Chamein Canton Literary Agency (formerly Canton Smith Agency)

Momento Mori · Dec 16, 2009

caseyrobert:
As far as submitting works to publishers that only deal with agents. I'm not sure there are any. It's just tougher to get read without one. My wife prefers agency books.

There are plenty of publishers that state they only deal with agents - in children's publishing I can think of Bloomsbury and Faber and Faber off the top of my head.

caseyrobert:
We have since taken on many of her projects. and turned down even more.

Did you pay an advance on those projects that you did accept?

caseyrobert:
She is one of only 4 agents we work with as of this date. Our interview process for agents is tedious to say the least.

Why are you interviewing agents? Surely the only qualification an agent needs to submit to you is representation of an author with a good manuscript that you are willing to pay to publish.

caseyrobert:
As a publisher I don't recomend agents, but she is somebody who can submit to us without asking ahead. We don't give out that priveledge lightly.

Why don't you recommend agents? Firstly, agents work as a filter to make sure that you only have to go through good quality manuscripts. Secondly, agents know how to negotiate a contract, meaning that you're not dealing with pointless queries.

Why do you see it as a privilege for an agent to submit to you?

MM

Richard White · Dec 16, 2009

Because Agents know the questions to ask and recognize things in a contract that clueless new authors might not?

victoriastrauss · Dec 16, 2009

Momento Mori said:
Did you pay an advance on those projects that you did accept?

I would like to know this also.

- Victoria

JerseyGirl1962 · Dec 16, 2009

Eirin said:
Can you tell us why you've given Chamein Canton Agency the privilege of submitting to you without asking ahead? What stellar qualities does this agency posses that you know about, but otherwise isn't readily apparent from their website?

This is what I was wondering, too. :Huh:

~Nancy

CaoPaux · Jan 29, 2011

All client and sales data is gone from their site. Unless you count this in Mr. Smith's bio:

Eric Smith, Senior Agent: After founding the agency in the late nineties and taking Chamein Canton on as a partner in 2001, Eric Smith is enjoying success as a soon to be published author with Dailey Swan Publishing.

sb2brown · Oct 27, 2011

And that doesn't look fishy at all. Nope, not at all.

CaoPaux · Dec 30, 2012

Site now gone entirely. Ms. Canton has more books out with Genesis and Windriver. Mr. Weil has opened an editing service. Daily Swan now thanks Mr. Smith for help with their marketing efforts.

Chamein Canton Literary Agency (formerly Canton Smith Agency)

Momento Mori

Tired and Disillusioned

Richard White

Stealthy Plot Bunny Peddler

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

JerseyGirl1962

I heart Malamutes! :-)

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless

sb2brown

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless