“As long as we remain honest, forthright, and dedicated to working as hard as we can towards achieving our common goals, the relationship should remain healthy and (hopefully!) prove fruitful.” –Saba Sulaiman, Talcott Notch Literary Services
The 2023 Agents Symposium is a year-long program of monthly events with literary agents – taking writers step by step along the journey to publication. We’re happy to share Q&As with some of our featured agents here. To register for Saba Sulaiman’s presentation on August 26th on “The Submission Process: Finding a Publishing Partner,” click here.
An Interview with Saba Sulaiman
Saba Sulaiman is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. She holds a BA in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies from Wellesley College and an MA from the University of Chicago, where she studied modern Persian literature. Being an immigrant who is constantly negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging in a place she now calls “home,” she is committed to championing books by writers from marginalized communities with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often underexplored issues in both fiction and non-fiction with veracity and heart. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @agentsaba and learn more about her at sabasulaiman.com
Scribe: How would you describe your personal approach to working with an author?
Saba Sulaiman: Every author/agent relationship is naturally different, but I like to think all of my clients trust me and my judgment implicitly and feel comfortable approaching me about anything at all. Our interests are aligned in that we both want the author to succeed, so ideally we work together to make that happen. This means keeping communication channels open at all times and checking in frequently with each other regarding our expectations of each other as well as our changing circumstances. As long as we remain honest, forthright, and dedicated to working as hard as we can towards achieving our common goals, the relationship should remain healthy and (hopefully!) prove fruitful.
Scribe: What do you look for in a debut author?
SS: A strong, personable, authoritative, and stylish voice with a fresh take on a topic/themes I’m interested in.
Scribe: Tell us about a recent book/project that you worked on that excited you and you want everyone to know about?
SS: I’m very excited about a gorgeous picture book I have forthcoming in July called ALWAYS SISTERS by my client Saira Mir (and illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani). It’s about a girl who can’t wait to meet her baby sister Nura and makes preparations for her arrival until she realizes that she’s not coming. I can’t wait for kids and their communities to read this beautiful story, and I hope it’ll be a comfort to anyone experiencing the unimaginable grief resulting from pregnancy loss.
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Thanks, Saba!
Click here for more information on the 2023 Agents Symposium, an event that focuses on the craft of writing, the business of publishing, and building a literary community.
