Amanda Harris on the economics of publishing, setting up her own literary agency and what makes a worthwhile celebrity book

Rachel and Simon speak to the literary agent Amanda Harris. Amanda started her publishing career in publicity, first at Pan Macmillan, then at Simon and Schuster. She switched to editorial and worked with authors including David Baldacci and Jackie Collins before moving to Orion, where she launched two imprints, Orion Spring and Seven Dials. In 2019 Amanda joined YMU, a global talent agency, and set up their literary division, selling almost 100 books, many in six- or seven-figure deals. In 2025 Amanda founded Maven Literary Management, a “modern literary agency” which represents fiction and non-fiction authors. Amanda has agented over 50 Sunday Times bestsellers - including books by Claudia Winkleman, Matt Lucas and Graham Norton - and has been nominated four times for Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards, winning in 2025. We spoke to Amanda about moving from publicity to editorial to agenting, the process of setting up Maven, and working with celebrity authors (and ghostwriters).

We’ve also made (yet) another update for those ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who support the podcast on the crowdfunding site Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. We’ve added a further 70 pages of new material to the package of successful article pitches that goes to anyone who supports the show with $5 per month or more, including new pitches to the New Yorker, Bloomberg Businessweek, and the Guardian Long Read. The whole compendium now runs to a magisterial 230 pages. For Patreons who contribute $10/month we’re now also releasing bonus mini-episodes. Other Patreon rewards include signed copies of the podcast book and the opportunity to take part in a call with Simon and Rachel.

A new edition of “Always Take Notes: Advice From Some Of The World’s Greatest Writers” - a book drawing on our podcast interviews - is available now. The updated version now includes insights from over 100 past guests on the podcast, with new contributions from Harlan Coben, Victoria Hislop, Lee Child, Megan Nolan, Jhumpa Lahiri, Philippa Gregory, Jo Nesbø, Paul Theroux, Hisham Matar and Bettany Hughes. You can order it via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Waterstones⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

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