Jonny Geller's guest appearances

Jonny Geller

Always Take Notes

Shelf Healing

Joanne Harris

Alasdair Stuart

Sebastian Junger

Orna Ross

Cory Doctorow

Mark Haddon

Clare Balding

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Tracy Chevalier

Howard Jacobson

Elif Shafak

William Boyd

Diana Evans

Ian Rankin

Pandora Sykes

OwlTail

Curtis Brown

Rachel and Simon speak with Jonny Geller, one of the best known literary agents in London. Jonny joined Curtis Brown in 1993 as an assistant after a short career as an actor. He became a literary agent in 1995 after discovering a novel on the unsolicited pile which went on to sell rights worldwide. He became CEO of the agency in 2012 and is now also CEO of the overall Curtis Brown Group. Jonny's clients include novelists William Boyd, Monica Ali, Tracy Chevalier, David Mitchell and Elif Shafak, as well as former British prime minister Gordon Brown and the musician Bono. He represented David Cornwell, aka John le Carré, until his death last year and now represents his estate, as well as that of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. We spoke to Jonny about his unusual entry into the world of literary agenting, his approach to selling books, and how he combines the role of CEO with handling his authors. Jonny's agent's manifesto is available here and his Tedx Talk is here. This episode of Always Take Notes is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Go to www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk to find out more about their creative writing courses. Use code ATN20 for £20 off the price of any four-week, six-week or ten-week online course. You can find us online at alwaystakenotes.com, on Twitter @takenotesalways, and on Facebook at facebook.com/alwaystakenotes. Our crowdfunding page is patreon.com/alwaystakenotes. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

Rachel and Simon speak with <a href="https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/agent/jonny-geller" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonny Geller</a>, one of the best known literary agents in London. Jonny joined <a href="https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Curtis Brown</a> in 1993 as an assistant after a short career as an actor. He became a literary agent in 1995 after discovering a novel on the unsolicited pile which went on to sell rights worldwide. He became CEO of the agency in 2012 and is now also CEO of the overall Curtis Brown Group. <a href="https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/agent/jonny-geller/clients" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonny's clients</a> include novelists <a href="http://williamboyd.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">William Boyd</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Ali" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monica Ali</a>, <a href="https://www.tchevalier.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tracy Chevalier,</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mitchell_(author)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Mitchell</a> and <a href="http://www.elifsafak.com.tr/home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elif Shafak</a>, as well as former British prime minister Gordon Brown and the musician Bono. He represented David Cornwell, aka John le Carré, until his death last year and now represents his estate, as well as that of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. We spoke to Jonny about his unusual entry into the world of literary agenting, his approach to selling books, and how he combines the role of CEO with handling his authors. Jonny's agent's manifesto <a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/blogs/agents-manifesto" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">is available here</a> and his Tedx Talk <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD-uP2BsVy4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">is here</a>. This episode of Always Take Notes is sponsored by Curtis Brown Creative. Go to <a href="http://www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.curtisbrowncreative.co.uk</a> to find out more about their creative writing courses. Use code ATN20 for £20 off the price of any four-week, six-week or ten-week online course. You can find us online at <a href="https://www.alwaystakenotes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">alwaystakenotes.com</a>, on Twitter @takenotesalways, and on Facebook at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">facebook.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Our crowdfunding page is <a href="https://www.patreon.com/alwaystakenotes" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">patreon.com/alwaystakenotes</a>. Always Take Notes is presented by Simon Akam and Rachel Lloyd, and produced by Artemis Irvine. Our music is by Jessica Dannheisser and our logo was designed by James Edgar.

#108: Jonny Geller, literary agent, Curtis Brown

I chat with Jonny Geller, literary agent and CEO of Curtis Brown. We talk all about agenting and the stresses attached to it, what books Jonny likes to read (and re-read!) and why as well as about the benefits on mental health of a large literary agency and the difficulties of agenting in a pandemic.(Jonny's picture by Dean Belcher)Link to Curtis Brown Group - Literary AgencyLink to Jonny's twitterLink to Curtis Brown twitterList of authors and works mentioned:Authors:Susanna ClarkeTaschen (Publisher)Gustav FlaubertMarcel ProustIvan TurgenevGabriel García MárquezTracy ChevalierDavid NichollsMatthew SyedJohn le CarréWilliam BoydDavid MitchellJane AustenAnton ChekhovWorks:Yes, but is it Good for the Jews?  by Jonny GellerJonathan Strange &amp; Mr Norrell  by Susanna ClarkePiranesi  by Susanna ClarkeAnna Karenina  by Leo TolstoyOne Hundred Years of Solitude  by Gabriel García MárquezA Fine Balance  by Rohinton MistryGirl with a Pearl Earring  by Tracy ChevalierShort stories by Chekhov

I chat with Jonny Geller, literary agent and CEO of Curtis Brown. We talk all about agenting and the stresses attached to it, what books Jonny likes to read (and re-read!) and why as well as about the benefits on mental health of a large literary agency and the difficulties of agenting in a pandemic. (Jonny's picture by Dean Belcher) <a href="https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Link to Curtis Brown Group - Literary Agency</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyGeller" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Link to Jonny's twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheCBG_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Link to Curtis Brown twitter</a> List of authors and works mentioned: Authors: Susanna Clarke <a href="https://www.taschen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Taschen </a>(Publisher) Gustav Flaubert Marcel Proust Ivan Turgenev Gabriel García Márquez Tracy Chevalier David Nicholls Matthew Syed John le Carré William Boyd David Mitchell Jane Austen Anton Chekhov Works: Yes, but is it Good for the Jews?  by Jonny Geller Jonathan Strange &amp; Mr Norrell  by Susanna Clarke Piranesi  by Susanna Clarke Anna Karenina  by Leo Tolstoy One Hundred Years of Solitude  by Gabriel García Márquez A Fine Balance  by Rohinton Mistry Girl with a Pearl Earring  by Tracy Chevalier Short stories by Chekhov

Jonny Geller Interview