A memorial service was held yesterday for literary agent Carolyn Whitaker, who ran London Independent Books, an agency she founded in 1971, and died June 17, the Bookseller reported. She was 79. Children's fantasy author Elizabeth Kay, who worked with Whitaker for nearly 30 years, said, "There have been too many tributes to name all those who have offered their condolences, but she launched many writing careers with her honest and uncompromising criticism and remarks such as 'Get rid of the parents!' when she was dealing with children's fiction. I think Bruce Crowther summed her up the best, though. 'She had an unerring eye for what was good, what was bad, what was padding, and she always spoke her mind.' She will be very much missed."
