Our history

The Blake Friedmann Literary Agency was formed in 1982 by merging the Julian Friedmann Literary Agency (1976) with the Carole Blake Literary Agency (1977).  Carole and Julian each had publishing backgrounds (between them they have experience of most parts of the book business) and when they met in the early 80's realised they had complementary skills.  Putting the two small agencies together created a stronger whole in which Carole handled book rights and Julian handled film and television rights.

Carole and Julian married in 1983, just days before a Frankfurt Book Fair (which became their honeymoon).   In 1996 they separated, but, not wanting to 'throw the baby out with the bathwater', still work together in the agency they are proud to have created.

At first we worked in Covent Garden offices above a comic book shop where it was necessary to walk through the shop to reach the offices.  We soon moved to Bloomsbury, the heart of London's 'bookland' at that time, taking offices on the first floor of an impressive 18th century house facing Bedford Square.  

Our intention was always to represent writers' careers, rather than individual books, and to sell those writers into as many markets and languages as possible.  We began to build a strong list of sub-agents in the translating markets with some of whom - such as Liepman for the German market, and  Leonhardt & Hoier for the Scandinavian markets - we still work.  

In 1986 when we needed more space, we moved a few blocks north to Gower Street, where we stayed for 14 fun, but increasingly cramped, years.

Conrad Williams joined the agency that year, bringing our staff up to 5.  We didn't have a clearly defined role for him at the time (or a desk: his first 'work station' was a door supported by two short filing cabinets), but so entertaining was his letter of application that we felt we had to make a job for him.  He is our second film and television agent.

Isobel Dixon joined BFLA in 1995 - just days after handing in her dissertation at Edinburgh University -  initially as Carole's assistant (she did get a desk when she joined).  Three weeks from joining the agency she was taking 15 appointments a day at the Frankfurt Book Fair, having had to absorb the entire book list between being offered the job and flying to Germany.  It's not surprising she was quickly promoted to agent with her own list of book writers.    

In 1999 we needed more space and during an August heatwave moved to the top floor of a stylish 1930's building in quirky Camden Town which we still enjoy.

This team of 4 agents - 2 for books, 2 for audio visual - was augmented in 2006 by Oliver Munson, Carole's assistant for 3 years, who now also has a client list which includes internationally bestselling authors.

Julian Friedmann now represents some book writers as well as his film and television clients.

Carole, Julian, Conrad and Isobel have all published books.  See their biographies for details.

At BFLA we are  extremely proud of our past staff and alumni of interns, and hold annual parties to reunite as many as possible.   We promote from within - and from the interns - wherever possible, and take great enjoyment from the fact that so many junior staff and interns who cannot be employed within the agency, with our encouragement and help, go on to achieve careers within and without the book business.  

None of this would be possible without the clients who give us so much pleasure.  We have always had a policy to represent writers, rather than books, and to represent good writers who must be people we like and admire.  That policy has stood us in good stead over the years.  We are proud of the relationships we forge with our writers and proud of the number of markets we sell them to.  And delight in the fun we have with them too.  

We are proud to have clients and staff who have been with us for decades, many having become close friends too.  We aim to keep it that way.

Staff:

Adrian Clarke was previously Client Services Manager at A P Watt Limited, and joined Blake Friedmann in September 2004 as Royalties and Accounts Manager. Many years ago Adrian used to run a stall in Camden Market and is surprised and delighted to find himself back up by the canal again.

Turid Weingartz joined the agency in July 2007 as Isobel Dixon's assistant and now handles sales to 8 foreign territories (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Serbia, Croatia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Macedonia). She is also in charge of selling short stories, serial and audio rights. Turid started working in publishing in New York in 2003, and has since gained experience in areas as varied as publicity, editorial, and translation. Having spent the last 10 years living in Istanbul, New York, Berlin (where she gained a Master's Degree in Publishing - Freie Universität Berlin, 2006) and now London, she considers foreign rights a personal passion as well as a job.

Katie Williams joined in October 2007 as Julian and Conrad's assistant. She is involved in editorial, contractual and administrative areas across the film and television department. Katie studied English & Drama at Queen Mary, University of London, and worked for Elspeth Cochrane after graduating, before joining The Agency (London) Ltd in 2004. She has co-ordinated productions for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the 48 Hour Film Challenge and a series of internet podcasts promoting new talent. Outside the office she is also an avid knitter, and has studied at the London College of Fashion.

Eva Papastratis joined the agency in September 2008 as contracts manager and resident baker. She previously worked at Dorling Kindersley as international sales manager after completing a Master's Degree in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University in 2005. Eva started working in publishing in Munich, Germany in 2000 for Egmont Publishers before moving into a DTP role at a publishing design agency, having previously worked as a freelance editor and translator. She has since gained experience in areas as varied as design, production, marketing, foreign rights and contracts. As contracts manager Eva drafts agreements for the agency's authors, negotiates boilerplates with publishers from around the world and liaises with our foreign subagents on overseas deals.

Peter Calame is our Office Manager. He worked as an accountant for Artbooks International and is looking forward to having further experience in the world of books at Blake Friedmann, seeing a new side of the London and Frankfurt Book Fairs!

Tom Witcomb joined us in Summer '09 as Julian Friedmann's assistant and general book department assistant after an extended stretch as an intern. He studied English Literature and Film Studies at University of Hertfordshire and this is his first job post-graduation. Aside from his official role, he is also resident tech whiz-kid, Internet aficionado and all-round office 'geek'.

Lorissa Bouwer is the newest member of the agency, joining us in November 2009 after a 6-week internship. She is Carole and Oli's assistant, and will also be assisting Eva in the contracts department. Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Lorissa graduated with a BA degree in English and Media & Writing from the University of Cape Town and worked at New Holland Publishing before relocating to London in 2009.