Welcome to BFLA Open Week 2025, and to our feature article series running all this week, Question of the Day! Every day we’ll be asking the whole team a question about the world of our literary agency, and sharing excerpts from the answers on social media, and here on our website you’ll find everyone’s answers in full.
Our very first question goes straight to the heart of what we do at Blake Friedmann:
What is your favourite part of working with authors?
Read on to see the team’s responses – and stay tuned for tomorrow’s next question!
Juliet Pickering, Vice Head of Books
There are genuinely lots of favourite parts! One of the best bits is planning with an author who is a few books down the line: how are things going, what’s next, and how are we going to work together to try and achieve the best results? It’s really rewarding to know an author that well, to trust each other and share those ambitions.
Sian Ellis-Martin, Associate Agent
All of it! But if I had to choose, my favourite part is the editorial process. I really enjoy talking with authors about the finer details of a manuscript – there’s nothing more satisfying than finding a fix for a plot hole or working out an idea that you know is going to take the book to another level.
I also love being able to call an author and tell them they’ve got an offer. It means so much to the author and to us so it’s a real privilege to be the one that gets to share the news.
Isobel Dixon, Head of Books
Agenting is a mega-multi-tasking, juggling-while-tightrope-walking kind of job. Every day I feel privileged to work so closely – and over so long – with such brilliant creative minds, inspiring storytellers. The high points are multiple and linked – especially the moment a submission (or new manuscript from your author) hits that sweet spot for you as a reader: you want to champion this book and can’t wait to share it. When an offer arrives with an editor’s excitement and belief evident too, sharing that happy news with your author is the best. Those exhilarating, igniting chain reactions of the publishing/story-sharing process.
James Pusey, Head of Rights
Watching as their ideas develop from small beginnings to full-length works – and then taking those works to the international translation markets.
Julian Friedmann, Chairman
Every day is different, every author is different, every project is different: trying to match what writers want to write with the market or gatecrash the market because the writing is so good that it goes against market trends, is very fulfilling. It is also time consuming, so I need to be very selective.
Kate Burke, Senior Agent
Where to begin?! It’s a privilege to work with brilliant, creative writers who put their heart and soul into their writing and working collaboratively, and discussing character, plot and pace, is always such an exciting part of the process.
Leyla Hattabi, Film & TV Department Assistant
As part of my role as Media Assistant, I get to work with authors, screenwriters, playwrights and directors. With authors, I help secure the best deal on the screen or stage rights to their novels. My favourite part is telling the author when we find a producer who’s passionate about bringing their work to the screen or stage.
Nicole Etherington, Rights Manager
Building relationships over a long-term period with authors and playing a part in growing their international readership.
Finlay Charlesworth, Agent’s Assistant
The variety: every author – and every book they will write – is unique and brings with them their own set of thrills and challenges. Whether it’s a helping to establish a debut author to developing an established brand; working on someone with a wide global audience to someone with a small but dedicated readership, working with authors in a literary agency shows you the full spectrum of the creative experience for writers.
Ane Reason, Senior Contract Manager
I love the fact that working with authors introduces me to such a huge range of people. I grew up in a fairly homogenous culture, so I really enjoy being in an environment full of variety and unpredictability. It keeps every day interesting.
Tabitha Topping, Agency Assistant
Given the nature of my role, I don’t have much direct interaction with authors, but I love being part of their publishing journey nonetheless. So much work goes on behind the scenes that authors probably aren’t even aware of (saving royalty statements, chasing invoices, etc) and it’s lovely to go into a book shop and see a book by one of our authors and know that I’ve helped bring that about!