Episode 68: The life and times of an agent - with Euan Thorneycroft

Is there anything more mysterious in publishing than the world of the literary agent? There can't be many aspiring authors who haven't asked themselves - 'how do I get an agent?' There are copious 'how to' guides out there offering advice on how to secure representation, but how relevant is that advice? Euan Thorneycroft is a senior agent with A M Heath, a London-based agency established for more than 100 years. In this revealing and fascinating interview, Euan tells The Hobcast Book Show how he began in the business, how it's changed over the years, and how he deals with the never-ending tide of submissions he and his colleagues receive every week. He also explains the do's and don'ts of submitting your manuscript, and what he's looking for in a potential client and project.

Also this week, Adrian and Rebecca celebrate two Hobeck authors being long-listed for this year's CWA Daggers - congratulations to Mark Wightman and Antony Dunford.