Queer Publishing Day: Agent Industry Panel

Getting the attention of a literary agent can be hard, but is it harder as a queer writer? We’re joined by a panel of agents who are actively building queer lists, representing queer authors and championing queer voices. Come with questions for this expert panel hosted by Amelia Brown from Writers & Artists. All attendees have the opportunity to register for a 1-2-1 with an agent from the panel.

Limited Agent one-to-ones. Participants who have bought tickets to the panel discussion will be eligible to apply for a ten-minute one-to-one session with one of the agents. Places are limited and a short questionnaire will be sent out with receipt of payment (please read your email from TicketSource carefully). Applications for a one-to-one session must be completed by 5pm, Thursday 25 September. Those who have been allocated a one-to-one will be informed via email by Friday 3rd October. If you haven’t heard back by then please assume that you have not been allocated a one-to-one.

Abi Fellows has incredibly broad experience in the industry, having started in bookselling at Blackwell’s in 2001 following her BA in English Literature at Bristol University. After a stint on the sales team of Faber and Faber and a return to education to complete an MA in modernism and postmodernism at University College London, Abi began her agenting career with Georgina Capel Associates in 2004, assisting the primary agents and handling journalism and translation rights for the team. Abi then moved into literary scouting at RR Ltd for seven years, working with overseas publishers and TV and film production companies in the UK. In 2019 she returned to agenting at The Good Literary Agency, building a list focused on amplifying and championing writers from backgrounds that had traditionally been marginalised. In 2023, Abi joined DHH Literary Agency. Abi was shortlisted for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards (aka the Nibbies) in 2023.

Andrew James founded Frog Literary Agency in 2023. Andrew has worked in publishing as an editor for over a decade and was selected as a Rising Star by The Bookseller. He has worked on books that have won and been shortlisted for the Polari Book Prize, Polari First Book Prize, Polari Children’s & YA Book Prize, Lambda Literary Award, Stonewall Book Award and chosen for World Book Night.

Kerry-Ann Bentley is the founder and literary agent of KAB Literary Ltd where she represents the Estate of Alex Wheatle, Yvonne Bailey-Smith, Dominque Palmer, Jackson King, and more. She graduated with a First-class degree in English & United States Literature from the University of Essex. Then she earned her Masters with Distinction in Caribbean Literature and its Diasporas from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her agenting career began in 2020, in the New York office of Janklow & Nesbit where her notable deals include The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward, Decent People by Jessica Ramirez Guel and William by Mason Coile.

Julie Gourinchas is developing a selective list of upmarket and literary adult fiction at Bell Lomax Moreton. An editorially-minded agent, she is drawn to uncommon voices and striking, intelligent writing. Authors she represents have been nominated for the British Book Awards, the Hugo Awards, the BSFA Awards, and the Saltire National Book Awards, among others, and she loves nothing more than discovering and developing exciting new debut talent. Above all, she is looking for hooky, high-concept work, but her taste ranges from the softly speculative to the weird, dark, and gruesome.

Important: If you have booked a festival or day pass, you still need to register for this event to ensure your space. Follow the book now link and select the Festival or Day Pass Holder Free Registration. No registration means we cannot guarantee you a space for this event.