Tahsin and Chang join The Good Literary Agency

The Good Literary Agency (TGLA) has made two new hires, Nicola Chang, of Aitken Alexander Associates and Arzu Tahsin, former publishing director of Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Chang is to be a literary agent for the social enterprise, leading on selling all the agency’s rights to publishers as well as building her own list, while Arzu will join in the role of development editor, working on emerging writers and manuscript development.

Chang said: “After three brilliant years at Aitken Alexander, I couldn’t be more thrilled to start the next chapter of my career at The Good Literary Agency. I am very excited to help build the business, welcome my clients to the new agency and continue to grow my own list of writers.”

Tahsin said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at TGLA. Editing the work of new and emerging talent is the best part of any editor's role, I believe, and to be able to focus entirely on developing underrepresented voices is exciting and feels very timely.”

Founded by author Nikesh Shukla and literary agent Julia Kingsford in response to an industry-wide need and desire to increase opportunities for under-represented writers, it seeks to increase the pipeline for writers by offering more opportunities for representation for writers who are BAME, working class, disabled and LGBTQ. The agency received a grant for over half a million pounds from Arts Council England in December as part of its “significant first step in the Arts Council's commitment to promoting and sustaining diversity in the publishing sector”.

Shukla will oversee the work the agency is doing with emerging writers to help develop their work, while Kingsford will work with Chang on submissions to publishers and manage the agency.

Based in Bristol as part of the Pervasive Media Studio at The Watershed, TGLA will open for submissions on 14th May, with ILA selling foreign rights.

Shukla said: “I am so excited to be working with Nicola and Arzu. I’ve been a fan of both of them for a while and know that their addition to our team will add so much to the direction of the agency.”

Kingsford added: "I couldn't be happier to be welcoming Niki and Arzu to the team. Niki brings her fantastic taste, energy and experience at one of the best agencies in the country to TGLA, and having the opportunity to work with an editor as phenomenal as Arzu on developing writers is something I never dreamed we'd be able to achieve."