Friday Literary Agent Works Behind the Scenes Jessica Miller Jamestown High School Literary agent Jennifer Flannery spoke to a group of students at the YSU English Festival. Students were given the opportunity to ask her questions at a press conference, Friday, April 23. Flannery chose to be in the literary agency business for many reasons. She likes to read and loves the chance to represent authors. She becomes the matchmaker and pairs up the correct books with the correct publisher.
Authors write query letters or letters of introduction to their books or manuscripts.
Flannery gets over 100 letters a week. Some of those go into a slush pile, which is for unsolicited manuscripts. After she reads the letters or manuscripts, she decides if she likes them. If she likes them, she matches them with a publisher. If she doesn t like the book, she sends the author a rejection letter.