In this captivating episode of Moths to the Flame, your host Marie Lestrange sits down with Becky LeJeune, a literary agent at Bond Literary Agency. With a background in bookselling, freelance cookbook editing, and acquisitions editing, Becky brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. She is actively building her client list and is particularly interested in cookbooks and YA and adult submissions in the horror, mystery/suspense, thriller, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and general fiction genres. Marie kicks off the interview by asking Becky about the benefits of having a literary agent and what exactly a literary agent does. Becky shares insights into the world of literary representation, highlighting the importance of strong world-building, well-developed characters, and unique settings in plot-driven narratives. As the conversation delves into the horror genre, Marie and Becky discuss what drew Becky to this genre and what she finds most compelling about it, exploring the psychological impact of horror films and literature, as well as why people enjoy being scared. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the elements of a successful horror story and what sets successful horror stories apart from unsuccessful ones. Becky also provides tips for writers on how to balance personal tastes with what will sell in the horror market, especially with niche subgenres. Throughout the episode, Marie and Becky touch on various topics, including current trends in horror, common mistakes that horror writers make when submitting to literary agents, and how to handle difficult conversations with writers or publishers in the horror genre. Becky also shares her worst writing advice, a time when she had to negotiate a difficult contract for a horror project, and the most important qualities that horror writers should keep in mind when submitting to literary agents. Looking to the future, Becky discusses how she sees the horror genre evolving in the next 5-10 years and the challenges facing the horror publishing industry today. She also reveals her strategies for staying up-to-date on industry news and trends in the horror genre. This episode of Moths to the Flame is a must-listen for aspiring horror writers and fans of the genre alike. Join Marie Lestrange and Becky LeJeune as they explore the dark and thrilling world of horror literature and gain valuable insights into the inner workings of the publishing industry.
In this captivating episode of Moths to the Flame, your host Marie Lestrange sits down with Becky LeJeune, a literary agent at Bond Literary Agency. With a background in bookselling, freelance cookbook editing, and acquisitions editing, Becky brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. She is actively building her client list and is particularly interested in cookbooks and YA and adult submissions in the horror, mystery/suspense, thriller, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, and general fiction genres. Marie kicks off the interview by asking Becky about the benefits of having a literary agent and what exactly a literary agent does. Becky shares insights into the world of literary representation, highlighting the importance of strong world-building, well-developed characters, and unique settings in plot-driven narratives. As the conversation delves into the horror genre, Marie and Becky discuss what drew Becky to this genre and what she finds most compelling about it, exploring the psychological impact of horror films and literature, as well as why people enjoy being scared. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the elements of a successful horror story and what sets successful horror stories apart from unsuccessful ones. Becky also provides tips for writers on how to balance personal tastes with what will sell in the horror market, especially with niche subgenres. Throughout the episode, Marie and Becky touch on various topics, including current trends in horror, common mistakes that horror writers make when submitting to literary agents, and how to handle difficult conversations with writers or publishers in the horror genre. Becky also shares her worst writing advice, a time when she had to negotiate a difficult contract for a horror project, and the most important qualities that horror writers should keep in mind when submitting to literary agents. Looking to the future, Becky discusses how she sees the horror genre evolving in the next 5-10 years and the challenges facing the horror publishing industry today. She also reveals her strategies for staying up-to-date on industry news and trends in the horror genre. This episode of Moths to the Flame is a must-listen for aspiring horror writers and fans of the genre alike. Join Marie Lestrange and Becky LeJeune as they explore the dark and thrilling world of horror literature and gain valuable insights into the inner workings of the publishing industry.