YourAgent.no

2011-09-04T04:14:00.001-07:00

New Web Site

2011-09-01T07:22:00.000-07:00

Since Youragent.no no longer takes in new writers, we have decided only to use this web site active.
Until October 1st you can go directly to YourAgent.no for information. We are working on transferring important text from the other website
You can also look into another blog about agencies here

On writing good queries

2008-06-12T02:32:00.001-07:00

At London Book Fair last April my agent table was located next to Jeff and Celeste from Folio Literary Management from New York City. I had some pleasant days, Americans are always so open and friendly. Although we all were very busy, we found the time in between the slots to chat about our projects and plans and problems, and they gave me many new ideas. We even managed to have a meeting also. Today I found their new blog for the first time, and here is a link to their article for writers and how they should do it while writing a good querie, read more here I wish Folio literary management good luck with their blog and future work, and hope to see them in Frankfurt in October.

Internet Movies database

2008-04-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

Being an agent involves so much to learn. Yesterday I saw an interview on Norwegian television with a digital compositor Brian Connor. I always have a pencil nearby my chair som that I can remember to find out more about people who interest me. Here is what I found today. Brian Connor is the master behind the digital effects in films like Poseidon in 2006, and Pirates of the Caribbean. This lead me to this web site where everybody put in their film projects. Since I have no film to present (yet) this is just of minor interest, but never the less, I have learned something new on my path toward other goals.

Lazy agents - do they really exist?

2008-04-02T05:26:00.000-07:00

Hallo there,
I am still working very hard for "my" authors, and I am still travelling to book fairs and film festivals in order to sell rights. But the competition is so HUGE! Even if I think my writers are the best in the world, it really takes time to convince the translators, other agents, the publishers and, the film producers about this. A lot of time time also passes by declining offers from new writers world wide, most of them have written "the most unique book, not like anything else in the world", and I have to understand that I would be very stupid to let them down. I have to let them down a lot. Sorry about that --- There should be more agents in the world.
I sometimes feel like a spider makings its net in a very bustling area where it always gets interrupted from outside, it always needs mending, extension, rebuilding, strategy etc. etc.. I must confess, I am much more cynical now than I was when I started three years ago. A Chinese agent wrote these words to me: I can tell you, I have become cruel over the last 25 years. I am not quite there yet, since I started my business only three years ago. I still try to be nice. But this is a tough business, and not the least easy. But it is fun though!
For me personally this is the most interesting and challenging job I have had in my whole life. In a few days I will attend the London Book Fair and meet a lot of people, who have the same problems, the same goals as myself.
I have heard some people during these years talking about lazy agents. I do not believe they exist. If they are there, they must belong to those who have given up. Talk to you later.
Please give me comments if you have any.
Mrt:-)

Translation is the big thing

2007-10-05T04:09:00.000-07:00

Time for a little updating.

As it is I am working mostly on the international market. Translators are the most important people in this business, especially for us who have a small language area, like Norwegian, Danish and Swedish. Many foreign publishers hesitate to go into projects that mean expensive translations. And not all of them want to spend money on language consultants. Those authors who can pay for their own professional translators, have probably a better chance on the international market. But NORLA supports translators also from Norwegian to languages outside the Nordic countries.
I want you first of all to take a look at my web site You will find an overview of the authors that I am working for now, with presentations of one and each of them. Within the two years I have been running this agency, I have broadened my themes quite a lot. Later I will have to narrow it, as soon as my network is built up as much as I want, I will have to make a decision of which fields I will work with. After all I cannot work for everybody, at this moment I am promoting both fictional and non-fictional authors.This is hard work, but rewarding too.
The problem with a mature gemini like myself, I am interested in everything, but I will have to make a choise. My choise goes for those who do not expect me to do miracles for them. This is a tough industry, I can assure you.

Agents in Scandinavia

2006-01-24T04:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I tell authors: You can send your own manuscript directly to a publishing company in Norway. You do not need to go through an agent. But if you want me to try your book both in Norway and world wide, you might as well try me. Norwegian publishers are familiar with the fact that most Norwegian authors submit their manuscripts directly to the publisher, because that is common practice in Scandinavia. Untill 2005 there was no independent agent in Norway. The publishers evaluate your manuscript and give you feedback. In the standard contract, the Norwegian publishing house keeps the publishing rights for the rest of the world, UNLESS you as an author demands otherwise. But it might help with an agent if you are a busy person and do not have the time to try the right publisher for your book. You may have to go several "rounds" with your manuscript, since there are so few books edited here, and the competition is high. The Norwegian Publishing houses are serious companies, who want to edit top quality. Some Norwegian publishers only edit foreign books and take no Norwegian writers. I have often wondered why. Is it because they have been contacted by foreign agents?
A German publisher told me in November 2005 that manuscripts not submitted through agents go directly in the paper bin. He never reads them and never gives feedback to manuscripts that come directly from a writer.
I understand that is pretty usual, or am I mistaken? Any one who have other experiences?
You are all welcome to make a comment.

Preditors & Editors

2006-01-07T03:07:00.000-08:00

I still have the capacity for a few serious writers who want to get into the
Scandinavian market. I have just recently been listed as a member of Preditors & Editors, look here in order to learn more about this world wide listing of serious agents.
I am registered under my company name: Bødtker Yuniku Agency.
I can accept English, German, Spanish texts, as well as all the Scandinavian languages. (Norwegian, Danish, Swedish) I prefer novels from all over the world,
since short stories and childrens books are extremely hard to sell in Scandinavia.
Send me first a letter and tell me about yourself to this adress. Enclosed files will not be accepted at this stage.

New blog about literary agents for Scandinavians

2005-12-05T04:59:00.001-08:00

For Scandinavians I have just made a new blog with FAQ.
Look here

New blog about literary agents for Scandinavians

2005-12-05T04:59:00.000-08:00

For Scandinavians I have just made a new blog with FAQ.
Look here

FAQs where do I find them?

2005-08-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

I have been surfing the net all day to find out more about blogs and web sites with FAQs concerning literary agents. I found a lot of fancy, elaborated, colorful web sites that did not give me any answers to my wonders. The exception was this from ebooks Crossroad, where they had some good questions and answers that made sense to me.

I will continue to search, and let you know. If anyone could tell me their good practice for contracts with writers and publishing companies, don't hesitate to comment. I would very much like to make collegial friendships with some of you, and I might be willing to help you further on in Scandinavia, with preference to Norway, since Denmark and Sweden already have many literary agents.

As I told you in the beginning, I have just started, and as far as I known, there is no one but me here.. Go to my Norwegian web site, where you will find some information in English.
For those of you who do not have time to check: I have a B.A. I am a former librarian, a published writer of seven books, a journalist, a playwright and editor of a drama journal.

Literary agent for Scandinavia

2005-08-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hallo

Welcome to this first posting of my new blog. I have not heard about any one else, but as far as I know I am the first literary agent in Norway for writers who want to be published here.

My services are primarily for Norwegian, Swedish and Danish writers to be.
But if you are an established writer - with good documented reviews - in another country, I might help you to get your book published in Scandinavia.

I have started as a literary agent and you will find something about me if you go
to this adress
For Scandinavian readers you should also go to this interesting blog adress
Looking forward to hear from serious writers.

Marit