Q&A with Lynn

What do you look for in an author?

1. The whole person: Once I get the gist of the topic, I look at the person's background, experience, credentials and motivations. What makes them unique? Why do they want to write about the topic?
2. Ability/desire to sell the book: These books aren't going to sell themselves. No, really. Even if the publisher does a great job placing the book in bookstores ("sell-in"), getting people to buy it ("sell-through") largely depends on the author's efforts and persistence.
3. Rapport: Publishing is a long cycle. We need to work together well.

What are the advantages of working with you?

1. There's no scale here. We are focused on you not a portfolio.
2. Publishing is part art and part science. And sometimes it's magic when everything comes together. I aim to bring magic to each project.  
3. It may feel cool to say you're with such and such agency but at the end of the day companies are not people. Behind everything that happens here is lil ole me.  

How do you see your role as an agent?

1. I’m an advisor and advocate, first and foremost. My author’s best interest is my chief interest.
2. I'm an explainer. I decode for my clients why some things are done they way they are. Publishing is a weird industry and sometimes, it's better to save your energy than tilting at windmills.
3. I'm a problem solver. I'm the person the author should call when things go wrong. Even when the solution is out of our control, you should never feel alone. We're in it together.

What kinds of books are you most interested in?

1. Although I read fiction in my down time, my professional skills and instincts are developed for nonfiction. Please only query me about nonfiction projects.
2. I'm partial to investigative and narrative journalism, argument-driven work, how-tos that address an unmet need, deep dives on unexpected topics, unfamiliar takes on familiar topics.
3. I want to do my part to diversify books and pay special attention to queries from underrepresented voices.

What are your hobbies? 

1. Food. In my family, we talk about what to eat while eating and plan the next meal during the current meal. 
2. Voting. I make sure to show up at every election: local, state and national. 
3. Choosing which book to read next. An ongoing process that can take as much time as reading the books themselves. 

What are some of your favorite nonfiction books? Books I represent are not included. In case you're wondering, they're all my favorite :-)

1. Personal Memoirs of U.S Grant, published by Mark Twain to make money for the nearly penniless Civil War general. The agent in me can't help but admire author royalties of 30% of gross sales that Grant received from Twain.
2. Derek Jarman's Garden. Someone, please bring this book back in print.
3. Taking Charge of Your Fertility, which should be given to every teenager and taught in schools.

​What are your tech essentials? This question is inspired by the WSJ column of the same name.

1. Apple Watch, which I need at least once a day to find my misplaced phone. I represented a book about branded sounds. If I have a signature sound, that sharp ping is it.
2. Slack. What a relief to know I can always turn to my Slack of agent friends for advice and support.
3. Pens in a box. I'm always on the hunt for the best pen you can lose without fretting. Current favorite: Pilot Precise V5, extra fine in black. The Pilot G2 is excellent as well. 

What can aspiring authors do to break into book publishing?

1. Expose your writing to readers. Think beyond traditional publications. Online publications, your own blog, someone else's blog, social media posts--they all count. When people know your name and look for your writing, that's an asset that impresses book publishers.
2. Look for opportunities to be edited. Getting edited will flex new writing muscles and develop your voice. Like playing tennis with a good opponent, an editor's A-game will bring out a writer's A-game.
3. Open yourself to rejections. Think of anyone who reads your work as test readers. Any reaction is better than none, and feedback that gives you insight about yourself or your work is gold.