Agents Like Us - Shannon Hassan

Agents Like Us asks agents all their deep, dark agenting secrets. This week, Shannon Hassan of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is here!

She's actively looking for literary and commercial fiction, young adult, and middle grade. You can find her submission guidelines here, her PM page there, and tweeting under @ShannonHassan.

Shannon's answers are below in bold. Let us know what makes her like you in the comments!

Shannon on Agenting

• When writers query me, I really wish to fall in love with the concept.

• My favorite part about being an agent is everything! I like contributing to the creative process as much as negotiating the deal.

• Rules and trends aside, what I really look for in a story is memorable characters, a great story, writing from the heart instead of writing to fit a trend.

• Whenever I make a book deal, I run down to my husband’s office and shout words like “advance” and “pre-empt” and “imprint” as he stares at me (he’s not in publishing).

• I’d like to find a literary/commercial crossover novel that would make Amy Einhorn swoon in the slush.

Shannon on Clients

• My ideal client would be an exceptional writer, committed, willing to take criticism, a pleasure to work with.

• What I love most about my current clientele is their incredible talent and enthusiasm.

• What I want most for any client is happiness and success, in their own eyes.

Shannon on Life

• If I weren't an agent, I'd probably be sad! I have done other things before becoming an agent (attorney, editor) and this is really what I love to do.

• My favorite (non-client) book is impossible to pick a “favorite” as I am such an eclectic reader! A recent book that I enjoyed for its original voice was Swamplandia! And I recently read Harry Potter with my twins, what a joy to revisit that series.

• Secretly, I'm terrified of confined spaces. I love the wide openness of the West.

• My secret boyfriend is Ryan Gosling.

• I have a total girlcrush on Jennifer Lawrence.

• Sometimes, when I have time alone, I like to do yoga, hike or bike.

• My favorite drink is margarita on the rocks.