Dawn Frederick

Dawn Michelle Frederick is the owner/literary agent of Red Sofa Literary, established in 2008. She brings a broad knowledge of the book business to the table, bringing multiple years of experience as a bookseller in independent, chain, and specialty stores; sales, marketing, and book development experience; previously a literary agent at Sebastian Literary Agency. She has a B.S. in Human Ecology, and a M.S. in Information Sciences. Dawn co-founded the MN Publishing Tweet Up, is the current President of the Twin Cities Advisory Council for MPR, a member of the BOD for Loft Literary, and a teaching artist at Loft Literary. You can find her on Twitter at @redsofaliterary. 

Artist Blog Posts
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Fighting Cabin Fever in the Time of COVID
It’s strange to be in publishing when an international health and financial crisis is happening—otherwise known as COVID. When I was in third grade, I remember seeing the Challenger explode after takeoff, along with my entire classroom (and the rest of the world). I remember when Kirk Cobain died.
Dawn Frederick
Apr. 2
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Mistakes: It's Okay to Make Them
When I was a kid, I not only learned I couldn’t slant my letters while writing cursive (I’m left-handed) but also that I didn’t say many words correctly. I had to see a speech therapist regularly from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade after getting two tubes in my ears.
Dawn Frederick
Feb. 27
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Reading Requested Materials
As the end of 2019 quickly approaches, I return to my December “workout” of reading every single query and requested manuscript by the week of Christmas. In publishing, there’s a good chance many people will be out of the office over the holidays and generally get some much-needed time off.
Dawn Frederick
Dec. 23
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Your Words Matter
It’s no secret that I love music. I attribute it to quite a few things: my mom playing music in our home, her record collection (that I would rollerskate to in the basement), my first Sony stereo system at the age of eight years old, and MTV in its earliest days of existence.
Dawn Frederick
Dec. 4
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Connecting without the Coffee
Recently, I had a handful of people ask me directly by email (while I was out of town) if I could meet them for coffee. These were individuals I’ve never met before, who are new publishing, and they had questions and wanted to pick my brain on their options. While it was an honor . . .
Dawn Frederick
Oct. 31
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Shelving a Book
The reality is that not every idea will find a publishing home. Maybe it’s due to the timeliness of the idea, or your book is just not fully ready. There’s no specific standard for when to shelve a book, so here are a few things worth considering.
Dawn Frederick
Sep. 24
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Why Does It Take So Long?
It’s that time of the year, in which I now get projects ready for the Fall, while also ensuring any materials requested before the summer were read. I personally set aside two personal deadlines every year to ensure I can make a dent in the requested reading materials...
Dawn Frederick
Sep. 4
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What Inspires Your Writing?
One of my favorite things when I meet new writers and other creatives, is learning how they found themselves in that place. Usually this will spark an interesting conversation that takes many unexpected turns.
Dawn Frederick
Jul. 23
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Inclusivity in the Writing World
It goes without saying that we should put aside a wait-and-see approach to building a diverse writing community, and that we need to reach out to writers of color, the LGBTQIA community, and those with disabilities, so that everyone has a space to share their stories.
Dawn Frederick
Jun. 26
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Seasons of Reading
I remember at the age of 18 finally getting my first bookstore job. It was quite the process, with many applications, but finally a bookstore opened its door. Of course this was a game changer in my career choice, of which I’ll always be grateful that Kim the bookstore manager gave my young adult se
Dawn Frederick
Jun. 7
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I've Just Finished My Book
As an agent, I know that one of the hardest things to do is to actually follow through with any book idea, as in the author finishes writing the actual book. In the life of a writer, this not a choice; any idea must be finished before readers can see it.
Dawn Frederick
Apr. 26
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Submission Season
In publishing, there are generally certain times in which agents submit books to publishers. This may vary, as each agent will have a specific calendar they're individually working by.
Dawn Frederick
Mar. 29
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From Gong Show to Publication
Keeping your feet firmly planted in supporting other authors always helps in reaching that future goal of publication.
Dawn Frederick
Feb. 25
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publish.me: Get to Know the Nielson Bookscan
In the world of TV, we’ve often heard about Nielsen ratings. But it’s rare for readers to realize there’s an arm of the same company that focuses on book sales, otherwise known as Nielsen BookScan. The goal was for a comprehensive database reflecting quantity of each title of a book sold.
Dawn Frederick
Jan. 23
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publish.me: The Ghosts of Writing: Past, Present, and Future
Now that the holidays are in full swing, it seems that many of us find this a time for inner reflection. While there are treats to make (and to eat), along with a list of things to do, it’s a good idea for writers to take the time to reflect on their writing too.
Dawn Frederick
Dec. 20
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FOMO
One of my favorite parts of this job is the many opportunities to see writers speak (in addition to reading their books). I see them at writerly events, like conferences and teaching. And then also at reader-centric events, where people get to meet authors, buy their books, and meet other readers.
Dawn Frederick
Dec. 5
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Finding Supportive Writing Organizations
It’s always important to immerse yourself in the communities of your creative pursuits. We’re living in an era of information-overload, and connecting with artists who share the same passion is a valuable use of your time.
Dawn Frederick
Oct. 31
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The 5 Cs of Working with an Agent
Over the summer, two challenging situations came to head in the publishing world, reminding writers of the importance of working with a professional and approachable agent.
Dawn Frederick
Sep. 21
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Shelf to Table: Supporting Local Bookstores
One of my favorite things to do is to attend book readings. This includes our agency authors as well as authors who present interesting idea. Sometimes I will attend a reading without any expectations, and walk away with a new book and new author on my recommended reading list.
Dawn Frederick
Sep. 5