7 Questions For: Literary Agent Heather Flaherty

Heather Flaherty grew up in Massachusetts, between Boston and the Cape, and started working in New York City as a playwright during college. After much country hopping and some work in editorial, Heather became a YA and Children's Literary Scout, consulting with foreign publishers and Hollywood regarding what the next big book will be. Now as an Agent, she's thrilled to grow authors for that same success.

Currently, she's looking for authors of Middle-Grade and Young-Adult fiction. For YA, she's looking across all genres, and loves an excellent and authentic teen voice. For MG, she's looking for more realistic stories (either contemporary or period), about coping, coming-of-age, or situations seen through the eyes of a young person. She also represents select Adult fiction, as well as humor and pop-culture non-fiction.  

Follow her on twitter: @HeddaFlaherty.

For more information, check out my friends Natalie Aguirre and Casey McCormick's wonderful blog, Literary Rambles.

And now Heather Flaherty faces the 7 Questions:

Question Seven: What are your top three favorite books? 

WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams

JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte

MYSTERIES OF UDALPHO by Anne Radcliffe

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

The Goonies 

Supernatural

Game of Thrones

I can offer like a hundred more in both categories… and of course faves shift depending upon daily mood. #Important

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

Willing, Positive, Striver, Social, Sleeve-Roller-Upper

Funny. I like funny.

Interesting, my ideal client is also my ideal mate. :b

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

This changes, but right now I’d love some Middle-Grade, where something is witnessed through the childs pov. Whether that something is PTSD of a man in town that doesn’t fit in, or a family dynamic that’s becoming  struggle, what have you. Real life, but through the young persons pov.

I’m also craving some YA Contemporary, either high-stakes romance, or Issue-Driven Drama.

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

Favorite thing: Bridging the gap between author and publisher – I love being in the middle, it gives me a feeling like I’m not missing out on something. Call it the scout in me.

Least Favorite: Getting so many queries that I have trouble responding quickly… I’m working on it everyone, I promise!

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)

Work. You have to work to get this. It’s not a reclusive writer typing away in their wood-panelled country study anymore… especially not for YA and MG.

You have to work.

You have to work on your manuscript (review, rewrite, revise, relook, get a critique partner). You have to work to get an agent to read the manuscript (query, rewrite your query, do your research on the agent, be a part of the industry so you can meet them, or twitter with them). Then, you can be prepared to work even more – once an editor says yes. Edits (of course), but publicity, marketing, promoting, etc.

Then… then you can begin work on your next.

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

 Amy Schumer (she writes! not novels, but she writes!). The why? No need to answer that, right?

www.thebentagency.com