Values Louise Lives By

Difference

We are all different and this difference should be celebrated. One of the reasons I wanted to join Hannah at her agency is that she is truly trying to create an inclusive agency. I want to open doors to as many types of writers as possible and for that reason I welcome submissions from people from all walks of life, race, religion, gender, age, sexuality, neurodiversity, disability, etc. As someone who has multiple sclerosis, I am also flying the flag for invisible disability and understand first-hand what it is like to live with a serious autoimmune condition.

Transparency

Much of Publishing is shrouded in mystery for authors and I know that can be incredibly frustrating. So one of my aims as an agent is to be as transparent as possible, to explain the ins-and-outs to both aspiring authors and my own clients. I want my clients to feel that I will always be honest with them and aspiring authors to feel that I am someone who they can approach, who is a real human and not a mysterious giant sat atop a great throne in a castle that can’t be entered.

Kindness

This is a stereotypical one but it is true. Sometimes literary agents have a reputation for bullishness but I’ve learnt in my career that you get further with kindness than you do with other tactics. In other words, I will always choose the carrot over the stick and I want authors to know that this is the type of agent I am when they sign with me. This also means that I value kindness in others.

Community

In my personal life, I am part of my local community here in Hastings and I feel it is important to cultivate a life outside of work. As well as being a parent, I am a key member of a local gentle green activism group for parents called Parents for Future Hastings (a faction of the national Parents for Future group) and assist the group with the organisation of local events and their social media. I want to be a role model to my children and show that we can’t sit back and do nothing about climate change.