About
Jeanne Ryckmans - Director + Agent
“Jeanne Ryckmans is the quintessential twist that makes a literary martini perfect” - Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program - The Australia Institute
Jeanne has worked for over two decades in book publishing. She was formerly senior publisher at Random House, HarperCollins Australia and Black Inc.
Jeanne was the Artistic Director of the Canberra Writers' Festival (2019-2022) - the latter whilst working simultaneously as a literary agent.
Jeanne has worked with authors including dual Miles Franklin award-winner Christopher Koch, feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Socceroos legend Johnny Warren, Margaret Whitlam, 2019 Stella Prize winner Vicki Laveau-Harvie and many others.
Jeanne is also an author; her most recent book,Trust: A fractured fable, was published in 2023 by Upswell Publishing.
Media:
“Jeanne is someone who is a literary powerhouse in every sense of the word. She will generously share her wisdom, knowledge and expertise of the publishing industry to help both individuals and the wider ecosystem benefit. I have learnt much from Jeanne, and I am endlessly grateful for the introductions she has made and the advice she has offered.”
— Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM, Former Deputy Chair of the ABC, author, columnist and company director
“I always said that I would never appoint an Australian Literary Agent unless they had twenty years of publishing experience, written at least three books of their own, worked in magazines and media, produced television programs and documentary films, were bilingual, and the subject of an award-winning portrait in The Archibald Prize.”
— Bradley Trevor Greive AM, New York Times bestselling author of The Blue Day Book: A Lesson in Cheering Yourself Up that sold more than 30 million copies globally in 29 different languages and 115 countries.
