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Number of agents: Four Background: Margery Walshaw began her career working with authors as an entertainment publicist. "I didn't realize it at the time but the skills that I needed to be an entertainment publicist, like pitching the media, selling my clients' stories, coupled with my editing and writing background prepared me for a career of a lifetime," says the journalist turned literary agent.
Being on the board for the Master's of Professional Writing Program at USC gave Walshaw access to a lot of writers, and she soon decided to form her own literary agency. Today, Evatopia is one of the premier book-to-film agencies in the West. Known for her personable nature, Walshaw prides herself on only taking on projects and clients that resonate well with her. "I like stories featuring characters who we care about, can relate to, and who find themselves in difficult situations," she says.
This agency is looking for someone who is equally as passionate about working with them as they are about working with the author. "Trust above all else is important," Walshaw says, "Trust to know that I am on [the writer's] side; that I am passionate about their work and I am going to promote it for as long as it takes. And patience is equally as important because not everything sells overnight. It's not a get rich quick business and you need to be in it because you are passionate about writing, not because you think you are going to sell a six-figure deal." ...
The How to Pitch series is worth its weight in gold. In just the first month I'd already benefited enough to consider the cost of joining well worth it.
-- Gaen Murphree... and much more! View all benefits or Sign up now!
