Shaw joins Alex Adsett Publishing Services, announces sub-agenting services

14 July 2015 Books+Publishing

Outgoing Readings books division manager Martin Shaw will join Alex Adsett Publishing Services this month.

Shaw, who is moving to Germany, has joined the company as a literary agent specialising in literary fiction and creative nonfiction.

Founder Alex Adsett said in a statement that the appointment ‘comes at a great time for our growing company’. ‘Martin’s outstanding reputation in the book industry, his renown for helping to break out new literary voices and his sound commercial instincts will, we feel, be of great benefit to both authors and publishers alike,’ said Adsett. ‘The fact that he is going to be based in Europe means too that we can explore more fully international opportunities for our authors as their careers develop.’

Shaw said he has ‘long been an admirer of Alex’s knowledge of the industry, her passion for her authors, her razor-sharp instincts for a sound publishing contract, and her commitment to placing authors with the best possible publisher for their work’.

In related news, Shaw also announced he has ‘entered into arrangements’ with a number of Australian independent publishers to represent their titles at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair and beyond.

Shaw said he will act as a sub-agent for publishers who lack the time or resources to pursue international sales and attend the major fairs.

‘Becoming a sub-agent is a response to two things,’ said Shaw. ‘One is that although there are some regular successes in terms of rights sales of Oz titles into various territories around the world, it’s haphazard, and there are some good titles I suspect are not getting the attention they deserve.’

‘There are also some instances of publishers who typically do go to Frankfurt, but won’t be going this year, because the travel grants they depend on for this purpose have been put in abeyance for 2015, as a result of the recent grants changes at the Australia Council. So I feel this is a chance to keep their flag flying on the international stage, and for newer publishers to get their books noticed for perhaps the first time.’

For more information about Alex Adsett Publishing Services, click here. For more information about Shaw’s sub-agenting services, click here.

Category: Local news