J.K. Rowling Leaves Christopher Little Literary Agency; Now Represented byThe Blair Partnership
J.K. Rowling
Posted by: Edward
June 30, 2011, 11:13 AM
The Bookseller is reporting that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling has ended her association with the Christopher Little Literary Agency and will be represented in the future by a new firm launched by longtime agent Neil Blair. The formation of The Blair Partnership follows Mr. Blair's exit from the Christopher Little Talent Agency. A rep for Ms. Rowling released the following statement in regards to the author's change in representation:
"We can confirm that J.K. Rowling has terminated her association with the Christopher Little Literary Agency. She will be represented forthwith by Neil Blair, who has left the Christopher Little Literary Agency and set up The Blair Partnership."
The report goes on to note the formation of Mr. Blair's partnership is still in its "infancy" with details "still to be ironed out," but "Blair's current base is at strategic digital agency TH_NK's offices in east London. TH_NK and Blair worked together to develop the Pottermore site, through which Rowling's Harry Potter books will be sold exclusively as e-books, though it is not yet known if TH_NK will be involved in Blair's new company."
31 Comments
There could be many reasons for the switch. It is worth noting that Jo recently made a similar change with her Press or PR representatives, moving from a big firm to individuals who had recently left that firm. I would guess that she has mainly been working with Neil in the past few years so it made sense for her to go with him when he set up his own firm.
349 Points
good luck Jo, do JK Rowling good!!
79302 Points
OUCH!!! I bet that hurts the pocketbook!
871 Points
When has Jo ever shown a mean streak? How can you possibly question her motives when she has always been the most generous and appreciative of people.
Won_Two: Yes, Jo might have paid a lot to buy out the contracts for the existing Potter books, as they could easily have specified that the Christopher Little Literary Agency gets a percentage of the profits from them.
2394 Points
I thought Neil Blair was one of her lawyers? Did I just make that up? I presume she has a good working relationship and trust. But Little is the one we know, the man we always see in interviews, documentaries and press releases. I always thought he was her agent. It does seem very shocking to me!
490 Points
Interesting! It doesn’t really matter what agency she is will as long as she likes it right?
KiwiMcI: Neil Blair (Hufflepuff) was the lawyer within the Christopher Little Literary Agency that handled many of the legal cases Jo was involved in. Presumably he wants to branch out into more general literary agent work.
How do you know that Neil Blair is Hufflepuff?
Fragesteller: The Pottermore staff profile press release http://press.pottermore.com/launch/Pottermore_TeamBiographiesAndCompanyProfiles_230611.pdf says
Neil Blair (Hufflepuff) is J.K. Rowling’s literary agent, and has overseen the creation of Pottermore from its conception. Neil studied law at Exeter College, Oxford and the College of Law at Guildford before working at Linklaters in the City of London, and then joining Warner Bros where he was Head of Business Affairs, Europe. He joined the Christopher Little Literary Agency in 2001.
886 Points
He’s a Hufflepuff?…interesting. _
9916 Points
I don’t understand why this is so shocking either. Everyone needs change at some point in their lives. I’m sure Jo is extremely grateful for the Christopher Little angecy and all that they’ve done for her, but I suppose she just needed to move on. She probably had other good reasons, but she doesn’t have to share every aspect of her life with us. Neil Blair was an excellent literacy agent to her and a good friend as well. I wish her all the best with her new agency! :)
74 Points
Quite shocked also. I mean, she’s been turned down too many times and now she’s leaving that publishing company? Oh well, Jo knows what she is doing! :)
In my opinion, Jo acted very fair. She cancelled her contracts after all the HP books were released. There is no more relationship left.
There are some very well known male writers, who had changed easily to other editiors once they become more famous.
I admire Jo and other female writers, who stay loyal to their agents despite all the new and much better offers they get once they are well known. If Jo would have wanted to, she could have changed her agent since CoS or PoA.
I wish her and Neil good luck with the new agency and loads of new books for us.
The BBC have a bit more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14011587 it sounds like they got a comment from Jo’s side.
There could be many reasons for the switch. It is worth noting that Jo recently made a similar change with her Press or PR representatives, moving from a big firm to individuals who had recently left that firm. I would guess that she has mainly been working with Neil in the past few years so it made sense for her to go with him when he set up his own firm.