#157 Inside the Mind of a Literary Agent: Sam Hiyate on Selling Books, Pitching, and Breaking Into Hollywood

Estelle Erasmus sits down with Sam Hiyate, President and CEO of The Rights Factory, a global literary agency that has represented hundreds of titles across genres, including multiple bestsellers like This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, Healthy AF by Oonagh Duncan, and More by Molly Rodin Winter.

In this episode:

• The trends shaping today's book market, including the rise of speculative elements in literary and commercial fiction [2:45]

• How "Hollywood memoirs" and screen-ready stories are attracting publishers [5:31]

• Why themes of escapism, hope, and redemption resonate with readers in turbulent times [6:05]

• The changing role of editors and the increased need for outside editing before submission [10:33]

• The realities of pitching agents—what to prepare, how to stand out, and why most pitches get a "no" [12:36]

• How social media, BookTok, TED Talks, and even backlist titles can drive publishing and film/TV deals [26:05]

• Why career-building authorship is more valuable than a one-hit wonder—and how agents nurture long-term writer relationships [29:10]

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DwvdwFu3Ipw

Episode Mentioned

#148 How to Hook Readers by Planting Curiosity Seeds in Interactive Novels with Bianca Marais

https://estelleserasmus.com/148-how-to-hook-readers-by-planting-curiosity-seeds-in-interactive-novels-with-bianca-marais/

About Sam Hiyate

SAM HIYATE is keen to discover new voices and help writers prepare their works for market, and to help them build lasting careers. In the past two decades with THE RIGHTS FACTORY his hundreds of book deals have resulted in several bestsellers such as MORE, the memoir by Molly Roden Winter, THIS ONE SUMMER, the graphic novel by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, non-fiction such as HEALTHY AF (DITCH THE DIET) by Oonagh Duncan and THE MYTH of CAPITALISM by Jonathan Tepper and Denise Hearn, and fiction such as GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES by Jennifer Close and THE ADULT by Bronwyn Fischer.

Connect with Sam

Website: https://www.therightsfactory.com

Get More from Estelle:

Webinar: Sign up for Estelle's webinar on October 9th in collaboration with Writer's Digest: Mapping Your Memoir: How to Find the Heart and Shape of Your Story

https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/mapping-your-memoir

🎤 TEDx Talk: How to Get Noticed in Your Writing and Beyond Estelle blends personal storytelling with actionable strategies for standing out—starting with a chaotic moment involving Thomas the Tank Engine. 📺 Watch, comment, and share

📬 Newsletter + FREE Pitching Guide Find out more about this episode and get Estelle's free pitching guide when you sign up for her newsletter: https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast

About Estelle:

Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist, author of Writing That Gets Noticed (named a "Best Book for Writers" by Poets & Writers), and host of Freelance Writing Direct—2025 Podcast of the Year (Education), American Writing Awards. A Contributing Editor for Writer's Digest and adjunct professor at NYU, her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, WIRED, PBS/Next Avenue, The Independent, and AARP: The Magazine. She's served as editor-in-chief of five national magazines.

Explore More:

• 📘 Writing That Gets Noticed – Buy the book | Audiobook

• 📰 Subscribe on Substack: https://estelleserasmus.substack.com Latest posts: "When Writers Are the Ones Blocking the Page: 6 Ways to Move Forward (and An Offer)" and "How to Get Published in Cosmopolitan or Seventeen"

• 🎧 More episodes: Freelance Writing Direct Podcast

• Read Estelle's latest article How to Use the Internet to Become Your Own Private Investigator (Next Avenue/PBS)

Follow Estelle:

• Instagram: @EstelleSErasmus

• TikTok: @EstelleSErasmus

• Twitter: @EstelleSErasmus

BlueSky: @estelleserasmus.bsky.social