This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Before joining Janklow & Nesbit in 2013, Hellie Ogden spent three years at Greene & Heaton Literary Agency where she built up her list of clients and managed the translation rights. Hellie featured in The Bookseller Rising Stars list 2013 and has been shortlisted for The Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2014. Her clients include brand names such as Tilly Bagshawe as well as debut authors including M.J. Arlidge in crime and Juliet West in historical women’s fiction.
I don’t take on a huge amount of books every year because I want both existing authors and debut clients to feel I always have time for them. I’m incredibly hands on editorially and I love to help shape a piece of work from the very rough idea through to a polished, original manuscript.
So, I’m looking for a few special, standout books every year that I can my pump my energy into and I’m happy to receive manuscripts even when just at a rough stage – that really excites me. Here at Janklow we work incredibly closely as a team and you will have the full backing of our agency as a client including the very best translation rights team, film/TV contacts and of course the support of our huge US office. We are always thinking really carefully about the market and strategizing to make sure our authors have a long, happy writing career.
I’m keen to find original series and high-concept crime, psychological thrillers, commercial women’s fiction, young adult and children’s debuts and accessible, charming literary fiction. For me it is all about those bold twists and enticing protagonists.The books on my list are often dark with a strong female voice and favourite authors of all time include Maggie O’Farrell, Sophie Hannah and Philip Ridley. I re-read Dakota of the White Flats all the time.
Have something that might work for Hellie? You can email her directly hogden@janklow.co.uk