The Canadian market

IkhlasHussain · Nov 26, 2012

I'm a Canadian writer, and my manuscript contains a lot of issues/themes that pertain to Canadian culture and understanding of multiculturalism.

I'm searching for Canadian agents to submit to, but I'm not having very much luck. My question, then, is that does it matter if I get a Canadian agent? Or will an American agent still be able to sell to a Canadian publisher to ensure that the book reaches the intended audience?

My concern is that the Canadian publishing scene is VERY different from the American one, and yet, I can't seem to find very many Canadian agents listed in my genre (general fiction/multiculturalism) to be able to represent my work. I've checked Query Tracker so far, and am now looking on AgentQuery, but there doesn't seem to be a region filter on AgentQuery. Is there anywhere else I should be looking for agents?

If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on this, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Undercover · Nov 26, 2012

Off the top of my head The Cooke Agency is one Canadian Literary Agency: http://www.cookeagency.ca/contact.htm

I think if you get a U.S. agent they would use the foreign rights commission (usually 20%) but I am not 100% sure on that. The Publisher's Marketplace is another good site to search for agents. In an advanced search, you can see if you can find Canadian agents that way too. Good luck with it.

willietheshakes · Nov 26, 2012

The Cooke Agency, TLA, McDermid & Assoc., Denise Bukowski, Helen Heller, Westwood, Carolyn Swayze, Beverly Slopen...

And no, you don't NEED a Canadian agent to sell in Canada, but as you say, it's a very different market.

Bushrat · Nov 26, 2012

There's a book called "The Canadian Writer's Market" that lists many agencies.

Edit: And I think your book would speak to readers in many countries. Sure, it's set in Canada, in the Canadian context, but the topics you touch on aren't of such limited interest that nobody abroad would want to read it

Meems · Nov 26, 2012

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall a few discussions around here where it was mentioned that American agents sell American rights as North American rights, and that that automatically includes Canada. However, I don't know that the reverse is true.

I also remember another thread where someone mentioned that they had been asked by an interested American agent to change the setting of their story from Toronto to NYC to make it appeal to an American audience more. Keep in mind that that was one case and that all agents differ, and also that there are many Canadian writers who write about Canadian settings and who get published in the US.

Toothpaste · Nov 26, 2012

If your book is as you say it is, then you will likely have a tough time selling it outside of Canada. Of course you can be a Canadian writer with an American agent (ie Me) but if what you are writing is uniquely Canadian, you would be far better off to keep looking into Canadian agents. You should also consider subbing to Canadian publishers. We have some excellent smaller presses.

Canada's literary scene is pretty much the only arts scene where we have a star system (actors and musicians have to leave the country before they are considered successful by Canadians). We really support our authors and Canadian content. As well as literary fiction in particular. I'd say before searching abroad you really exhaust your efforts at home. Because this seems like the perfect market for your book.

And Meems - if you sell to the States first that often includes North America. If you sell to the UK first that often includes the Commonwealth. If you sell to Canada first, you've only sold to Canada. Alas.

Undercover · Nov 26, 2012

Toothpaste definitely has the right idea. She brings up a good point in searching for Canadian publishers too. I would agree, there are some really nice ones out there.

IkhlasHussain · Nov 26, 2012

Thanks so much everyone!

I too have heard stories of agents/editors asking authors to change the location of their stories from Canadian locales to American ones, which is kind of scary!

And thanks Bushrat, I also don't think the issues in my MS are too region-specific and do think they should appeal to people abroad as well. It's just the Canadian culture/setting that can be rather finicky...

I'll take a look at the agencies mentioned, and also at The Canadian Writer's Market. I have picked it up before, but I didn't see a large section on agents so I think I put it back down, so I'll try it again.

Thanks again everyone.

Lady MacBeth · Nov 26, 2012

Undercover said:
Toothpaste definitely has the right idea. She brings up a good point in searching for Canadian publishers too. I would agree, there are some really nice ones out there.

Agree!

Sheryl Nantus · Nov 27, 2012

Meems said:
Keep in mind that that was one case and that all agents differ, and also that there are many Canadian writers who write about Canadian settings and who get published in the US.

I'm one of them.

All of my stories below have been based in Toronto, my hometown.

willietheshakes · Nov 27, 2012

Meems said:
I also remember another thread where someone mentioned that they had been asked by an interested American agent to change the setting of their story from Toronto to NYC to make it appeal to an American audience more. Keep in mind that that was one case and that all agents differ, and also that there are many Canadian writers who write about Canadian settings and who get published in the US.

Definitely only one case these days (though it WAS an issue a couple of decades ago). It's never even been hinted that I should change the setting of my books, and Before I Wake - set in Victoria - has been published in 10 or 12 countries.

Toothpaste · Nov 27, 2012

I think it's a matter of tone and content. If the Canadian setting is just that it's easier to sell abroad. If it's Canadian in theme though (and we Canadians know what that means) it's a much harder sell. From the description of the book it sounded like Canadian lit fic, dealing with the Canadian identity theme. If it is broader than that, it has a shot.

I didn't think I was being unreasonable in my advice, especially as there is a fantastic market for that kind of fiction here. And the OP can always try the States. I just thought this really sounded like a Canadian book.

Bushrat · Nov 27, 2012

Toothpaste said:
From the description of the book it sounded like Canadian lit fic, dealing with the Canadian identity theme. If it is broader than that, it has a shot.

As much as we Canadians like to think the identity question is ours and ours alone, it's not. To me, her story about a young muslim woman caught between two cultures and finding love along the way sounds like it would have quite a broad appeal.

Toothpaste · Nov 27, 2012

No, I'm not saying the concept of identity is ours and ours alone. I am saying the concept of Canadian identity is ours alone. Most of our lit fic market is focused on that. A uniquely Canadian theme. She knows her work best. And she hardly described it here. I was making some guesses based on a very limited description and the fact that she was interested in Canadian agents in the first place (I never even bothered with Canadian agents knowing that my work was not likely to appeal to them). You made other assumptions. Neither of us can know who is right, the only one who knows what's right for their story is the OP. I'm not sure what is ultimately right for this book. I have recommended to other Canadians to pursue a broader market, but I also think depending on the kind of book, there is great opportunity in Canada for a certain kind of fiction and it would be a shame to totally not even try here if one is writing that kind of fiction.

There are universal themes, absolutely. But there are also uniquely Canadian ones. And Canadian authors can be rewarded handsomely for writing about such. If in any way I have been coming across like Canada is the be all and end all, I'm sorry. As a Canadian author who has a NYC agent, is being published by an American house (and distributed up here), who's first agent was in the UK, I'm well aware we are capable of writing other stuff. I was just trying to be helpful. That's all.

neilfriske · Nov 27, 2012

Sheryl Nantus said:
I'm one of them.

All of my stories below have been based in Toronto, my hometown.

I'm in Toronto, myself. All my stories are based in Ontario. I reference Canadian crap like Tim horton's, Trudeau and health cards all the time. I'm worried about having to pay a 20% fee if my Agent is in america.

Sheryl Nantus · Nov 27, 2012

neilfriske said:
I'm worried about having to pay a 20% fee if my Agent is in america.

I don't get it.

KTC · Nov 27, 2012

Identity discussion aside, I'm on the organizing committee for the Ontario Writers' Conference. Last year we had 6 agents at the conference...we will have a number of agents at the conference again this year. Registration opens in early December. Now, you have to register to attend the conference in order to book a pitch session with an agent...but it is something you can think about. You get several minutes with the agent of your choosing from the ones in attendance. All 2013 details will be posted to the site within the next 2 weeks.

www.thewritersconference.com

Just a thought...I don't want to push the conference here, but the face time with an agent is invaluable, right. The conference is in Ajax, which is JUST east of Toronto.

Kevin

KTC · Nov 27, 2012

Sheryl Nantus said:
I don't get it.

They mean 20% instead of 15%. Often, if a Canadian has an American agent, the agent gets 20% instead of 15%.

IkhlasHussain · Nov 27, 2012

Thanks for the info, Kevin! I didn't know about it before you mentioned it, but I'm definitely interested now. Some time face to face with an agent would be AMAZING, so I'll look into this...

KTC said:
Identity discussion aside, I'm on the organizing committee for the Ontario Writers' Conference. Last year we had 6 agents at the conference...we will have a number of agents at the conference again this year. Registration opens in early December. Now, you have to register to attend the conference in order to book a pitch session with an agent...but it is something you can think about. You get several minutes with the agent of your choosing from the ones in attendance. All 2013 details will be posted to the site within the next 2 weeks.

www.thewritersconference.com

Just a thought...I don't want to push the conference here, but the face time with an agent is invaluable, right. The conference is in Ajax, which is JUST east of Toronto.

Kevin

KTC · Nov 27, 2012

For the record...the book in my avi...it's based in The Beaches district of Toronto...it is 100% Canadian...it even features Gordon Lightfoot as one of its characters. (-:

It is published by an American publisher.

KTC · Nov 27, 2012

IkhlasHussain said:
Thanks for the info, Kevin! I didn't know about it before you mentioned it, but I'm definitely interested now. Some time face to face with an agent would be AMAZING, so I'll look into this...

2013 will be our 5th conference...so we're getting a lot more notice lately. Last year was the first year we were able to attract agents. Now, they are asking to attend. We're quite pleased!

Sheryl Nantus · Nov 27, 2012

I actually had a Canadian agent reject my book because, wait for it...

....

she said it didn't have enough Canadian elements.

That would be the superhero one. *points down* With a Canadian main character who works/lives on Queen Street West.

That takes place IN Toronto and has a huge final battle scene over Lake Ontario at the CNE grounds.

Yep. Not enough Canadian content.

IkhlasHussain · Nov 27, 2012

Thank you for your insight into this topic, Toothpaste.

The concept of Canadian identity is definitely our own, and it is something that is unique to us. But at the same time, I still believe the themes of acceptance, belonging, multiculturalism, etc. will appeal to other audiences.

I'm just concerned that my MS may be TOO Canadian, if you know what I mean? But given everyone's input on the topic, I don't think there's such a thing!

Toothpaste said:
No, I'm not saying the concept of identity is ours and ours alone. I am saying the concept of Canadian identity is ours alone. Most of our lit fic market is focused on that. A uniquely Canadian theme. She knows her work best. And she hardly described it here. I was making some guesses based on a very limited description and the fact that she was interested in Canadian agents in the first place (I never even bothered with Canadian agents knowing that my work was not likely to appeal to them). You made other assumptions. Neither of us can know who is right, the only one who knows what's right for their story is the OP. I'm not sure what is ultimately right for this book. I have recommended to other Canadians to pursue a broader market, but I also think depending on the kind of book, there is great opportunity in Canada for a certain kind of fiction and it would be a shame to totally not even try here if one is writing that kind of fiction.

There are universal themes, absolutely. But there are also uniquely Canadian ones. And Canadian authors can be rewarded handsomely for writing about such. If in any way I have been coming across like Canada is the be all and end all, I'm sorry. As a Canadian author who has a NYC agent, is being published by an American house (and distributed up here), who's first agent was in the UK, I'm well aware we are capable of writing other stuff. I was just trying to be helpful. That's all.

IkhlasHussain · Nov 27, 2012

Yikes! Yeah, as a Canadian, those locations are COMPLETELY unfamiliar to me.

Sheryl Nantus said:
I actually had a Canadian agent reject my book because, wait for it...

....

she said it didn't have enough Canadian elements.

That would be the superhero one. *points down* With a Canadian main character who works/lives on Queen Street West.

That takes place IN Toronto and has a huge final battle scene over Lake Ontario at the CNE grounds.

Yep. Not enough Canadian content.

Toothpaste · Nov 27, 2012

KTC said:
They mean 20% instead of 15%. Often, if a Canadian has an American agent, the agent gets 20% instead of 15%.

Not sure to what this is referring, but I have an American agent and she gets 15% of domestic and then a higher percentage on foreign sales. But Canada is often sold WITH America, so you aren't paying 20% to have your book sold in Canada. Personally I haven't had my American agent sell my work to just a Canadian house, so I'm going to find out if you get charged 20% for that. But I kind of figure the point of having an American agent is to sell to the broader American market, so it would make more sense to have them be your domestic agent in the first place. I think.

Also the conference is fantastic! I went last year, and I was totally blown away by it. Go go!

The Canadian market

I got it covered

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

reaching for the sun

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

I got it covered

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

Holding out for a Superhero...

Gentleman. Scholar. Bastard.

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

reaching for the sun

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

Holding out for a Superhero...

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Holding out for a Superhero...

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!