7 Questions For: Literary Agent Katie Reed

Katie Reed can’t resist a good story. One of her greatest joys is opening a book and being held captive by it till the last page, often staying up all night because the riveting plot and brilliant characters won’t let her put it down. Katie obtained her Bachelor’s in English from California State University, Sacramento, but the most enlightening part of her college career was her internship with Andrea Hurst Literary Management. There she discovered her passion for being part of the process that connects compelling stories with book-hungry readers. 

Katie has worked as a freelance editor and enjoys helping writers develop their novels in preparation for pitching and publication. She understands how challenging the writing process can be and strives to help her clients through it. Katie resides in the small town of Durham, California with her incredible husband, her joyful son, and Snoodles, her loyal cat. Besides her addiction to reading, she is also a diehard Miami Heat fan and obsessed with all things Disney. 

Katie is looking for stories that demand to be read, having characters that transcend the page and remain in her thoughts long after the book has been closed. She represents all areas of young adult and adult fiction and nonfiction, with a special interest in YA and fantasy.

Make sure you check her out on Facebook. 

And now Katie Reed faces the 7 Questions:


Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books?

This is a highly unfair question! How to list just three? The Harry Potter books will always be at the top of the list for me. The Hunger Games trilogy is a close second, and I recently read The Fault in Our Stars and fell in love with that one too. 

                                   

Question Six: What are your top three favorite movies and television shows?

 My current TV show addictions include The Walking Dead, The Voice, and (my favorite of the favorites) Once Upon a Time (regular and Wonderland). Favorite movies depend on what I'm in the mood for, but three classics that come to mind are Tombstone, Beauty and the Beast, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall (no matter how many times I watch it, I always laugh). 

Question Five: What are the qualities of your ideal client?

I love clients who are passionate about their project and aren't afraid to make changes in order to strengthen their book. I also think that being enjoyable to work with is as important as the project itself. A writer with a good sense of marketing is always a huge plus. 

Question Four: What sort of project(s) would you most like to receive a query for?

I am itching to get my hands on a good YA fantasy right now. I've always been drawn to anything magical, and I love the fresh, youthful voices of characters in the YA area. I want something that I can't stop reading and has me jumping out of my skin to sign the author by the time I'm done. 

Question Three: What is your favorite thing about being an agent? What is your least favorite thing?

I. Love. My. Job. 

It is the perfect job for me, and one of my favorite things about it is the opportunity to find great stories that deserve to be out there in the hands of readers. I love that my job involves being a part of that process. 

My least favorite thing is rejection. I really don't like having to tell people no, especially when I know that it's their sweat, blood and tears on the page. There are so many good projects out there, and it makes me sad that I can't take them all!

Question Two: What one bit of wisdom would you impart to an aspiring writer? (feel free to include as many other bits of wisdom as you like)

Don't rush the process. Unless it is something time sensitive, agents will be there when the book is finished. Also, I can't stress enough the benefits of having peers review your work. 

Question One: If you could have lunch with any writer, living or dead, who would it be? Why?

Again, there are so many! I would probably have to pick C.S. Lewis because I am a huge fan of both his fiction and non-fiction. We could talk about everything from the magic of Narnia to the complex nature of the human condition. It would make for a very interesting lunch!

www.andreahurst.com