founder...
As the founder of Creative Media Agency, Inc., Paige Wheeler has artfully merged her creativity and business savvy to create an agency that is dedicated to maximizing author potential. With over twenty years of experience in the publishing industry, Paige is propelled by an entrepreneurial spirit, ignited by the thrill of discovery. Through all of her professional endeavors, Paige has ventured to support her clients and their unique voices in an unprecedented way. In 2006, Paige also became a founding partner of Folio Literary Management, LLC. Deciding she missed focusing on growing the author, not the business, Paige pivoted to a boutique approach to author representation. Through CMA, she is now able to manage the intellectual property rights of authors by selling both domestic and foreign rights, co-agenting film and audio rights, and maximizing the long tail of a book’s life in the e-book marketplace.
what i'd like to represent...
I’m looking to represent a wide range of projects. In particular, I’ve been drawn to upscale fiction and nonfiction books that tell a unique story or ones in which the author is an expert in their field. I seem to be especially attracted to a story if it has a high concept and a fresh, unique voice.
adult
- Women’s Fiction (Big Little Lies, What Happens in Paradise, The Overdue Life of Amy Byler)
- Book Club Fiction (like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine)
- Romance
- Contemporary (books by Kristan Higgins)
- Historical (books by Eloisa James)
- Inspirational (Melissa Ferguson)
- Crime Fiction (in the vein of Louise Penny, Paula Hawkins, BA Paris, Walter Mosely)
- Mystery
- Thriller
- Suspense
- Nonfiction
- Memoir (The Blueberry Years, Under the Tuscan Sun, Wild)
- Narrative (Into Thin Air, Seabiscuit)
- Women’s Issues (Girl Wash your Face, Survival Mom)
- Business/Entrepreneurship (Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office)
- Practical Nonfiction (Home, Science, Self Help, Parenting, Pop reference)
young adult/children's
- Young Adult
- Contemporary (books by Jenny Han, Sarah Dessen)
- Mystery (One of Us is Lying)
- Dystopian (Hunger Games, etc)
- Middle Grade
- Contemporary (Crossover, Wonder)
- Mystery (Escape from Mr. Limoncello’s Library, Trixie Belden series from long ago)
- Fantasy (The Library of Ever)
- Young Adult
I especially love upscale fiction and nonfiction books that tell a unique story or ones in which the author is an expert in their field. I seem to be especially attracted to a story if it has a high concept and a fresh, unique voice–I want that voice to take over the page. If you have a clever plot, that’s a bonus. I want to be fully immersed in the story.
I’m not looking for picture books, short story collections, science fiction, poetry, screenplays and academic nonfiction.
some of my favorite (non-client) authors
BA Paris, Peter Mayle, Kristin Hannah, Daniel Pink, Helen Hoang, Kristan Higgins, Michael Pollan, Suzanne Collins, Pam Houston, Lawrence Block, Megan Miranda, Philippa Gregory, Richard Ford, Emily St. John Mandel, Meg Cabot, Karen White
what kind of writing inspires me?
I’m motivated by projects that are commercially viable and that I’ve totally fallen for and can’t stop talking about. I need to be a cheerleader for a project so my enthusiasm level must be very high. However, sometimes I love books that aren’t commercially viable. That’s when I sadly have to turn away projects.
I like books that are well organized, smartly constructed and have a brilliant and unique voice. It’s even better if I learn something fascinating along the way. Don’t just write a story, write it intelligently.
More specifically, in fiction I look for…
- Plot lines that make sense and are cleverly written
- A fun twist to a tired storyline
- Engaging, believable characters that shine
- Well written, thoughtful prose.
- Plot lines that make sense and are cleverly written
In nonfiction, I like for the author to have the expertise to write the book and the platform to help sell it. The projects should cover a niche that has yet to be addressed and be timely and necessary, or at the very least, interesting.
what I love about my job...
I love to be an author’s advocate. It’s a thrill to make a writer’s dream come true of selling their book. It’s even more exciting to help that person grow their career. As much as I’d love to shut myself off from the world and read, I’m also an extrovert and love meeting with people. This job really fits my personality. Also, the individuals that make up the publishing industry are simply wonderful: they’re smart, opinionated, well-read, and a bit quirky.
where to find me...
Find me on Facebook and Twitter, or check out Manuscript Wishlist or my page on Publisher’s Marketplace.
trade references...
Association of Authors’ Representatives (AAR)
Women’s Media Group (WMG)
The Author’s Guild
Romance Writers of America (RWA)
Mystery Writers of America (MWA)
The Agents Round Table (ART)