Thursdays on the Stoop is a series of free, virtual workshops. With topics ranging from generative prompts to editing strategies, these informal workshops are sure to shake up your Thursday routine. RSVP below to get the link.

So, you’re a writer–maybe you’ve written a novel or you have a great idea for a nonfiction book, and you’re the right person to write it. How do you transform that idea or manuscript into a book deal? Do you need a literary agent? And how do you go about getting one–and what do they actually do? What is the query process? What is the relationship between literary agents and editors? Here we’ll discuss the best way to turn that manuscript (or idea) into something that can be published.

PANELISTS:

Jenny Herrera, Literary Agent, David Black Agency, joined the David Black Agency in 2015 after working at Fletcher & Company and Europa Editions, where she was an early advocate of Elena Ferrante. She went to college in Ohio, where she studied Philosophy, French, and Russian, and has master’s degrees in Philosophy and Social Sciences. Her authors have been awarded the Harriet Tubman Prize, nominated for the J. Anthony Lukas Prize, appeared on NPR’s Fresh Air, and been New York Times bestsellers. She loves reading nonfiction books about big ideas and is particularly drawn to smart, issue-driven books, especially those from journalists as well as writers with professional expertise, including science, psychology, philosophy,economics, prescriptive, lifestyle, history, and the stories of underrepresented groups.

Caroline Eisemann, Senior Literary Agent & VP, Frances Goldin Agency, joined Francis Goldin in 2017 after spending four years at ICM Partners. Her clients include Sam Adler-Bell, Delia Cai, Kyle Chayka, Sheldon Costa, Jasper Craven, Cody Delistraty, Rose Eveleth, Linda Rui Feng, Jaime Green, James Gregor, Courtney Gustafson, Katy Kelleher, Theresa Levitt, Rennie McDougall, Micah Nemerever, Haley Nahman, Jenny Odell, the Adrienne Rich Literary Trust, Reagan Penaluna, Cameron Russell, Lauren Slater, Claire Stapleton, Michelle Webster-Hein, Ye Chun, Kate Wagner, and Jennifer Wilson. Authors represented by Caroline have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller list and been short or longlisted for the National Book Award in fiction, the National Book Award’s 5 Under 35 Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, and the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.

Libby Burton, Executive Editor at Crown, publishes both practical and narrative nonfiction with an eye for stories and insight from traditionally underrepresented voices. She has edited a wide range of award-winning and bestselling authors including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Stacey Abrams, Katie Porter, Mariah Carey, Melissa Broder, Jessica Valenti, Lyz Lenz, Aurora James, and Ai Weiwei. Previously she worked as an editor at Henry Holt & Company, Twelve Books, and Grand Central Publishing, and is the author of the poetry collection Soft Volcano.