Interview with Agent Michael Bourret
Michael Bourret is Vice President and Literary Agent
at
Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Mr. Bourret heads the West Coast office of DGLM in
Los Angeles
and represents an impressive list of award-winning
and best-selling authors such as: Sara Zarr, Heather Brewer, Nove Ren Suma,
Lisa McMann,
James Dashner, Brodi Ashton, A.S. King, among many
others
To connect with Mr. Bourret check here:
Query Email: mbourret@dystel.com
Twitter: twitter.com/michaelbourret
SEE BELOW FOR A SPECIAL GIVEAWAY!
1. Welcome, Michael! Before we jump into music, can
you answer that BURNING "work" question all those MG/YA writers out
there want to know: what would you love to see in your inbox right now?
I'd love to see anything that's new, original,
daring, different, out-of-the-ordinary, that pushes boundaries, that's
uncompromising. I'm actively looking for both MG and YA, and I like a
challenge. If you've written a book that breaks the mold, that doesn't sound
like other things on the market, please be in touch. It can be realistic or
fantasy, but it can't be familiar.
2. Now for the big fun. Do you have a musical
background? Do you play instruments or sing?
My musical background consists of two weeks of piano
lessons and two years of viola in elementary school. I cannot sing to save my
life, though those who know me will attest that I still do it, often at the top
of my lungs. I can't help but sing along.
3. Do you have specific musicians/bands/albums that
have influenced different aspects or chapters of your life?
I tend to add different music and musicians as I go
along, and very few have been left behind. I grew up in the 80s, and even in
elementary school, I loved music. Honestly, it probably started with Diana
Ross's "Diana" album, though I quickly shifted my allegiance to
Madonna. Then I had a neighbor/babysitter/family friend who loved Duran Duran,
so they were added in, along with New Order, Billy Idol, Blondie, Human League
and Pet Shop Boys. I loved New Wave, though I had no idea what it was at the
time!
Middle school regrettably brought Mariah Carey,
Janet Jackson, Technotronic and other terrible dance music--freestyle. Oh, did
I love freestyle: Lisette Melendez, Cover Girls, Expose, Information Society,
Shannon, etc. (I will admit, when the weather is just right, I have a craving
for the stuff and will binge on it still!)
By time I got to high school, I was a musical
omnivore, and I'd listen to just about anything. The bands and artists I
remember liking most then were Soul Coughing (I think I first heard them on
NPR), Toad the Wet Sprocket, Annie Lennox, Deee-Lite, Luscious Jackson, Lords
of Acid, Sheryl Crow, Garbage, and Ace of Base, not to mention Busta Rhymes,
Missy Elliott, and some other random rap music I'm not remembering at the
moment.
In college, I rebelled a bit by listening to the
most obnoxious pop music I could find: Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, N'Sync,
and lots of one-hit wonders whose albums are still hanging out in storage
somewhere. But college is also when I really got hooked on David Bowie. Though
I had a few of his albums in high school, I wasn't a huge fan. But a
reintroduction by a friend had me digging deep, and I bought everything
available. I also read everything available. For a while, I think I wanted to
be David Bowie. Luckily for all of us, I grew out of that!
Since then, I've become an avid consumer of music.
My tastes have a strong pop sensibility, but I'd like to think they're pretty
varied. I'm a huge Beach Boys fan--seeing them at the Hollywood Bowl this past
summer was a dream come true--and my Bowie obsession continues (there were a
few years there were I think I saw him live a couple of times a year). Off the
top of my head, I really like: Modest Mouse, Interpol, M83, Daft Punk, Beyonce,
Taylor Swift, White Lies, Gossip, Broken Bells, Miike Snow, Hot Chip, Passion
Pit, Arcade Fire, Kylie Minogue, and The Killers. And, most recently, I've been
listening to Django Django, Foals, Capital Cities, Tegan and Sara, Tanlines,
STRFCKR and my new favorite, St. Lucia.
4. When do you listen to music? Does your taste in
music change depending on the activity?
Now that I work from home, I listen to music quite a
bit. And my taste definitely changes based on what I'm doing. I can't listen to
"distracting" music when I'm reading or writing, so I tend to listen
to more ambient music like M83, Geographer, Active Child, College, or the xx.
For working around the house and cooking, I listen to newer music, things I want
to pay a bit more attention to. Spotify indicates that I've been listening to
The Tins, Night Moves, STRFKR, The Mowgli's and A Silent Film. When I'm
driving, I like to sing along and rock out, so I tend to listen to either
classic or cheesy pop, like the Beach Boys or Ke$ha. That's right, I just
admitted I listen to Ke$ha.
5. Who are some of your all time favorite
band/musicians?
Is there a limit? Beach Boys, David Bowie, Madonna,
The Killers.
6. Are you a
concert goer? If so, do you prefer small, intimate settings or arenas with
legions of fans? Have you met any bands/musicians?
I've always liked concerts, but since moving to LA,
I've been going to a lot of shows. I saw Youngblood Hawk a couple weeks back,
Django Django last night, and I have Capital Cities, Holy Ghost!, Foals, and
The Killers coming up in the next couple of months. I prefer smaller venues,
definitely, though I do wish everywhere had seats. This standing-room-only
thing is a young person's game! I do love a good arena show, though, for
artists who know how to do it right.
I haven't really met any bands, no. Though I'm
terrified of meeting people I admire because I worry I'll dislike them in
person.
7. Do you
have a recommendation for us - someone
maybe lesser known that you wished others knew about because you love this
track/group/album so much?
St. Lucia. Their EP is definitely my most-listened
to of the past year.
Music Association:
I list the word, you give me the song/band you
associate with it.
Humor - They
Might Be Giants
Steampunk -
Nine Inch Nails
Adventure -
Europe
Teen Angst -
My Chemical Romance
Supernatural
- Evanescence
Science
Fiction - The Firm (look that one up!)
An ENORMOUS thank you to Mr. Bourret for answering
our interview questions!
In honor of hosting our first agent, I'll be giving
away a $10 iTunes gift card.
Please enter below and thank you for stopping by
ATWN!
