Dorothy Vincent started her career at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates working in both the scouting and foreign rights departments, before moving on to become director of foreign rights at a trio of powerful agencies: Janklow & Nesbit Associates, Trident Media Group, and Creative Artists Agency. Just over a year ago, Vincent returned to oversee foreign rights at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, full circle in a thriving career.
Among the firm’s bestselling authors are Dan Brown, Brad Thor, The Guerilla Girls, Keri Smith, Patrick Rothfuss, and Tad Williams, as well as exciting new voices including Dana Schwartz, Katy Hays, Frederick Joseph, Maya Tatsukawa, and P. W. Singer.
What books are you reading right now?
As a rabid Stephen King fan, I had to dive into Holly the moment it came out. Likewise, Karin Smirnoff’s continuation of the Millennium series with The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons. More long-term, I’m lingering over The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. A guilty pleasure is reading the manuscript of Geraldine DeRuiter’s If You Can’t Take The Heat: Tales of Food, Feminism, and Fury. Coming from Crown in March, it’s exactly the kind of smart, snarky food and life writing we can all use right now.
What’s one of your favorite books that most people don’t know?
This is a bit of an old one. Dr. Neruda’s Cure for Evil by Rafael Yglesias (Grand Central, 1996). A psychological exploration of evil and the lengths one doctor would go to to correct his mistakes. To this day it seems we could use a cautionary tale or two of how we tolerate—or fight—dark elements among us. Not that Dr. Neruda is a stellar example of how to proceed, but it’s a fascinating read.
What’s a big book you read recently that surprised you in a good way? In a bad way?
Oliver Burkeman’s 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. A fan of the author, and having read not one word about the book, I made a ridiculous assumption that it would be something akin to The 4-Hour Work Week, looking at methods to get everything done in limited time. Instead, its message was basically “do less.” Words to the wise.
What book (or books) made you want to work in foreign rights?
Early in my career, at Greenburger, I had the pleasure of working with Nelson DeMille’s foreign rights. Being involved in global releases of a bestselling author whet my appetite to attempt to bring new authors into that experience. It was always a particular thrill to bring offers to debut authors, to help build their international careers, and to see them flourish long-term. Nelson was far from a debut author, but he (and Nick Ellison) taught me how global rights should work, and I wanted that for all of my authors.
What are some trends to watch out for in international literature?
The YA markets have been especially robust of late, covering genres from romance to horror and everything in between. Fantasy, historical, LGBTQ, you name it. Our young people, and indeed creeping into our adults, seem to be voracious readers and there doesn’t seem to be a limit to the volume they can devour. We just need to supply a constant stream of quality material.
What are some trends in American literature your international book business friends and contacts are most excited about? What are some they’re tired of?
I’ve found excellent reception to children’s books that touch upon issues our littlest ones are grappling with even as they’re still learning to read—anxiety, blended families, diversity, kindness—often through the lens of adorable and relatable animals. In adult literature, stories of those dealing with the consequences of today’s social media and news culture are finding excellent footing. In both fiction and nonfiction, how we interact with each other, and impose upon others’ lives and livelihoods, seems to be of great interest.
