SPOTLIGHT FEATURE: Caroline Montgomery from the Rupert Crew Agency
Good morning, everyone!
Caroline Montgomery is a Managing Director and Literary Agent at the Rupert Crew Agency, where she has worked for close to 30 years. Previously to this, she worked as an editorial assistant across fiction and non-fiction lists. The Rupert Crew Agency is not currently open to unsolicited submissions, but their existing clients write across genres including crime and thriller, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction, biography and nature.
Caroline kindly took time out of her schedule to share some thoughts on her work as an agent, and you can read the highlights below!
Caroline is also doing one-to-one sessions with Jericho Writers in January. If you’d like to get her feedback on your work, you can learn more and buy your session here.
“I think of my clients as my publishing family. Many of my clients have been with me since I first became an agent.”
Hi Caroline, thanks for speaking with us today!
Q. What’s at the top of your fiction wish-list?
I would love to find some immersive historical fiction—perhaps something a bit gothic.
Q. What’s at the top of your non-fiction wish-list?
Historical Biography—anything that teaches me about people, places, an era I know nothing about. Or some nature writing. I’d like to find something on gardening, as again, I am keen to learn!
Q. Is there any genre you’d rather not receive?
Science fiction and anything with animal narrators—I didn’t get along with Watership Down. Military thrillers, or anything action hero.
Q. What do you want to see in a query letter? And what do you hate?
Something succinct which tells me who you are, what you have written, and who your book will appeal to. If I see the phrase “fictional novel” I probably won’t read any further. Also, don’t tell me that your friends, grandchildren and the dog loved your work. They are probably not the most objective audience!
Q. What are you looking for in the opening pages of a novel? What really excites you?
A great opening line will always intrigue me—Jonathan Carroll’s Outside the Dog Museum is a classic:
“I’d just bitten the hand that fed me when God called, again.”
Q. What makes for a successful author-agent relationship? How can both parties get the most out of the relationship?
Communication is key—I think of my clients as my publishing family. Many of my clients have been with me since I first became an agent, so we have travelled some smooth roads with great vistas and some bumpy ones with less appealing views over the years. You build friendship and above all, trust.
Q. Tell us about a recent deal (or three) that really delighted you.
A non-fiction deal for a definitive history of Goth (which is yet to be formally announced). The reissue of Max Décharné’s classic book on the King’s Road which has been out of print for years and will be reissued by Omnibus. And finally, The Cousins of Pemberley series by Linda O’Byrne which Spellbound Books are now publishing. It’s absolutely delightful to be immersed in Austen’s world in this way.
Q. What are some of your favourite authors and books?
Aside from my own, of course, my favourite authors include C J Samson, Jessie Burton, and David Nicholls—and I always remember Philip Roth’s The Human Stain which took me three attempts to get into but once I was in, I was hooked.
Q. What interests or passions do you have beyond the world of books? What do you love?
Films—my husband has done a remarkable job in turning me into the nerdy kid who watches too many superhero movies. I enjoy baking and walking in the countryside, and I’m a trustee for a remarkable charity called Resources for Autism which does sterling work to help neurodiverse people and their families.
Q. Any final words of advice for authors in the querying process?
Ensure that the people you approach actually handle the material you are sending them. You would not believe the number of screenplays and poetry projects that have been sent my way over the years. Agents don’t for a moment imagine that you are making a sole submission to them, but don’t include your multi-mail out address list when making your submission, and be patient.
The full interview can be found on Caroline’s AgentMatch profile.
In the meantime, if you’re struggling with your query letter and synopsis, do check out our free resources on our website. We have lots of info to help you on your way. Or, better still, if you’re a member with us, our lovely Writers Support team will be happy to offer you a free query letter review!
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