Brent Taylor is a literary agent at TriadaUS Literary Agency, Inc. Prior to joining Uwe Stender’s team in 2014, Brent completed a handful of internships in publishing, most recently at The Bent Agency. For more information on what he represents and how to submit to him, visit his Publishers Marketplace page, the TriadaUS website, or find him on Twitter.
1. Welcome, Brent! Tell me, what are some of your favorite authors/books and why do you love them?
I have so many favorite books, so how about I instead tell you about what I’ve been reading lately and why I liked it.
HOOK’S REVENGE by Heidi Schulz. I loved the classic middle grade voice in this one, but more importantly, the witty and whimsical punch the all-knowing narrator gave to the story. I am eagerly anticipating the second installment in this series.
SERVANTS OF THE STORM by Delilah S. Dawson. I’m a big fan of all of Delilah’s books, because they’re incredibly written, but this one in particular struck me with its conventional approach to crafting unconventional relationships among the characters. The friendship in this novel is an interesting one, as well as the protagonist’s relationship with her mother, her peers, the villain(s)! On top of all that, the southern gothic setting and the horror elements of the story just sucked me right in.
NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL by Lena Dunham. It’s Lena Dunham! Besides that, I’m the biggest sucker for coming-of-age themes and summer-before-college stories, and Lena wove some poignant stories along those lines in this book.
2. Those are some great choices. Let’s talk about books-yet-to-be. What is on your wish list?
I represent all across the board (for more info, see my Publishers Marketplace page), but I’m dying for a great middle grade fantasy and young adult contemporary.
3. Are you an editorial agent?
I don’t know an agent in this day and age that doesn’t work with their authors in some sort of editorial capacity, big or small, before sending the work(s) out. There are of course exceptions to this, and it’s dependent on many factors.
If the client is a debut novelist, I most often do at least one round of semi-major revisions and perhaps a few rounds of line edits. Some projects come across your desk and need only very light work, though, so I do believe that it’s more important to remain flexible, and willing to tailor your job to the individual needs of the client.
Am I an “editorial” agent? Sometimes. Strategic and instinctive agent? Always.
