Holly Bemiss, who switched from book publicity to literary agenting last fall, discusses what she's looking for from new authors in the latest installment of Rachel Kramer Bussel's mediabistro.com "Pitching an Agent" series. Although most of the authors at the Susan Rabiner Literary Agency are doing very serious nonfiction, Bussel reports, "Bemiss has so far signed first-time authors such as comedian Jeff Mac, whose humorous guide to 'translating male behavior for women,' Manslations, she sold to Sourcebooks, Bad Habits by graphic artist Cristy Road, who Bemiss was familiar with from her spoken word work, and Lucy Kinsley's 'graphic travelogue' French Milk, which was sold to Touchstone Fireside. But it's not all just fun and games:

"Bemiss boils her criteria down to three basics: 'Why this book, why now, and why are you the best person to write it? If you can say all those things in a very concise way, I'll likely want to know more.' She's on the hunt for 'people who have something new to say and are saying it in a smart way. I'm not just looking at their ideas, but how we'll be able to market and publicize their books as well.'"

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