https://www.stormliteraryagency.com/

Storm Literary Agency (SLA) is a boutique literary agency representing quality literature from exceptional authors and illustrators.

Victoria Selvaggio possesses over 30 years of business-ownership and publishing experience. Previously with the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency in 2013, she joined SLA as a co-owner in 2018 and became the owner of Storm Literary Agency , LLC in 2022.

Her list features both debut and award-winning authors. She represents all age categories and all genres except Erotica Romance.

As a former Regional Advisor for SCBWI: Northern Ohio and with over twenty-five years experience as a business owner, Victoria is excited to help grow the agency with talented creatives. 

“Doing both jobs: writing and agenting, I now know both sides of the desk. I was once a writer who couldn't understand why it took so long (sometimes) to get a response to a submission or how sometimes quick responses were great but not so great.

My first day agenting I received over 400 queries. I was known in the industry but not well-known. By the end of the month, I was into the thousands. Thousands!

New to agenting (there was no Query Manager at that time), I didn't push to "close" to submissions. I know now that I should have. Regardless of that, I am also the type that feels it is respectful to acknowledge (or try to) those who have reached out. Took the time to research me, my interests, and felt we were a fit.

I also know from both sides of the desk how it feels. The quick response. The no response. The vague response. The response that offered great feedback. The response that took a long time to receive.

I also know too, what I do as an agent; I wear many hats. And then, what my tasks consist of with helping maintain a business and agency. Personal life happens, too. Which at times, reading must carry over into that time, because there are only so many hours in a day. 

At every event and interaction I've ever had, I am honest...”

https://www.juliettehyland.com/

Juliette Hyland has written more than 25 books for Harlequin/Mills & Boon, imprints of Harper Collins. She’s given workshops around the country on writing craft. Her favorite topic of all time is writing tropes—she can always find a way to sneak it into conversations. Her favorite question to ask authors is “why?” Why is your character doing that? Okay, but why?

She says the quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” gets bandied around a lot. It’s been attributed to Confucius, though it almost certainly wasn’t said by him. It is written in beautiful calligraphy and posted to Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. I’m certain it’s on one of my boards. The quote sounds great. However, it’s a load of crap.

Even if you have a job you love, it will seem like work on many days….I do treat my writing as a job. I attempt to get at least a few hundred words in a day, edit on a timely schedule and plot before I start drafts (spend too much time on Pinterest searching out character names).

I love watching my characters come to life on the paper, but it is hard. Many days are fun. Just as many, though, feel like I am slogging through words to get the draft done, slashing scenes I once thought were great and now see as huge backstory drops (there go 2,000 words!). …

I think this quote feeds into the lie we’ve been fed. IF you can just get the right job, then you will always feel like you are playing a game. Newsflash. That isn’t how jobs work. Some days the muscles burn, the brain hurts, and you just want to flip through Instagram makeup videos.

AND THAT IS OKAY! We all deserve a little grace, even if we get to do the thing that makes us happiest.

Reviews

Juliette Hyland has a way of wrapping her characters around my heart very quickly! ~https://thoughtsofablonde.com

This book is at its finest and it reminds me of a really good movie that you want to watch over and over again. ~ Goodreads