Personal relationship.

You could say that a manager is a ‘business friend’ to the artists they represent. Because of the intensity of this relationship, collaborations are rooted in personal trust and understanding. This also means there is a limit to the artists we can represent.

Long-term vision & commitment.

Whereas the larger and more traditional literary agencies mainly focus on making deals, we do our best to create as much space as the author needs for making work and developing artistically. This goes beyond the next book contract - it demands a holistic approach to business development. A career isn’t built overnight.

Interdisciplinary & International.

We have found that most people in the arts stop thinking at the border of either their country or their discipline. But there is a whole world out there.

There is a lot to learn from other disciplines and there are a lot of opportunities in cross-overs. Our management is based in the lowlands, but we work a lot on international projects with partners abroad.

Biography

Michaël Roumen (1981) studied English Language and Literature at Leiden University, and Arts Administration at New York University. He worked as a consultant and policy advisor, specialising in regional economics and the role of arts & culture in urban societies. Simultaneously, he co-founded the Leiden International Film Festival, of which he became managing director - focussing on broadening the market for their cultural initiative.

From 2013 until 2016, as the director of the Leiden Fund for Arts & Culture, he got to further develop his interest in the intersection between the arts and business. It was during this time that he recognised a fundamental paradox in the cultural sector: how come the artists are the faces of our sector, and their work is the core product, but yet somehow they seem underpaid and are underrepresented at the policy table?

Who actually represents the artists?

After interviewing 100+ artists from all disciplines and taking a summer intensive arts administration at NYU focussing on different forms of representation, he returned to the Netherlands to found a management firm for artists - initially for all disciplines, but later focussed on literature.

For ten years he has steadily developed a diverse roster, representing both international bestselling authors as well as young talent. He dedicates most of his free time to guest lectures at universities, board memberships and giving voluntary advice for authors.

Biography

Femke van de Griendt studied Dutch Language and Culture in Leiden, specialising in Modern Dutch Literature. She then went on to complete a Master’s degree in Literary Business in Nijmegen. Her thesis focused on the development of and institutional pathway for contemporary (prose) debut authors.

Since then, she has been working as a freelancer in the literary sector. She regularly takes to the stage to conduct interviews and moderate events, and writes as a cultural journalist. She has experience as a literary producer, programme maker and podcast creator, and has completed various projects for funding bodies, reading promotion organisations and award committees. In these various roles, she has collaborated with countless writers, ranging from new talents to established authors.

She has been working at Roumen Literary Management since early 2024. She is responsible for managing the authors’ diaries, appearances and tour schedules, as well as the day-to-day logistics and administration. Femke handles new enquiries and maintains contact with a wide range of parties.