• Guest please check The Index before starting a thread.

Dorie Simmonds Agency

Mr. Anonymous

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
2,781
Reaction score
668
They're a london based literary agency. Anyone know anything about them, had any dealings with them? They seem interested in what I've got to offer and I just want to have a better idea of who I am dealing with. They're listed under preditors and editors and have the $ sign next to them, but that's about all I know.

Also, getting WAY ahead of myself here, but would it be a bad idea for an American author to be represented by a Brit literary agency? Thanks guys.
 

Mr. Anonymous

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
2,781
Reaction score
668
nobody?
She's listed as a foreign partner for Writers House, but that's all I've managed to find.
 

waylander

Who's going for a beer?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
8,279
Reaction score
1,567
Age
65
Location
London, UK
Also, getting WAY ahead of myself here, but would it be a bad idea for an American author to be represented by a Brit literary agency? Thanks guys.

It depends on the work you are offering them. Is it suitable for the British market? If it is then it is an eminently sensible idea - if the work is published and sells well in the UK that can only make it more attractive in other markets.
 

Mr. Anonymous

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
2,781
Reaction score
668
True enough. But I figure I wouldn't be able to do nearly as much in the way of interviews, book signings, book readings, etc. Ah well. I'll take what I can get, for now. I'm not at the right point to start getting picky. lol.
 

Mr. Anonymous

Just a guy with a pen & a delusion
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 13, 2008
Messages
2,781
Reaction score
668
All right, cool, thank you. One thing.

I did find the agency listed on the london book fair site. Does anyone know anything about the site itself? Is it reputable?

http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/page.cfm/action=Exhib/ExhibID=00528/OSite=0M0L0K_623

Here's what it says about Dorie.

Literary agency representing commercial fiction and non-fiction, as well as children's books with a diverse client list including the international bestselling authors Barbara and Allan Pease, J. Randy Taraborrelli, Gemma Townley, Greg King, Paul Scott, Alison Bowyer, Ros Taylor and a number of award-winning and bestselling authors in conjunction with US literary agents.
 

waylander

Who's going for a beer?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
8,279
Reaction score
1,567
Age
65
Location
London, UK
The London Book Fair is one of the biggest events in the publishing world year so yes, very legit.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
Also, getting WAY ahead of myself here, but would it be a bad idea for an American author to be represented by a Brit literary agency? Thanks guys.

It depends where you live: if you live in the UK then yes, look for an agency here, but if you live in America then you'd probably be better off finding an American-based agent.

Most agents have overseas representation, so you'd have an equal chance of making overseas sales no matter where your agent is based.
 

Old Hack

Such a nasty woman
Super Moderator
Absolute Sage
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 12, 2005
Messages
22,454
Reaction score
4,956
Location
In chaos
The London Book Fair is one of the biggest events in the publishing world year so yes, very legit.

It's expensive, but anyone can buy a stand there if they stump up the cash. Years ago there was a vanity press there. God.

However, DS is a member of the Association of Authors' Agents, so is almost certainly fine.
 

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
Still no website, but lastest sales report is for a "very nice" deal in Dec '10 (to David Fickling Books).
 

leahlightmysun

Registered
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
The Dorie Simmonds Agency is a well established Literary Agency in London working with a host of bestselling and award winning global authors.

On a more personal note, Dorie Simmonds is an excellent agent. She works harder than anyone I know, and is an extremely professional and engaging person. Any writer would be in the best hands with her, she honestly and truly cares and that is rare in this business.

See a small sampling of other client comments below:


On Gemma Malley's on http://www.lovereading4schools.co.uk/book/3044/5412:


What's the best thing you've ever written?
Probably the letter to my agent, Dorie Simmonds. It was that letter that led to my books being published instead of languishing on my computer hoping to be read by someone!


From Jennifer Donnelly's Carnegie Award acceptance speech for A GATHERING LIGHT also a bestselling book in the UK http://www.jenniferdonnelly.com/Newsletter%20Archive/carnegiespeech.html:

"To Steve Malk and Dorie Simmonds, my agents, thank you so much for your limitless good counsel and good cheer."
 

HoldinHolden

Blogger, author, poop joke maker
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 11, 2012
Messages
853
Reaction score
42
Website
holdinholden.com
I'm wondering, too. I queried her yesterday and have already exchanged a few e-mails. Not that I'm extremely picky about who I query- but somehow I spaced on her location and didn't realize she was in the UK until just now.
 

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
2,476
Reaction score
289
Location
Canada
I queried her a week ago and have heard nothing. I wonder if no response means no with her.
 

Jinsune

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
116
Reaction score
11
I just submitted to her today and I'll let you guys know if I get a response or not. I do know that she got an assistant last month to help go through the unsolicited queries.
 

amberhuez

It's a woman's world.
Registered
Joined
Jul 27, 2014
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
Idaho, USA
Did you ever hear back Jinsune? Had a weird experience with this agent. She asked for an exclusive, and kept sending me emails saying "loving the book so far", asking who else had read it, how many it had been sent to. But then in the end, never responded further. Just dropped off the map. Last update I had from her was that she was near the end and still loving it - then nothing. I waited it out, nudged politely. Still nothing. Weird thing is -from what I can find online, she seems legit. Guess she really hated the ending! Seems she could have sent a revise and resubmit or heck even a form rejection? I don't know it was just weird how keen she was on it, the constant updates, then... nothing. Also very rude and disheartening. Almost put me off the whole querying process.
 
Last edited:

Lauram6123

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 16, 2014
Messages
1,532
Reaction score
417
Location
Northern transplant in the southern US.
She asked for an exclusive, and kept sending me emails saying "loving the book so far", asking who else had read it, how many it had been sent to, a LOT of questions like this - which I guess did seem a bit weird or over eager. But then in the end, never responded further. Just dropped off the map. Last update I had from her was that she was near the end and still loving it - then nothing. I waited it out, nudged politely. Still nothing. Weird thing is -from what I can find online, she seems legit. Guess she really hated the ending! Seems she could have sent a revise and resubmit or heck even a form rejection? I don't know it was just weird how keen she was on it, the constant updates, then... nothing. Also very rude and disheartening. Almost put me off the whole querying process.

Well that's insanely frustrating. What was the time frame here? How long has she had the full?
 

amberhuez

It's a woman's world.
Registered
Joined
Jul 27, 2014
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Location
Idaho, USA
This was some time ago. She asked for a couple of weeks - so I guess on that angle it could have been worse. But during those 2 weeks I had others request it and couldn't send it out. What really hurt me I think was how much she got my hopes up - and then the total lack of response after so much interest. She was one of the first who asked for a full manuscript. The whole experience was quite hurtful more than anything. But it taught me some valuable lessons. Still quite weird too - I mean even a form rejection would have been SOMETHING after all that build up. Perhaps something came up in her life - I'm not saying anything negative about her. As I said, she's definitely legit from what I can find out online about her, and has good credentials, I guess I just feel she treated me a bit shoddily. Anyway, that was just my experience - onwards and upwards, as they say!
 
Last edited:

waylander

Who's going for a beer?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
8,279
Reaction score
1,567
Age
65
Location
London, UK
You could call her. UK agents are cooler about be phoned than US agents.
 

Kensingtons

My recklessness was overstated
Registered
Joined
Oct 30, 2014
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
I got a full request from her about 8-9 days ago! And I've been trying to do some research, but I'm kind of hitting a wall.

On her website she lists that she's worked with big name authors in the past. Like wow, she worked with Niel Gaiman, but why for only one book? Is that a red flag, that other people have only worked with her once?
 

Laurasaurus

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2012
Messages
410
Reaction score
36
Location
England
Wow, now that's impressive.
Congrats anyway! (Did it fall down behind a cupboard or something?)

They are one of the few agencies I never heard anything back from at all. I have no problem with 'no response means no' but I do prefer it when they state that on their site somewhere.
 

screenscope

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2005
Messages
681
Reaction score
78
Location
Sydney, Australia
Wow, now that's impressive.
Congrats anyway! (Did it fall down behind a cupboard or something?)

They are one of the few agencies I never heard anything back from at all. I have no problem with 'no response means no' but I do prefer it when they state that on their site somewhere.

Thanks, Laurasaurus.

I sent around a dozen queries at the same time and this the first response. More to come? :)