Introducing Katie Greenstreet
We are so excited to welcome Katie (and Effie!)
From Katie:
Hello! I’m excited to introduce myself and tell you a bit more about the type of books I am hoping to champion in 2022 and beyond…
As someone who spent years desperate to crack into the publishing industry, I view my job as an agent as an immense privilege. I’m a keen traveller when the world is operating as normal, and I’m always looking to be transported somewhere new when I crack open a novel. I grew up in a conservative small town in the American South and books were my first window into the wider world, so the escapism and alternative worldviews that reading can provide are things I still value immensely.
Please query me with stories across any genre that have unusual and/or immersive settings as a focal point, or which bring previously unheard/suppressed
A huge focus of my list at Paper will be finding stories that uplift – after the past two years, we could all do with more books that make us smile and help restore our faith in humanity! The first major project I sold was a hilarious, heart-breaking novel about the power of dogs to bring out the best in people. My mischievous little cavapoo (Effie Doodle) is the light of my life, and I love novels that highlight how incredible animals are. Unlikely friendships are another soft spot of mine, and narratives tackling the theme of loneliness have really resonated with me lately.
That said, my tastes have a slightly twisted side as well, and I’ve always found myself drawn to stories steeped in darkness. While I don’t do gore or true horror, I do love suspense in all its forms, though even the most wicked protagonists must have some sort of redemptive quality to keep me interested. The Anna Delvey scandal kicked off an obsession in me with con artists and scammers – if you pitch me something as adjacent to The Talented Mr. Ripley, it will likely shoot straight to the top of my reading pile. I’m also a sucker for a revenge story, unreliable narrators, and any plot that might be described as ‘rich people behaving badly.’
My favourite non-client reads of 2021 were: The Maid by Nita Prose, Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins, Magpie by Elizabeth Day, and The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. You’ll notice a trend there – I love a good twist! It’s rare that a story leaves me truly shocked or surprised, and I’m dying to find something for my own list that has that gasping, what the heck, chuck-the-book-across-the-room moment…
I’m also a bit of a TV junkie and what I’m watching often informs what I want to be reading. The White Lotus, Succession, Superstore,
I wake up every day excited at what might tumble into my inbox, so please do send me your stories!
Katie Greenstreet Joins Paper Literary
We are excited to announce that Paper Literary has made its first hire. Katie Greenstreet from C&W has joined as an agent focusing on adult fiction and crime.
A former lawyer, Greenstreet began her publishing career at ICM Partners in New York as an assistant to Binky Urban. After moving to London, she has been at C&W Agency for five years, working alongside Sue Armstrong and Sophie Lambert. She has sold multiple projects across upmarket women’s fiction and crime, including Comedy Women in Print shortlisted The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, Amazon bestseller The Safe Place by Anna Downes, and Ericka Waller’s Dog Days, which was snapped up by Doubleday in a six-figure pre-empt.
Katie Greenstreet says: ‘Catherine was one of the first people I met when I made the leap into publishing, and she’s remained a stalwart colleague, confidante, and friend across the many years since. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some of the best agents in the business during my time at ICM and C&W, but I am delighted to be taking this next step in my career alongside someone as focused and forward-thinking as Catherine. I’ve welcomed some incredible new authors to my list over the past year, and Paper Literary is the perfect place from which to launch their careers. I’m excited to see their stories fly and to discover even more new talent in 2022.’
Sophie Lambert (Director, C&W) says: ‘Whilst we’re undeniably sad to lose Katie, we know how alluring the prospect of working with Catherine at Paper Literary is. As a long standing member of our team joining forces Catherine, who is also a much beloved author we represent, we know we will continue to stay in close touch. Katie’s eye for stand out commercial fiction is excellent, and I’m thrilled for her to be focusing wholly on building her own list. We wish Katie and Catherine great success.’
Catherine Cho says: “I’ve long admired Katie’s brilliant taste and dedication to her writers. We share a lot – we’re both Americans from the south, former lawyers who’ve crossed into publishing, and I know that we also share a vision for what we would like agenting to be. Katie is an exceptional talent, and I’m excited for this next stage for Paper.
Katie’s email is: katie@paperliterary.com