Behind the Scenes of Literary Agents with Laura B. McGrath (Author of Middlemen) | Ep. 229

In Episode 229, Sarah talks with Laura B. McGrath about her new book, Middlemen, and the behind-the-scenes role literary agents play in publishing. They discuss what agents actually do, how they shape an author's career, the hype surrounding debut novels, and what Laura learned while researching one of publishing's least visible professions. Plus, Laura shares her book recommendations.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• Middlemen by Laura B. McGrath (April 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org 
• Why a literary agent's most important job isn't what most readers think.
• What agents are really looking for when they decide to represent an author.
• The surprising amount of homework agents do before signing a new client.
• The hype surrounding debut novels — and some of the downsides that come with it.
• Why the publishing industry was initially wary of public book sales data.

Laura's Book Recommendations

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson (1980) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12] 
• Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger (1961) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:59] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  •   Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (2004) [46:36] 

Two NEW Books She Loves

• London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[49:25] 
• Discipline by Larissa Pham (Jan 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:42] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  •  Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) [50:31] 

One Book She DIDN'T Love

• The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[53:14] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Erasure by Percival Everett (2001) [53:30] 
  • The Wife by Meg Wolitzer (2003) [53:32] 
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (1939) [54:16]
  • The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie (1947/1952) [54:19]  
  • Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [55:34] 

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

• Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li (October 13, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:04]
• Sneak Pick: Miss Lambert Steps Aboard Danger by Kazuo Ishiguro (March 9, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [57:04] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (2025) [57:39] 
  • The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro (1995) [58:43] 
  • The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (1989) [59:27] 

Books From the Discussion

• The Middle Man by Paul R. Reynolds (1972) [3:09]
• Talking at Night by Claire Daverley (2023) [10:40]
• Zone One by Colson Whitehead (2011) [11:20]
• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961)  [12:36] 
• Mila 18 by Leon Uris (1961) [13:33]
• The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead (1999) [14:18]
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [33:52] 
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [34:28] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [34:34] 
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [34:36] 
• The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) [34:39]