Starting again? Maybe.

I would not actually say that I am starting the literary agency again. But - once an agent - always an agent.
I still want to hear from you if you really need help and have something really good to sell. It would be a waste if all I have learned should go down the drain.

New Web Site

Since Youragent.no no longer takes in new writers, we have decided only to use this web site active.
Until October 1st you can go directly to YourAgent.no for information. We are working on transferring important text from the other website
You can also look into another blog about agencies here

On writing good queries

At London Book Fair last April my agent table was located next to Jeff and Celeste from Folio Literary Management from New York City. I had some pleasant days, Americans are always so open and friendly. Although we all were very busy, we found the time in between the slots to chat about our projects and plans and problems, and they gave me many new ideas. We even managed to have a meeting also. Today I found their new blog for the first time, and here is a link to their article for writers and how they should do it while writing a good querie, read more here I wish Folio literary management good luck with their blog and future work, and hope to see them in Frankfurt in October.

Internet Movies database

Being an agent involves so much to learn. Yesterday I saw an interview on Norwegian television with a digital compositor Brian Connor. I always have a pencil nearby my chair som that I can remember to find out more about people who interest me. Here is what I found today. Brian Connor is the master behind the digital effects in films like Poseidon in 2006, and Pirates of the Caribbean. This lead me to this web site where everybody put in their film projects. Since I have no film to present (yet) this is just of minor interest, but never the less, I have learned something new on my path toward other goals.

Lazy agents - do they really exist?

Hallo there,
I am still working very hard for "my" authors, and I am still travelling to book fairs and film festivals in order to sell rights. But the competition is so HUGE! Even if I think my writers are the best in the world, it really takes time to convince the translators, other agents, the publishers and, the film producers about this. A lot of time time  also passes by declining offers from new writers world wide, most of them have written "the most unique book, not like anything else in the world", and I have to understand that I would be very stupid to let them down. I have to let them down a lot. Sorry about that --- There should be more agents in the world.
I sometimes feel like a spider makings its net in a very bustling area where it always gets interrupted from outside, it always needs mending, extension, rebuilding, strategy etc. etc.. I must confess, I am much more cynical now than I was when I started three years ago. A Chinese agent wrote these words to me: I can tell you, I have become cruel over the last 25 years. I am not quite there yet, since I started my business only three years ago. I still try to be nice. But this is a tough business, and not the least easy. But it is fun though!
For me personally this is the most interesting and challenging job I have had in my whole life. In a few days I will attend the London Book Fair and meet a lot of people, who have the same problems, the same goals as myself.
I have heard some people during these years talking about lazy agents. I do not believe they exist. If they are there, they must belong to those who have given up. Talk to you later.
Please give me comments if you have any.
Mrt:-)

Translation is the big thing

Time for a little updating.

As it is I am working mostly on the international market. Translators are the most important people in this business, especially for us who have a small language area, like Norwegian, Danish and Swedish. Many foreign publishers hesitate to go into projects that mean expensive translations. And not all of them want to spend money on language consultants. Those authors who can pay for their own professional translators, have probably a better chance on the international market. But NORLA supports translators also from Norwegian to languages outside the Nordic countries.
I want you first of all to take a look at my web site You will find an overview of the authors that I am working for now, with presentations of one and each of them. Within the two years I have been running this agency, I have broadened my themes quite a lot. Later I will have to narrow it, as soon as my network is built up as much as I want, I will have to make a decision of which fields I will work with. After all I cannot work for everybody, at this moment I am promoting both fictional and non-fictional authors.This is hard work, but rewarding too.
The problem with a mature gemini like myself, I am interested in everything, but I will have to make a choise. My choise goes for those who do not expect me to do miracles for them. This is a tough industry, I can assure you.