Interview with Ben baldwin - agent and publishing success story
Congratulations, Ben, on recently signing with Bloodhound Books for a three-book deal. Can you tell us a little about the series?
The series follows Sam Taylor, a Repatriation Officer within the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office’s repatriation department is tasked with returning the citizens of the UK home. Whether missing, wrongly incarcerated or deceased, the department will bring them back. The first book takes place in Amsterdam. Repatriation officer Sam Taylor is shot and left for dead in the cold waters of Amsterdam’s canals.
After nearly a year of filling his nightmares, the beautiful yet dangerous shooter is found deceased within the city. Sent back to confirm her identity, Sam soon finds his shooter, like the case, is very much alive.
How would you describe your writing journey?
So far, a thirteen-year roller coaster of emotion from loss of confidence to disappointment to unbelievable shock!
Can you describe your submissions process? How many agencies did you submit to and how did you select them?
I don’t mind saying I found the submissions process intimidating. How do you hook an agent with only 3 chapters? Ultimately, I think it’s a lot of luck that you reach out to the right agent at the right time. I was really lucky to find Anna at Intersaga in my first batch!
What do you think were the key factors in the literary agent offering a contract?
That they found a connection between the character and themselves. The feedback I received was all about how they had become hooked to the story and straight away believed in the concept.
What happened after you signed with the literary agency?
My agent got straight onto to reaching out to her contacts in the publishing world. She prepared a proposal which she then sent out to editors. We were really lucky and got an offer from the first batch, meaning it was less than a month from submission to literary agent to publishing deal.
How did you celebrate your publishing deal?
A large gin and tonic! It was a major relief.
What role did our work together play in your publishing success and what was most helpful to you in my editorial and literary consultancy support?
You helped make my work the best it could be to be able to make a great first impression. Having you cast a professional eye over the manuscript meant that the first impression on the reader was strong, which in this world is vital.
When can we expect to buy your first book?
November 2024 (And then book 2 in March 25 and book 3 in August 25!)
One tip for aspiring authors?
Write what you would like to read. You will spend hours writing/reading/proofing so always write something you’d enjoy buying!