Publishers Marketplace: Catherine Cho

Paper Literary is a literary agency for storytellers. We champion writers - from the first edits, to the best deal, to finding readers and beyond.

About Me
I believe that stories are one of the most powerful things in the world. The feeling of being transported by a story is truly magical. I remember reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis in the first grade. I kept borrowing it from the library again and again, feeling like I was stepping into Narnia. And now, I’m still looking for that word spell.

I grew up in Kentucky before moving to New York City for university. I took a detour and went to law school in Hong Kong before working on Capitol Hill for a lobbying firm. I soon realised that lobbying and law was not for me, I wanted to lobby for something I believed in, which is when I turned to publishing. I feel very lucky to be a champion for writers. I've heard that a book is a dream realized - to be a part of that is a privilege.

I started at Folio Literary Management as a literary assistant and contracts manager. I moved to London where I worked at Curtis Brown for several years before being promoted as an associate agent. At Curtis Brown, I was lucky enough to work for some incredible authors including John le Carré, Nigella Lawson, David Nicholls, David Mitchell, Tracy Chevalier, Lisa Jewell. As an associate, I acted as the UK co-agent for numerous projects on behalf of ICM. I moved to Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency as an agent where I built my list of debut authors from submissions, negotiated 'major' deals in the US and UK. I sold numerous projects for the non-fiction list and list of digital authors.

What I’m Looking For

I represent book club and literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. I am particularly looking to work with debuts.

* Voice-driven and character-driven narratives - I am always captivated by a distinctive voice, and I am looking for stories with unforgettable characters who live and breathe.

* Novels that explore families and relationships - I am fascinated by family secrets and the relationships within a family. I would love to find a multi-generational novel or stories that follow cross-cultural experiences.

* Psychological suspense with a distinctive voice or unusual structure - I am looking for upmarket suspense, something pacey with a compelling premise.

* High-concept and speculative novels - I particularly love anything involving time travel or mythology.

* Narrative non-fiction - memoirs with universality, non-fiction in topics of science or social history.

What I love about reading is how it offers a door into another experience. There is a particular empathy that can only be found through a story; it's a powerful thing.