Behind the Book with Legendary Literary Agent Regina Brooks
On episode 57 of the Reed, Write, & Create podcast, we’re going Behind the Book with legendary literary agent Regina Brooks. Remember, instead of speaking with legendary authors, this season we are speaking to people who work in the book business. People whose livelihoods depend on the free flowing circulation of books in the world.
Who is Regina Brooks?
Regina Brooks is the founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency in New York, the largest African American–owned agency in the US. She has represented and established a diverse base of award-winning clients in adult and young adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. Her authors have appeared in USA Today, the New York Times, and the Washington Post as well as on Oprah, ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN.
Currently the president of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), Brooks is also a founding member of Literary Agents of Change (LAOC) and the Black Book Accelerator.
Brooks is the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults: Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Getting Published (Sourcebooks), You Should Really Write a Book: How to Write, Sell, and Market Your Memoir (St. Martin’s Press).
Prior to her publishing career, Brooks worked as an aerospace engineer and made history as the first African American woman to receive a bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the Ohio State University, and today she’s a pilot and cofounder of Brooklyn Aviation. When she’s not agenting, she’s gardening, fishing, and flying her own plane.
The Difference Between a Good Writer and a Good Author
This episode is full of truth bombs and actionable advice for writers who want to find an agent stand out in a crowded field. She explains the critical difference between a good writer and a good author, and why you have to be both in today’s market.
Regina gives a true behind-the-scenes look at how agents really run their business, and she answers the important question whether BIPOC writers should only use BIPOC agents.
This is an episode you can’t afford to miss, so press play.
Useful Links from Regina Brooks
About the Black Book Accelerator
The African American Literature Book Club (AALBC)
Books Regina Recommends
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes (Middle Grade Fiction)
Who Better Than You by Will Packer (Adult Non Fiction)