Host Tina Strachan kicks off the summer season by announcing a short break for the team while replaying some of the most popular episodes. Tina and co-hosts Madeleine Cleary reflect on their recent activities and achievements in the literary world. They interview Samuel Bernard, a literary agent from Zeitgeist Literary Agency. Samuel shares his journey into the literary world, the importance of social media for authors, the dynamics of the author-agent relationship, and gives insights into trends in the publishing industry. He also provides invaluable tips on querying, the significance of comparative titles, and strategies for writing compelling submissions. The episode includes a rapid fire Q&A session addressing listener questions, highlighting the complex and evolving roles of agents in the publishing landscape.

00:00 Welcome to the Summer Season
00:56 Introduction to the Book Deal Podcast
02:48 Casual Catch-Up with Tina and Madeleine
03:16 Tina's Exciting Book Update
04:10 Madeleine's Writing Adventures
06:40 Discussing Feedback and Writing Sex Scenes
14:25 Interview with Literary Agent Samuel Bernard
34:55 Bookshelf Placement and Comparative Titles
36:15 Using Media and Vibes in Book Pitches
39:06 The Role and Benefits of Literary Agents
43:26 Agent-Author Relationship Dynamics
46:41 Trends and Genre Considerations
50:49 Rapid Fire Questions with a Literary Agent
01:12:35 Top Tips for Aspiring Writers

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