In this episode of How Publishing Works Kate Macdonald of Handheld Press is in conversation with literary agent Eli Keren from United Agents.

What does an agent do for their authors? What does an agent not do? How does book acquisition work? How tough can an agent get? What should authors try to avoid doing? And how exciting is it when a book goes to auction?

If you're looking for a literary agent, or are thinking about getting into agenting, bring a pen and make notes: it's a bit of a wild ride.

The book that Kate and Eli worked on from opposite sides of the rights negotiation was The Voluble Topsy by A P Herbert, an omnibus edition of The Trials of Topsy, Topsy, MP, and Topsy Turvy, published by Handheld Press in 2023. You can buy it here (it's brilliantly funny): https://www.handheldpress.co.uk/shop/humour/a-p-herbert-the-voluble-topsy/

For more information about Handheld Press, go to www.handheldpress.co.uk. You can email this podcast at podcast@handheldpress.co.uk. To see Eli Keren's agent page, go to https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/ekerenunitedagentscouk

This episode was edited and produced by Kate Macdonald. The jolly intro and outro music is 'Feels Like Home' by Avocado Junkie, sourced through Podcastle.

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