Editors and Agents Panel: Saba Sulaiman

 

from top left: Laurent Linn (moderator), Josh Adams, Tiffany Liao, Saba Sulaiman, and Sonali Fry

Saba Sulaiman is a Senior Agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. She holds a BA in Economics and Middle Eastern Studies from Wellesley College and an MA from the University of Chicago, where she studied modern Persian literature. Being an immigrant who is constantly negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging in a place she now calls “home,” she is committed to championing books by writers from marginalized communities with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often underexplored issues in both fiction and non-fiction with veracity and heart.

In Saba's introduction, she shares that her list right now is heavily picture book, and she's looking for more novels (she represents picture books all the way through YA, fiction and nonfiction.) Saba is drawn to character-driven narratives, unique and high stakes, morally gray characters, some humor (sharply observed humor), subtext, messiness of being human, timely and timeless.

Saba likes stories that "de-center me from my perspective" and "writers who can write in a way that can make ordinary things... feel fascinating."

And a warning about writing to a trend: "I can tell when a story's gimmick outshines its emotion."

Tries to "develop unique working relationships with each of my clients... they all have different circumstances in which they thrive creatively." Saba prefers working with clients that write across categories. Looking to work with authors, and careers.

What a great discussion!

AGENT PANEL - Real Talk with Four Agents: Saba Sulaiman

Saba Sulaiman is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT.

The agency includes Saba and a couple of other agents that work independently with nonfiction, fiction, adult, and children's books. Saba started building her list about five years ago, and she is primarily building the children's list for her agency. 

Saba looks for stories she wishes to champion, stories that showcase the individual and also the world around them. She feels books are a heartwarming way to connect us all through storytelling, and that children are particularly receptive to differences and that they also tend to embrace silliness and absurdity as simple matter of fact.

"We read to understand ourself by understanding others."

Saba represents picture books, middle grade, YA, as well as some chapter books (but mostly clients she already represents). She loves stories with heart, stories with certain sense of urgency, high concept, whimsy, word play, structural experimentation, humor (she notes there is space for humor in everything), honest storytelling, books that open conversations with children, and diversity and inclusivity in all forms. 

Saba has found clients at SCBWI. 

Some authors she represents:

Cathleen Barnhart

Rosiee Thor

Saira Mir

Shelly Anand

Every agent's perspective is different concerning a full list or how big a list they want to have. Saba has about 25 clients right now. 

As a final takeaway, Saba shares that when you're writing, the best way to find success is to be vulnerable and honest. She also suggests that we all should ask ourselves hard and important questions about the kind of people we are and the challenges we will have to face on this journey. 

Follow her on Twitter and IG @agentsaba 

Learn more about her at sabasulaiman.com