About me
Welcome to my website. I’m an Australian literary agent, editor, freelance writer, and the author of The Young Widow’s Book of Home Improvement, a memoir. Sydney-born, I currently live in Brooklyn, New York.
I’m looking for great manuscripts from new Australian authors that I can sell to publishers in Australia and around the world. My clients value my strong editorial background, as I know what constitutes a manuscript of publishable quality. I often work with my clients on a final revision to help them fulfill the potential of their manuscripts. Here is my client list and the books I have agented.
I also have a lot of experience in philanthropy and am a graduate of New York University’s Heyman Center for Philanthropy & Fundraising. I’ve worked mostly with arts-related non-profit organizations and helping individuals and groups with grant writing and research. I’m proud to be assisting the Indigenous Literacy Foundation on an ongoing basis.
A lifetime ago I completed a PhD in English Literature at the University of Sydney, but soon realised I did not want to be an academic. Moving into publishing, I worked as the in-house editor of the Picador list (fiction and nonfiction) at Pan Macmillan Australia, one of Australia’s largest trade publishers. Working with authors and learning the publishing business stood me in great stead when I became an independent editor and an author myself. Here’s my LinkedIn profile.
I’m wrestling with my own second book, so I understand the joys and frustrations of the writing process. I also write occasional essays and reviews, some of which you can find on this site.
“Virginia’s memoir mentoring was vital to the ultimate publication of my work. Her insights were helpful at every stage of the process – from big-picture thinking on narrative structure and focus, through to line-by-line editorial feedback at final draft. She is an expert editorial ‘curator’ and a godsend for a first-time author.” –Fiona Higgins, author, The Mothers’ Group (2012) and Love in the Age of Drought (2009)
As part of my lifelong love for books and culture, I have always been passionate about working with arts-related not-for-profit organizations. I grew up helping my father’s fundraising efforts for his local Rotary Club, and I guess that rubbed off on me. I am a Past President of Sydney PEN (International PEN Center) and a former Vice President of the Sydney Improvised Music Association.
Which leads to my other great passion: jazz music. I loved improvising at the piano when I was a young piano student and was supposed to be practising my scales. There’s something about its playfulness within the constraints of the form that make it the most like writing for me.
If you’ve read this far, thank you! Please leave me a comment as I’d love to hear from you.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed reading about your interesting life, Virginia. I have always wanted to travel to Australia ever since high school when I made a travel poster for art class. I hope I actually get there in my next decade. Sounds like we both have PhD’s, a background in fundraising (I was a college president), and an interest in memoir. Let’s keep in touch!
Shirley recently posted..Going Grey Caused Me a Problem: Did I Do the Right Thing?
P.S. I am living in Brooklyn and learning all I can about Brooklyn writers. I see you did a dissertation on Hart Crane. Another bridge between us.
Shirley recently posted..Going Grey Caused Me a Problem: Did I Do the Right Thing?
Hello Shirley, thank you for visiting my website. I’d love to keep in touch as I’ve been enjoying your blog and agree we share a lot of common ground. Australia is a long way to travel but it’s well worth it. You just need to have at least three weeks to spare to even begin to do justice to its vast distances. Perhaps after your book is published and the initial flurry of publicity calms down? All best wishes, Virginia
It was delightful to find your name again as a referring source when I looked at my stats this morning. I’ve made progress since our last conversation, so I am hopeful that I will complete the book on schedule and then combine a book tour with my “bucket list.” I’ll have to get see what you are up to these days. Would love feedback from you on the new site, e-book, etc.
All best.
Shirley
Shirley recently posted..Ubuntu: A Philosophy of Memoir Writing
Hi Virginia,
Yes, I’ve read this far (and a few other blog entries), so, as you asked, I’m leaving you a comment.
I’m actually quite excited to read what you’ve got here. I’m 2/3 of the way in to the latest draft of my memoir (which is what I should be writing now, not googling word counts), and in the back of my mind is always the thing of what next? Who do I talk to who can critique this? How the hell do you find a literary agent in Australia? How is it stacking up memoir-wise?
Think you’ve just answered a few of these questions. I’ve added you to my RSS feed, so I’m looking forward to reading more of your offerings in the weeks and months to come.
Many thanks,
Megan
Hi Megan, thanks for saying hello. I’m thrilled you have found my content useful and I hope you’ll keep coming back. I plan on writing more about agents and critiques and memoir and so on – please feel free to ask any question, I believe there’s no such thing as a silly question. Good luck with finishing your draft. Please get in touch if you’d like me to read it. All best wishes, Virginia
Hi,
I am an Australian from Maroubra who attended Sydney Uni, lived in Brooklyn, make my home now in Baltimore and have started writing memoir. I’m glad I found you,
All the best,
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn, thanks for introducing yourself. Stay in touch and let me know if you have any questions about writing memoir you think I could answer in the blog. Good luck with your writing!
Hi Virginia,
I found your website while visiting a couple of the websites of people who’ve signed up for the Australian Women Writer’s Challenge. As an Australian (though currently living in Laos) with a memoir, Love At The Speed Of Email, coming together and set to be released in a couple of months I’ve been thinking about ways to reach out to the Australian book blogging community virtually upon release. I’ve enjoyed reading a number of your posts related to memoir writing and I’ll be adding your blog to my google reader.
Cheers, Lisa
Lisa McKay recently posted..Six tips for marketing self-published books
Hi Lisa, thanks so much for reading the blog and letting me know you enjoyed it. It’s always helpful to learn the ways in which people come to my site. Congratulations on your memoir! I would suggest approaching some of the book bloggers ahead of publication time – by reading and commenting on their blogs, for example – so that they are more receptive to your own book when it finally is available.
I’ll check out your website and look forward to updates on your adventures in promoting your book.
Hi Virginia, wondering if I can pick your brain re getting our titles noticed, reviewed in US, cheers Bronwyn
Hi Bronwyn, thanks for contacting me – I’m usually happy to have my brain picked. Send me an email at info at virginialloyd dot com and we’ll take it from there. ~V
Hello Virginia,
I have a self published fictional story called THE BLOSSOMING, approx. 110,000 words. Self promotion is a painful side of the whole publishing process. I find people contacting me saying how expensive the book is to buy through Bookpal publishers and that as it is self published, the book stores are loath to order.
I wonder if you could advise me about ebooks? I have another 90,000 word story, EAGLE SUNRISE which is not a sequel but an off shoot stand alone addition to the original story.
I also have a short story of approx. 6000 words dirrected more to children, although adults have expressed interest as well. It is an expose`of PEGUSUS.
Finally, I am in the process of writing a fictionalized story based on fact. DAVID is about an adoptee, the gay son of one of Australias leading sheep raising families, and the three women who have affected his life.
Any suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. With thanks and best wishes for your continued success.
Kathryn Neale.
Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for contacting me. I’m not sure what I could advise you about ebooks, but if you have a specific question please email me at info at virginialloyd dot com and I’ll try to answer. Unfortunately your experience seems to be a very common story, but not the one that is reported in media outlets and on Twitter etcetera, which only like to trumpet the extremely rare ebook that sells in enormous numbers.
I’m a Canadian writer with a completed fiction manuscript a large part of which is set in Australia. Are you only interested in Australian writers at this time?
Hello Barbara, thanks for contacting me. Yes I am primarily interested in building a list of Australian writers, but the Australian setting of a large part of your novel interests me too. Perhaps you could look at the submission guidelines on this website and email me with more detail about your work. Best wishes, Virginia
Hi Virginia
I like your comments!
I am a NZ writer with a real interest in writing for children and youth. I have written 23 books to date and hope to get them published. I would LOVE to have your help in that department!
It would be easy to incorporate Australian themes into the stories as most are short.
I wanted to share that there is something about writing which is (or can be)playful. Playful imaginative and creative! My writing is best when it is the most playful!
I believe that playfulness is a state which we as adults sometimes “forget” about. We forget playing at great cost I believe. We get serious! Then we get unhealthy – psychologically, emotionally and physically. And may I say spiritually also.
When we use our imagination we essentially “play” and create at the same time.
My books teach strategies to think more positively, more creatively and with more FUN! Aimed at youth and children via stories , fun and play!
Let’s PLAY!!!
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Hi Virginia,
Your website and the comments on it have given me new hope that I can muddle my way to publishing my manuscript. I originally thought writing the story was the hard part! I live in the central tablelands of NSW and my story is set there.
Cheers Clive
Hi Clive, thanks for reading the blog. Every aspect of writing and publishing has its challenges, so it’s important for writers to educate themselves about them. I wish you well with your manuscript. –Virginia
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