Are you considering getting your book published through the traditional route? If so, a literary agent can help. We caught up with Urmila Dasgupta, founder of Purple Folio, which is one of India’s leading literary agencies to find out more. Read on to learn what Urmila had to say about her background in publishing, about how a literary agent can assist an author in getting published, and to get an understanding of Purple Folio and what the organization does.
Welcome to the e-Books India magazine, Urmila! Please tell us bit about your background and how you got into the publishing industry?
Since I was doing my graduation from LSR in Delhi, I wanted to be in the publishing industry. The idea of working with books has always worked as a strong source of inspiration for me. This was only strengthened when I joined JNU for my post graduation and while doing my M.Phil my supervisor put me in touch with Katha, a non-profit organisation working on translations. And my publishing career took off. I took a short break to complete my M.Phil. But within 2 weeks of doing so I joined Penguin. And since then there has been no looking back.
You are of course the founder of Purple Folio, one of India’s premier literary agencies. Can you please tell us about your organization, and why you started it?
I wanted to be a literary agent since the time I had to make my authors sign contracts which were really not in their favour but in the favour of the publishers. I really felt there had to be someone on their team fighting for their interests. In Purple Folio we fight for our authors. We are passionately involved with the well being of our authors. And we also believe that we need to push our authors to fulfil their own potential. We sincerely believe that authors and editors have a commitment to readers, to give them the best possible reading experience. If we honestly wish to reach readers and give them pleasure then the rest, money and fame, will follow in due course for ourselves.
What do you feel makes Purple Folio different?
We are here to stay and we are here to fight for authors and readers. We wish to provide the best to the world of books. We are passionate readers ourselves and refuse to compromise on what you want to read. You might want to read colloquial English or British English. We are here to ensure that whatever you wish to read we give you pleasure when you do read it.
Other than acting as a literary agent for authors, does Purple Folio offer any other services to authors? If so, what are these services?
Yes we do offer other services. We offer editorial services and publicity services. Sometimes these are in conjunction with agent services and sometimes they are independent. That completely depends on the merit of individual cases.
For those who might not be familiar with literary agencies, can you please describe how a literary agent can help an author to get published?
Literary agents can help an author in getting an advance from a publisher that would be in excess of what a publisher would offer an author without an agent. An agent ensures that you sign the most author friendly contract possible. Only an agent is allowed to make multiple submissions to publishers. All publishers otherwise do not accept multiple submissions. And when there are multiple interests in a book then an agent can auction it for you. Something that an author alone cannot do.
If an author was to approach Purple Folio to represent him or her, could you please describe the typical steps involved?
Please read the submission guidelines on my website and submit accordingly. They are really quite simple. I need the full manuscript, an author bio and a 2 page synopsis telling me the whole story from beginning to end. Please do not make multiple submissions.
How can an author maximize the chances that Purple Folio might represent the individual? What would you expect to see in his or her book?
Great writing! There are no shortcuts. Good style, tight plot, sharp characters and wit for fiction. And in depth research, clarity and engaging style for non-fiction.
Does Purple Folio represent authors who write in any particular genre? Or do you consider different types of books?
We consider everything except poetry. Short stories have to be brilliant in order for us to take it up. And we are thinking of moving out of the children’s books space. Though we are certainly interested in YA 🙂 !
How can people find out more about you and Purple Folio?
Please check my website www.purplefolio.com and email me at purplefolio@gmail.com.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]