“When the project is fantastic, anything is possible.” —Alex Reubert, HG Literary
Every other year, the Writers’ League of Texas brings notable literary agents and book editors to Austin for its Agents & Editors Conference. As we look ahead to the 31st A&E Conference, taking place June 26–28, 2026, we’re happy to share Q&As with some of our visiting agents and editors here.
An Interview with Alex Reubert
Alex Reubert is pursuing books that, either by style or story, demand he keep reading. He loves novels set outside the U.S., and stories that offer the reader a new or unconventional way of seeing. Novels that skew upmarket and literary are welcome, as are any narrators looking back and trying to make sense of their life.
For nonfiction, he’s interested in memoir, psychology, narrative, literary studies, art history, popular science, philosophy, and cultural studies. Writers that instill a sense of curiosity and wonder in others, no matter the subject, should get in touch and tell him about their work.
How would you describe your personal approach to working with an author?
Alex Reubert: It’s always different! But one thing’s the same: I want my authors to write the book they want to write, and for it to be the best version of itself it can be—then we’ll find the editor that understands their work and shares their vision for it.
What do you look for in a debut author?
AR: Someone whose writing is moving, or funny, or propulsive, or stylish, or any combination of those things. Someone ambitious and patient.
What’s one piece of advice you find yourself giving time and time again?
AR: Probably something involving narrative promises. Whether with tone, character, plot, or genre, what kind of promises are you making to the reader? Are you making good on them?
What excites you the most about the publishing industry today?
AR: As an agent, my excitement and energy most often springs from reading an amazing manuscript. When the project is fantastic, anything is possible.
Tell us about a recent book/project that you worked on that excited you and you want everyone to know about?
AR: Recently sold: Ackermann by Nicolette Polek, about a young woman investigating the disappearance of her beloved piano teacher in the snowy Carpathian mountains. Polek is an incredible stylist, and tonally, atmospherically, there’s no novel like it.
Recently published: Superstars by Ann Scott, translated by Jonathan Woollen. A carnal portrait of Paris’s queer rave scene in the ’90s and an incredible debut translation from Woollen. I love books about music in any form and novels that really capture a particular time and place, so I’m delighted this one’s out in the world.
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Thanks, Alex!
Click here for more information on the 2026 Agents & Editors Conference, a weekend-long event in Austin, TX (June 26-28) that focuses on the craft of writing, the business of publishing, and building a literary community.
