Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Top Gun Agent

You want someone with power, someone who can get your manuscript in the hands of elite publishing executives, someone who won't take no for an answer. Based on Judith Regan's recent diatribe, as "leaked" by HarperCollins legal eagles, you couldn't find a more powerful agent than Esther Newberg.

She must be tied at the hip to Jane Friedman, top level exec of HarperCollins, since they reportedly worked together to get poor Judith kicked out of her own imprint. Who wouldn't want that kind of agent? And don't forget HarperCollins executive editor David Hirshey. He's part of this publishing cabal that had the long knives out for Ms. Regan.

An agent with powerhouse ICM, Ms. Newberg reps the luminaries of thriller authordom, people like Carl Hiassen. With all the reading she's done over the years, it's no wonder that she's mastered the art of intrigue. Is there a plot device or devious technique she's not seen yet? Like a master student of the genre, she has surely incorporated much of the information provided by her stable of authors and put all that knowledge to good use. Hence, Judith Regan was tossed out on her arse, bested by a master. More exciting than any episode of 24, wouldn't you say?

It's starting to read like some spy novel, with Ms. Regan announcing the conspiracy against her, days in advance. Then there's the chick-lit catty element, with Jane Friedman playing the snotty role while Ms. Regan portrays the downtrodden Cinderella. And off in the sidelines, waiting for his cue, is agent Laurence J. Kirshbaum, ready to provide Ms. Regan's happy ending by repping the tell-all memoir that will blow the lid off the secret cabal in publishing. Kirshbaum...isn't that Jewish?

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