Finding Your Perfect Agent Fit with Agent Ismita Hussain and Author Jessica Guerrieri

The Manuscript Academy

Please note: This episode contains mentions of alcoholism, recovery, and sobriety. We are so happy to welcome author Jessica Guerrieri and agent Ismita Hussain (Great Dog Literary) to the podcast. They're a great example of what to look for in an author-agent relationship--they're creative, collaborative, supportive, and successful (Jessica's debut book club fiction, Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, comes out 2025 with HarperCollins). We also discuss re-querying, facing rejection, and the healing power of storytelling and personal narrative. Meet with Ismita here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/faculty-members/ismita-hussain Find the transcript and show notes here: https://manuscriptacademy.com/podcast-ismita-hussain-jessica-guerrieri 00:44 Introducing Jessica Guerrieri 00:54 Ismita Hussain's Journey from Healthcare to Literary Agent 01:55 Jessica Guerrieri's Writing Journey and Sobriety 03:04 The Power of Perseverance: Jessica Guerrieri's Path to Publication 04:18 The Editorial Process: From Query to Preempt 06:58 Understanding the Preempt and the Publishing Process 10:50 Revising with Resilience: Jessica Guerrieri's Approach to Feedback 17:13 Building Trust and Thickening Skin in the Publishing World 21:31 Looking Ahead: Plans After the Book Deal 22:02 Embarking on a Unique Memoir Journey 22:13 Exploring Motherhood and Recovery 22:48 The Power of Sharing Personal Stories 27:02 The Role of Fiction and Nonfiction in Recovery 29:42 The Importance of Representation in Literature 39:57 The Value of Specificity in Storytelling 43:15 The Memoir Market and Connecting with Agents