and
I was like normally when they say there was one,
you're like, oh my god, everybody and you're like one,
You're like, yes, yeah, you're safe. Now go outside minus
the Aeah okay, So what is the busy portion of
your year and do you get to go do anything cool?
Speaker 2 (11:09):
Yes? So the busiest portions I work remote, so I
can't I didn't do the cool thing, but the book fairs.
So the two biggest book fairs are Frankfurt and London.
And actually, yeah, me and my colleagues are scheduling for London.
(11:29):
It's a little early, but for starting so ah, okay, okay,
this year, not this year.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
It was.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Other years it would be early, but this year actually
I think it's it's a good time one. All right.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
So do you get to travel to London and Frankfurt
or do you have to stay behind the computer?
Speaker 2 (11:53):
It depends. This year, I'm staying behind the computer unfortunately,
but I can run through how everything works and how
we were preparing everything. So let me know if there's
anything you're curious about.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
I'm sorry, Like you just told an author that like
the biggest book fair in the world. You're like, no,
peak behind the curtain. Yes please, yes, please, I'm like
a backstage past and I'm not even gonna ask a question.
I'm leaving it open. Just tell us what you think
we need to know actually, okay, things we should know
about getting ready for the for the Frankfurt or London
book fair.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Okay, So first we tend from my experience, we tended
to start scheduling in July because people fill up and
it is absolute chaos and everyone spells their own name
wrong in the emails. It's great, so July or August
would probably be the best time to start. And then
(12:51):
you know, then it's about seeing what the particular person
you're meeting likes, what they're looking for for their list too,
so both personal and where they work. And then it's
about narrowing it down to about three or four titles
to pitch because they people tend to get overwhelmed. I had,
(13:17):
like I went to Estonia to do a big pitch
session for editors, which was awesome, and I noticed we
ended up getting to six or seven titles in one go,
which is apparently unusual. So I would say, have some
extras on board, but three or four might be the
best number to go with.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
Thank you. Okay, let me back it up because I
know what book pairs are, but my listeners probably don't
know what the book are. So they're not the book
fair where you show up and you're like, buy my
book reader. They are not that. Do not show up
at those fans being like buy my book reader. I've
seen authors who did that. Well, that was interesting. Could
(14:00):
you tell us what they are because they are not
those books?
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Yeah, it's it would be hard to do that. It's
essentially a huge crowd of publishing industry people, editors, agents
and in writers, anyone, book scouts of course, anyone in
the industry, taking back to back meetings. No eating, no sleeping,
(14:26):
no just kidding.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Oh no, she's not really lying. No, they looked like
they didn't eat or sleep basically, but it's Frankfurt, l
Do you want to rest on a mi pill I
have a pillow? You like a map?
Speaker 2 (14:42):
Seriously though, and a lot also a lot of editors.
I remember they only would go for two days or
arrive in the afternoon, so that's a good thing to know.
But yeah, lots of lots of pitching. And then they
have these beautiful displays where they have all their books
set up and you get to hear about them and
(15:02):
you get to meet and greet and it is super fun.
Possibly overstimulating, but super fun.
Speaker 1 (15:11):
I think my favorite. So I have been to the
London and frank for book Fair and so as the
narcissis I'm going to insert my thoughts author. If you're going,
stay late because the Irish party is the best. Oh,
and the second best is the Australian party. And then
there's a bunch of parties you may or may not
be able to get into, but whatever, those two are awesome.
(15:32):
Ireland brings out guinness and whiskey.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Oh, I'm not surprised.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
They know how to party, yes, and then they bring
live music. It's so enjoyable. I'm sorry your work.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
That son's awesome. My late night was going to a
dinner with a bunch of editors and then my old
supervisor and I did that too.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
And then I made it back for Ireland. I was like, no, no,
we got to cut the sharp. Ireland has whiskey. I'll
see you soon.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
I wish I do more Irish people. I know a
lot of UK like yeah, UK, English, Scottish, some Scottish,
but I need to know more Irish people. Seriously.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
The best drinking buddies I've ever had are like like
the Scottish ones of a number one in Ireland after that,
and then all Australians are wow, like all my drinking
buddies from Australia really cool.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
I'm not surprised. You need to know more Australians too.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Yeah, I want to know more Australians. But it's for
a completely different reason. It has nothing to do with literature.
So this is the writing class. Stay on tact. Oh
my goodness. Okay, So normally I would just like wrap
it up right about now, but I feel like, if
you're your first time going to a fair, you actually
need these three things. And that's survival tips. Mm hmmm,
(16:54):
because it's a it's a lot, and it is a lot. Yeah,
are there any survival tips?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Like tips like a pair of shoes, A meet, yeah, met,
meet for lunch when possible. Don't do the sandwich at
the table thing, just just be like, let's get lunch.
Survival tips. Yeah, don't meet past nine or don't meet
(17:24):
before nine thirty. I think you'll regret it. Uh, meditate beforehand,
find that inner piece.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Oh, I'm sorry, I question. I do have one more question.
And this is actually for my audience because I was
looking for survival tips. I'm not gonna less because you know,
it's like eight weeks from now, and and like, yeah,
so I need survival tips. Oh mm hmmm mm hmm.
So this one is for my actual my actual audience,
which is about as a self published author. I run
(17:59):
across the line of people who like, they'll have like
one book and they're like, I'm gonna go, and then
you're like, do you have anything else to make? And
so how do we kind of represent ourselves in a
in a light that we can be taken seriously? Because
I found that having one book and showing up for
a meeting does not work that as well. I could
(18:21):
be wrong. They might they might just not like me.
That might be the problem.
Speaker 2 (18:26):
I'm I'm sure that's not it, to be honest, I
I'm not. I don't know about self published authors when
it comes to the book theirs, because I've just never
I've never had an opportunity either. The self published authors
come directly for representation and we represent them.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
But I like that answer. You can go to her
for representation for that.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Not not me, not me, not not how it works
because so I'm inn so in Finland's fun fact, it
works differently than America. And also we kind of represent
so basically they're already published and or they're self published
and they have something exceptional and then like as a
group we represent and do foreign rights. But yeah, I
(19:18):
only I can help for self published writers, but not
in the context of affairs. Unfortunately, I just have had
zero experience with that.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Kind answer though, So apparently we can go for representation,
not by her, but we can try to find someone
that can represent. It's the American way. It's different to
the American way. So what is the American way?
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Well, the American way is more like, well, for self
published it's different. I'm thinking more like Americans, they can't
really go to a publisher. They have to go to
a literary agent first, and in Finland that's backwards. But
if you're self published and you want to get an agent,
they it's quite hard. They want to see that you've
(20:07):
made a lot of sales, so it's it's happened, but
you have to you have to show them the numbers. Essentially, Yeah,
I wish I had better better douce, i' was sure
were easier.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
No, this is amazing like it is. So again, we
asked for a behind the scenes look, and now we
have a behind the scenes look. I mean, we all
know what a literary agent does, but we don't know
what a form rise agent does or a literary scout,
which I just absolutely love's would you come true? Huh
and silent?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Okay, thank you so much for being here with us.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
Is there?
Speaker 1 (20:51):
And there's no way that you would want to give
out information for people to find you online and bother
you with questions. You're not in the interest of our
question battery.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
Yeah, I don't find as long as long as it's
not pumbling me with questions. I do have a Twitter
account that I semi use. It is Julia Ray. Wait wait,
wait wait, Julia Ray twenty six. I'm pretty sure. Well, well,
(21:25):
if you if you find me, I will I'll I'll
get your message probably if I love you decide to
if they decide to email me. So if I'm okay
Julia Ray twenty six, because twenty six is I was
born February twenty six.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay, But so I was gonna be like y'all, y'all
are gonna have to put some initiative in and actually
find her like those who did the work would get
the answer.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah, and so if I don't see
it or something though, I'm not ignoring you. I don't
ignore you unless you're maybe creepy and making me feel uncomfortable.
But yeah, feel free.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Thank you so much for coming on today. I really
really appreciate that. I'm gonna wrap it up for us
over here. And I keep saying us, and there was
no jade to this side. Yeah, the two of us.
I'm gonna wrap it up for the two of us.
Come we go again, I will nodah and I'm half
of the n I Thought Ladies. And you can find
out everything that your ladies are doing at www dot
Anti thought ladies dot com. And while you're there, go
(22:25):
down to the bottom of the page and you can
see the charities that we probably support. We asked that
you give a moment to think about supporting them as well.
It does not have to be monetary. You can give
some advice, which we found out was very useful they
needed knowledge, or you can, like you know, get your
hands dirty and get involved. Either way, we thank you
in advance for doing that. Remember that wisdom is always
around you if you're open to finding it and accepting it.
(22:47):
So peace in love you guys from will Noana and
the Missing Jade. Oh yeah, thanks for listening.
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