Ita O'Driscoll, Director of Font Agency, believes that major life changes are good for maximising the few short years on this earth. Having worked in planning and operations in Aer Lingus, taught English and French in an inner city high school, she moved on once again to join the newly established Font Literary Agency in 2004.
"I have always been passionate about books and had begun to write myself when I landed the job at the agency. I have a good instinct for all kinds of writing, enjoy the challenge of getting the best publisher and deal for my authors and love to see a good book through to a successful publication."
Orna Ross
Writer, Orna Ross, founded Font after it took too many years for her to place her first novel with the right publisher. "I forget how many rejections I got for Lovers' Hollow, because I used to tear them up as soon as they arrived -- but it was plenty. After a London literary agent held onto the manuscript for almost two years while failing to win interest, I reluctantly took the task upon myself".
In the end, she won simultaneous interest from four publishers, two Irish and two in London and she chose a two-book deal offered by Penguin Ireland. The second novel, A Dance in Time, is due in Sept 2008.
"Although I was reluctant to go there at first, I was soon fascinated by the business side of publishing," she says. "To attend a book fair at Frankfurt or London is to see how removed the industry is from the daily concerns and challenges facing writers -- and vice versa. I started Font because I felt a need to bridge those two worlds."
Orna worked with Font from 2003 to May 2008, within the agency and running a writing centre that offered instruction and mentoring to aspiring and emerging writers. She is currently on sabbatical from Font, at work on her third novel.
