Find USA Book Agents Looking for New Writers | Best Literary Agents 2024-2025

Best Literary Agents 2024-2025 – Who are the top literary agents on our List of Literary Agents and how can you submit your book to them? This article reveals the Top 100 Literary Agents for new writers and established writers at the Top Literary Agencies in the United States. It highlights the best fiction literary agents for all sub-genres including: crime, fantasy, historical fiction, literary fiction, mystery, romance, science fiction (Sci-Fi), thrillers, and women’s fiction. It reveals the best nonfiction literary agents for all sub-genres such as business, memoir, and self-help. And it shows the best children’s literary agents for all children’s book genres such as young adult (YA), middle grade (MG), and picture books. You can see the top book agents for all these genres below, and you can see detailed agent bios and contact information in our free book agent database.

Many things make a top literary agent: a good education, experience in the publishing industry, the ability to spot talent, book development, publicity, and people skills. But one ability is more important than any other: the ability to sell books. And the number of book deals isn’t all that matters It’s about the number of six-figure (and beyond) book deals. In other words, the best book agents get the best deals so their clients can entertain and empower the broadest audiences and make the most money. The top publishing agents below are the most successful book agents in the United States, based on the number of six-figure book deals they’ve reported during recent years. Scroll below to see which of the top writer representatives are interested in your book genre, and get free access to the official Literary Agent Directory. You can use our Book Agencies database for all Book Agents Near Me searches such as: Book Agents NYC, Book Agents Los Angeles, Book Agents Chicago, Book Agents Boston, Book Agents Atlanta, etc.

Here are the top Book Agents in the USA for all Book Genres:

• Best Literary Agents (Top 100)
• Best Literary Agents for New Writers
• Best Literary Agents for Fiction
  • Best Literary Agents Representing Crime Novels
  • Top Fantasy Literary Agents
  • Best Literary Agents for Historical Fiction
  • Best Literary Agents for Literary Fiction
  • Best Literary Agents for Mystery Novels
  • Top Romance Literary Agents
  • Best Science Fiction Literary Agents
  • Best Literary Agents for Thrillers
  • Top Women’s Fiction Literary Agents
• Top Children’s Literary Agents
  • Top Young Adult Literary Agents
  • Best Middle Grade Literary Agents
  • Best Picture Book Literary Agents
• Best Nonfiction Literary Agents
  • Best Business Book Literary Agents
  • Best Literary Agents for Memoirs
  • Best Self-Help Literary Agents

Best Literary Agents for All Book Genres | Top 100 Book Agents

The book agents below are the top literary agents for all book genres. In most cases, the author representatives below are included based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported. In that regard, you can consider the following book agents the best literary agents for writers.

1. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group) – Top book genre: Fiction: Thriller
2. Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
3. Celeste Fine (Park & Fine Literary and Media) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
4. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
5. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
6. Kimberly Whalen (The Whalen Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
7. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group) – Top book genre: Fiction: Thriller
8. Larry Weissman (Larry Weissman Literary) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Narrative
9. Frank Weimann (Folio Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Memoir
10. Andrew Stuart (The Stuart Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
11. Stephen Hanselman (LevelFiveMedia) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
12. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
13. Stephen Barbara (Inkwell Management) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
14. Daniel Lazar (Writers House) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Middle Grade Fiction
15. Holly McGhee (Pippin Properties) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Picture book
16. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
17. Laura Rennert (Andrea Brown Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
18. Jim Hornfischer (Hornfischer Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
19. Steven Axelrod (The Axelrod Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
20. Victoria Sanders (Victoria Sanders & Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
21. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
22. Jane Dystel (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret) – Top book genre: Fiction: New Adult
23. Christy Fletcher (Fletcher & Company) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
24. Rosemary Stimola (Stimola Literary Studio) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
25. Chris Ferebee (Christopher Ferebee) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Religion/Spirituality
26. Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
27. Sara Crowe (Pippin Properties) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
28. John Maas (Park & Fine Literary and Media) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
29. Tracey Adams (Adams Literary) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
30. Josh Adams (Adams Literary) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
31. Scott Waxman (Waxman Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Sports
32. Al Zuckerman (Writers House) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
33. Emily van Beek (Folio Literary Management) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
34. Janis Donnaud (Janis A. Donnaud & Associates) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Cooking
35. Zoe Pagnamenta (Zoe Pagnamenta Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: General/Other
36. Rob McQuilkin (Massie & McQuilkin) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
37. Helen Breitwieser (Cornerstone Literary) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
38. Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary & Media) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
39. Steve Laube (Steve Laube Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Inspirational
40. Alexandra Machinist (ICM) – Top book genre: Fiction: Debut
41. Meg Thompson (Thompson Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Illustrated/Art
42. Richard Abate (3 Arts Entertainment) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
43. Doug Abrams (Idea Architects) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
44. Dorian Karchmar (William Morris Endeavor) – Top book genre: Fiction: Debut
45. Susan Golomb (Writers House) – Top book genre: Fiction: Debut
46. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Mystery/Crime
47. Curtis Yates (Yates & Yates) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Religion/Spirituality
48. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
49. Stephanie Tade (Stephanie Tade Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
50. Sealy Yates (Yates & Yates) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Religion/Spirituality
51. Steve Troha (Folio Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
52. Andrea Barzvi (Empire Literary) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Diet
53. Alison Fargis (Stonesong) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Cooking
54. Gail Ross (Ross Yoon Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
55. Liza Dawson (Liza Dawson Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
56. Dan Conaway (Writers House) – Top book genre: Fiction: Thriller
57. Todd Shuster (Aevitas Creative Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
58. Elyse Cheney (The Cheney Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Narrative
59. Stacey Glick (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Cooking
60. David Vigliano (AGI Vigliano) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Pop Culture
61. Kim Witherspoon (Inkwell Management) – Top book genre: Fiction: Debut
62. Joseph Veltre (Gersh Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Narrative
63. David Fugate (LaunchBooks Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
64. Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Debut
65. Eileen Cope (Mark Creative Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Health
66. Deborah Schneider (Gelfman Schneider/ICM) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
67. Ted Weinstein (Ted Weinstein Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
68. Karen Solem (Spencerhill Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
69. Elisabeth Weed (The Book Group) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
70. Melissa Flashman (Janklow & Nesbit) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
71. Suzanne Gluck (William Morris Endeavor) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
72. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
73. Bonnie Solow (Solow Literary Enterprises) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
74. Alex Glass (Glass Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Diet
75. Simon Lipskar (Writers House) – Top book genre: Fiction: Thriller
76. Kathleen Anderson (Anderson Literary Management) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
77. Barry Goldblatt (Barry Goldblatt Literary) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Middle Grade Fiction
78. Lucienne Diver (The Knight Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
79. Peter McGuigan (Foundry Literary + Media) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Memoir
80. Robert Barnett (Williams & Connolly) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Memoir
81. Fredrica Friedman (Fredrica S. Friedman and Company) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
82. Ammi-Joan Paquette (Erin Murphy Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Middle Grade Fiction
83. Brianne Johnson (Writers House) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Middle Grade Fiction
84. Eric Simonoff (William Morris Endeavor) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
85. David McCormick (McCormick Literary) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Narrative
86. Erica Spellman Silverman (Trident Media Group) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
87. Meredith Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Women’s/Romance
88. Peter Steinberg (Foundry Literary + Media) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
89. Esther Newberg (ICM) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Sports
90. Lisa Bankoff (Bankoff Collaborative) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
91. Joanna Volpe (New Leaf Literary & Media) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Young Adult Fiction
92. Marc Gerald (Europa Content) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Memoir
93. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Mystery/Crime
94. Steven Malk (Writers House) – Top book genre: Children’s Books: Picture book
95. Don Fehr (Trident Media Group) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: History/Politics/Current Affairs
96. Jennifer Jackson (Donald Maass Literary Agency) – Top book genre: Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
97. Sally Wofford-Girand (Union Literary) – Top book genre: Fiction: General/Other
98. Lisa DiMona (Writers House) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Business/Investing/Finance
99. Caitlin Blasdell (Liza Dawson Associates) – Top book genre: Fiction: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
100. Steve Ross (Steve Ross Agency) – Top book genre: Nonfiction: Memoir

See agent bios and contact information for the top 100 publishing agents for all book genres above. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form below. You can also scroll below to see the best writer representatives in many of the most popular book sub-genres.

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Best Literary Agents for New Writers | 25 Top Book Agents for First-Time Authors and Debut Authors

The 25 book agents below are the top literary agents for new writers, first-time authors, and debut authors for many of the most popular fiction book genres and sub-genres. In most cases, the author representatives below are included based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for new writers, debut authors, and first-time authors. In that regard, you can consider the following fiction book agents the best literary agents for new writers.

1. Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
2. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
3. Susan Golomb (Writers House)
4. Dorian Karchmar (William Morris Endeavor)
5. Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
6. Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency)
7. Madeleine Milburn (Madeleine Milburn Agency)
8. Juliet Mushens (Caskie Mushens)
9. Alexandra Machinist (ICM)
10. Victoria Sanders (Victoria Sanders & Associates)
11. Lisa Grubka (Fletcher & Company)
12. Stephanie Delman (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
13. Michelle Brower (Aevitas Creative Management)
14. Sasha Raskin (A Beautiful Mess Entertainment)
15. Laney Katz Becker (Massie & McQuilkin)
16. Henry Dunow (Dunow, Carlson & Lerner)
17. Sally Wofford-Girand (Union Literary)
18. Kim Witherspoon (Inkwell Management)
19. Rob McQuilkin (Massie & McQuilkin)
20. Amy Williams (The Williams Company)
21. Claudia Ballard (William Morris Endeavor)
22. Jeff Kleinman (Folio Literary Management)
23. Ellen Levine (Trident Media Group)
24. Alexa Stark (Trident Media Group)
25. Suzanne Gluck (William Morris Endeavor)

See agent bios and contact info for the top publishing agents for new writers and debut authors above, and all other writer representatives seeking new authors. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Fiction | Arranged by Book Genre

The book agents below are the top literary agents for fiction based on sales for many of the most popular fiction sub-genres. In most cases, the author representatives below are included because they’ve reported the most six-figure book deals in recent years for the fiction book genres below. In that regard, you can consider the following fiction book agents the best literary agents for fiction.

Best Fiction Literary Agents (General) | 25 Top Book Agents Representing Fiction

These are 25 of the top fiction book agents for representing fiction writers and fiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for fiction books and fiction authors. In that regard, you can consider the following fiction publishing agents some of the best fiction book agents.

1. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
2. Kimberly Whalen (The Whalen Agency)
3. Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
4. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
5. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Agency)
6. Steven Axelrod (The Axelrod Agency)
7. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Agency)
8. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
9. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
10. Victoria Sanders (Victoria Sanders & Associates)
11. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
12. Jane Dystel (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
13. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
14. Susan Golomb (Writers House)
15. Helen Breitwieser (Cornerstone Literary)
16. Karen Solem (Spencerhill Associates)
17. Alexandra Machinist (ICM)
18. Deborah Schneider (Gelfman Schneider/ICM)
19. Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
20. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Agency)
21. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates)
22. Elisabeth Weed (The Book Group)
23. Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency)
24. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
25. Jennifer Jackson (Donald Maass Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top fiction publishing agents above, and all other fiction book agents. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents Representing Crime Novels | 25 Top Book Agents Seeking Crime Fiction

These are 25 of the top book agents representing crime novels and crime fiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for crime fiction and crime novels. In that regard, you can consider the following crime fiction publishing agents some of the best book agents representing crime novelists.

1. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
2. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
3. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Agency)
4. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
5. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
6. Shane Salerno (The Story Factory)
7. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
8. Amy Rennert (Amy Rennert Agency)
9. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates)
10. Ann Rittenberg (Ann Rittenberg Agency)
11. Lisa Gallagher (DeFiore and Company)
12. Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli (JET Literary Associates)
13. Donald Maass (Donald Maass Agency)
14. Juliet Mushens (Caskie Mushens)
15. Pam Hopkins (Hopkins Literary Associates)
16. Dan Conaway (Writers House)
17. Molly Friedrich (Friedrich Agency)
18. Patricia Moosbrugger
19. Jessica Faust (BookEnds)
20. David Gernert (The Gernert Company)
21. Howard Morhaim (Howard Morhaim Agency)
22. Joshua Bilmes (JABberwocky Agency)
23. Vicky Bijur (Vicky Bijur Agency)
24. Barbara Lowenstein (Lowenstein Associates)
25. Rich Henshaw (Richard Henshaw Group)

See agent bios and contact info for the top crime fiction publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents accepting crime novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Top Fantasy Literary Agents | 25 of the Best Fantasy Literary Agents

These are 25 of the best literary agents for fantasy fiction representing fantasy fiction writers and fantasy fiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for fantasy fiction and fantasy novels. In that regard, you can consider the following fantasy publishing agents some of the top book agents representing fantasy novelists.

1. Andrea Somberg (Harvey Klinger)
2. Caitlin Blasdell (Liza Dawson Associates)
3. David Fugate (LaunchBooks Agency)
4. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
5. Eleanor Wood (Spectrum Agency)
6. Ginger Clark (Curtis Brown)
7. Hannah Bowman (Liza Dawson Associates)
8. Holly Root (Root Literary)
9. Jennifer Azantian (Azantian Agency)
10. Jennifer Jackson (Donald Maass Agency)
11. Jennifer Udden (Barry Goldblatt Literary)
12. John Silbersack (The Bent Agency)
13. Joshua Bilmes (JABberwocky Agency)
14. Kate McKean (Howard Morhaim Agency)
15. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Agency)
16. Laurie McLean (Fuse Literary)
17. Lucienne Diver (The Knight Agency)
18. Matt Bialer (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
19. Meredith Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Agency)
20. Michael Carr (Veritas)
21. Miriam Kriss (Irene Goodman Agency)
22. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
23. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Agency)
24. Sam Morgan (Foundry Literary + Media)
25. Sarah Younger (Nancy Yost Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top fantasy publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking fantasy novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Historical Fiction | 25 Top Historical Fiction Book Agents

These are 25 of the top book agents for historical fiction representing historical fiction writers and historical fiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for historical fiction and historical novels. In that regard, you can consider the following historical fiction publishing agents some of the best book agents representing historical fiction writers.

1. Barbara Braun (Barbara Braun Associates)
2. Jessica Alvarez (BookEnds Agency)
3. Jessica Faust (BookEnds Agency)
4. Laura Bradford (Bradford Agency)
5. Farley Chase (Chase Agency)
6. Steven Salpeter (Curtis Brown Agency)
7. Henry Dunow (Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Agency)
8. Jim McCarthy (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC)
9. Ellen Geiger (Frances Goldin Agency)
10. Joshua Getzler (Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency)
11. Pamela Hopkins (Hopkins Literary Associates)
12. Irene Goodman (Irene Goodman Agency)
13. Margret McBride (Margret McBride Agency)
14. Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis Agency)
15. Eric Myers (Myers Literary Management)
16. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Agency)
17. Claire Anderson-Wheeler (Regal Hoffmann & Associates)
18. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Agency)
19. Karen Solem (Spencerhill Associates)
20. Lisa Erbach Vance (The Aaron M. Priest Agency)
21. Elaine Spencer (The Knight Agency)
22. Miriam Altshuler (DeFiore and Company)
23. Adam Schear (DeFiore and Company)
24. Katie Grimm (Don Congdon Associates)
25. Susan Ramer (Don Congdon Associates)

See agent bios and contact info for the top historical fiction publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents accepting historical novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Literary Fiction | 25 Top Literary Fiction Book Agents

These are 25 of the top book agents for literary fiction representing literary fiction writers and literary fiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for literary fiction and literary novels. In that regard, you can consider the following literary fiction publishing agents some of the best book agents representing literary fiction novelists

1. Emily Forland (Brandt & Hochman)
2. Gail Hochman (Brandt & Hochman)
3. Steven Salpeter (Curtis Brown Literary Agency)
4. Joy Tutela (David Black Agency)
5. Michael Congdon (Don Congdon Associates)
6. Cameron McClure (Donald Maass Literary Agency)
7. Sorche Fairbank (Fairbank Literary Representation)
8. Faith Hampton Childs (Faith Childs Literary Agency)
9. Frances Collin (Frances Collin Literary Agency)
10. Matt McGowan (Frances Goldin Literary Agency)
11. Sam Stoloff (Frances Goldin Literary Agency)
12. Jeff Gerecke (G Agency)
13. Samantha Shea (Georges Borchardt Literary Agency)
14. Jesseca Salky (Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency)
15. Harold Schmidt (Harold Schmidt Literary Agency)
16. Harvey Klinger (Harvey Klinger)
17. Warren Frazier (John Hawkins & Associates)
18. Anne Hawkins (John Hawkins & Associates)
19. Laura Gross (Laura Gross Literary Agency)
20. Victoria Skurnick (Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency)
21. Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency)
22. Natanya Wheeler (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
23. Lorin Rees (Rees Literary Agency)
24. Brenda Bowen (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
25. Laurie Liss (Sterling Lord Literistic)

See agent bios and contact info for the top literary fiction publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking literary novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Mystery Novels | 25 Top Book Agents for Mystery Writers

These are 25 of the top book agents for mystery novels representing mystery writers and mystery authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for mystery fiction and mystery novels. In that regard, you can consider the following mystery publishing agents some of the best book agents representing mystery novelists.

1. Amy Rennert (Amy Rennert Agency)
2. Ann Rittenberg (Ann Rittenberg Literary Agency)
3. Barbara Lowenstein (Lowenstein Associates)
4. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
5. Dan Conaway (Writers House)
6. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates)
7. David Gernert (The Gernert Company)
8. Donald Maass (Donald Maass Literary Agency)
9. Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli (JET Literary Associates)
10. Howard Morhaim (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency)
11. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
12. Jessica Faust (BookEnds)
13. Joshua Bilmes (JABberwocky Literary Agency)
14. Juliet Mushens (Caskie Mushens)
15. Lisa Gallagher (DeFiore and Company)
16. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
17. Molly Friedrich (Friedrich Agency)
18. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
19. Pam Hopkins (Hopkins Literary Associates)
20. Patricia Moosbrugger
21. Rich Henshaw (Richard Henshaw Group)
22. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
23. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
24. Shane Salerno (The Story Factory)
25. Vicky Bijur (Vicky Bijur Literary Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top mystery publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents accepting mystery novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Top Romance Literary Agents | 25 of the Best Romance Book Agents

These are 25 of the best romance literary agents representing romance writers and romance authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for romance fiction and romance novels. In that regard, you can consider the following romance publishing agents some of the top book agents representing romance novelists.

1. Annelise Robey (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
2. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
3. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates)
4. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
5. Helen Breitwieser (Cornerstone Literary)
6. Irene Goodman (Irene Goodman Agency)
7. Jane Dystel (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
8. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
9. Karen Solem (Spencerhill Associates)
10. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
11. Kimberly Whalen (The Whalen Agency)
12. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency)
13. Laura Bradford (Bradford Literary Agency)
14. Louise Fury (The Bent Agency)
15. Maria Carvainis (Maria Carvainis Agency)
16. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
17. Meredith Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency)
18. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
19. Nephele Tempest (The Knight Agency)
20. Pam Ahearn (Ahearn Agency)
21. Pamela Harty (The Knight Agency)
22. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
23. Robin Rue (Writers House)
24. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
25. Steven Axelrod (The Axelrod Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top romance publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents looking for romance novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Science Fiction Literary Agents | 25 Top Sci-Fi Book Agents

These are 25 of the top science fiction book agents or sci-fi literary agents representing science fiction writers and authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for science fiction and sci-fi novels. In that regard, you can consider the following sci-fi publishing agents some of the best book agents representing science fiction novelists.

1. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency)
2. Jennifer Jackson (Donald Maass Literary Agency)
3. Matt Bialer (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
4. David Fugate (LaunchBooks Literary Agency)
5. Hannah Bowman (Liza Dawson Associates)
6. Eleanor Wood (Spectrum Literary Agency)
7. Caitlin Blasdell (Liza Dawson Associates)
8. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
9. Lucienne Diver (The Knight Agency)
10. Joshua Bilmes (JABberwocky Literary Agency)
11. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency)
12. Ginger Clark (Curtis Brown)
13. Andrea Somberg (Harvey Klinger)
14. Laurie McLean (Fuse Literary)
15. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
16. Sarah Younger (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
17. Michael Carr (Veritas)
18. John Silbersack (The Bent Agency)
19. Meredith Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency)
20. Miriam Kriss (Irene Goodman Agency)
21. Jennifer Udden (Barry Goldblatt Literary)
22. Jennifer Azantian (Azantian Literary Agency)
23. Kate McKean (Howard Morhaim Literary Agency)
24. Holly Root (Root Literary)
25. Sam Morgan (Foundry Literary + Media)

See agent bios and contact info for the top sci-fi publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking science fiction novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Thrillers | 25 Top Book Agents for Thrillers

These are 25 of the top book agents for thrillers representing thriller writers and authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for thriller fiction and thriller novels. In that regard, you can consider the following thriller publishing agents some of the best book agents representing thriller writers.

1. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
2. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
3. Dan Conaway (Writers House)
4. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency)
5. Victoria Sanders (Victoria Sanders & Associates)
6. Sara Crowe (Pippin Properties)
7. Lisa Erbach Vance (Aaron Priest Literary Agency)
8. Simon Lipskar (Writers House)
9. Juliet Mushens (Caskie Mushens)
10. Bob Diforio (D4EO Literary Agency)
11. Deborah Schneider (Gelfman Schneider/ICM)
12. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
13. Janet Reid (New Leaf Literary & Media)
14. Madeleine Milburn (Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency)
15. Erica Spellman Silverman (Trident Media Group)
16. David Hale Smith (Inkwell Management)
17. David Gernert (The Gernert Company)
18. Astri von Arbin Ahlander (Ahlander Agency)
19. Stacia Decker (Dunow, Carlson & Lerner)
20. Heide Lange (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
21. Jean Naggar (Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency)
22. Richard Abate (3 Arts Entertainment)
23. Liza Dawson (Liza Dawson Associates)
24. Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary Agency)
25. Shane Salerno (The Story Factory)

See agent bios and contact info for the top thriller publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking thriller novels. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Top Women’s Fiction Literary Agents | 25 of the Best Women’s Fiction Book Agents

These are 25 of the best women’s fiction literary agents representing women’s fiction writers and authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for women’s fiction and commercial women’s fiction. In that regard, you can consider the following women’s fiction publishing agents some of the top book agents representing women’s fiction writers.

1. Kimberly Whalen (The Whalen Agency)
2. Steven Axelrod (The Axelrod Agency)
3. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
4. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
5. Helen Breitwieser (Cornerstone Literary)
6. Karen Solem (Spencerhill Associates)
7. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
8. Robert Gottlieb (Trident Media Group)
9. Nancy Yost (Nancy Yost Literary Agency)
10. Nephele Tempest (The Knight Agency)
11. Jane Dystel (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
12. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency)
13. Meredith Bernstein (Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency)
14. Annelise Robey (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
15. Danielle Egan-Miller (Browne & Miller Literary Associates)
16. Robin Rue (Writers House)
17. Meg Ruley (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
18. Maria Carvainis (Maria Carvainis Agency)
19. Irene Goodman (Irene Goodman Agency)
20. Laura Bradford (Bradford Literary Agency)
21. Pamela Harty (The Knight Agency)
22. Christina Hogrebe (Jane Rotrosen Agency)
23. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
24. Pam Ahearn (Ahearn Agency)
25. Louise Fury (The Bent Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top women’s fiction publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents looking for women’s fiction. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Top Children’s Literary Agents – Arranged by Genre

The book agents below are the best children’s literary agents based on sales for the most popular children’s book sub-genres. In most cases, the author representatives below are shown because they’ve reported the most six-figure book deals in recent years for the following children’s book sub-genres: young adult, middle grade, and picture books. In that regard, you can consider the following children’s book agents the top children’s literary agents.

Top Young Adult Literary Agents (YA) | 25 Top YA Book Agents

These are 25 of the best young adult literary agents representing YA writers and YA authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for YA books. In that regard, you can consider the following YA book agents some of the top young adult book agents.

1. Rosemary Stimola (Stimola Literary Studio)
2. Laura Rennert (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
3. Stephen Barbara (Inkwell Management)
4. Kristin Nelson (Nelson Literary Agency)
5. Josh Adams (Adams Literary)
6. Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary Agency)
7. Sara Crowe (Pippin Properties)
8. Tracey Adams (Adams Literary)
9. Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary & Media)
10. Emily van Beek (Folio Literary Management)
11. Ted Malawer (Upstart Crow Literary)
12. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
13. Joanna Volpe (New Leaf Literary & Media)
14. Pete Knapp (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
15. Molly Ker Hawn (The Bent Agency)
16. Jenny Bent (The Bent Agency)
17. Mandy Hubbard (Emerald City Literary Agency)
18. Brianne Johnson (Writers House)
19. John Cusick (Folio Literary Management)
20. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency)
21. Ammi-Joan Paquette (Erin Murphy Literary Agency)
22. Kevan Lyon (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
23. Brooks Sherman (Janklow & Nesbit)
24. Sara Shandler (Alloy Entertainment)
25. Richard Abate (3 Arts Entertainment)

See agent bios and contact info for the top young adult and YA publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking young adult or YA books including young adult fiction literary agents. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Middle Grade Literary Agents (MG) | 25 Top MG Book Agents

These are 25 of the top middle grade book agents representing MG writers and MG authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for MG books. In that regard, you can consider the following MG book agents some of the best middle grade literary agents.

1. Daniel Lazar (Writers House)
2. Stephen Barbara (Inkwell Management)
3. Holly McGhee (Pippin Properties)
4. Sarah Davies (Greenhouse Literary Agency)
5. Tracey Adams (Adams Literary)
6. Barry Goldblatt (Barry Goldblatt Literary)
7. Sara Crowe (Pippin Properties)
8. Ammi-Joan Paquette (Erin Murphy Literary Agency)
9. Brianne Johnson (Writers House)
10. Josh Adams (Adams Literary)
11. Rosemary Stimola (Stimola Literary Studio)
12. Emily van Beek (Folio Literary Management)
13. Steven Malk (Writers House)
14. Elena Giovinazzo (Pippin Properties)
15. Rebecca Sherman (Writers House)
16. Gemma Cooper (The Bent Agency)
17. Suzie Townsend (New Leaf Literary & Media)
18. Brooks Sherman (Janklow & Nesbit)
19. Caitlin Blasdell (Liza Dawson Associates)
20. Kari Sutherland (Bradford Literary Agency)
21. Ginger Clark (Curtis Brown)
22. Jennifer Rofe (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
23. Brent Taylor (TriadaUS Literary Agency)
24. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
25. Victoria Marini (Irene Goodman Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top middle grade and MG publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking middle grade or MG books including middle grade fiction literary agents. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Picture Book Literary Agents | 25 Top Picture Book Agents

These are 25 of the top picture book agents representing picture book writers and picture book authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for picture books. In that regard, you can consider the following picture book agents some of the best picture book literary agents.

1. Holly McGhee (Pippin Properties)
2. Emily van Beek (Folio Literary Management)
3. Steven Malk (Writers House)
4. Cathy Hemming (Cathy D. Hemming Literary Agency)
5. Anna Olswanger (Olswanger Literary)
6. Paul Rodeen (Rodeen Literary Management)
7. Rebecca Sherman (Writers House)
8. Kirsten Hall (Catbird Productions)
9. Brooks Sherman (Janklow & Nesbit)
10. Lori Kilkelly (LK Literary Agency)
11. Rubin Pfeffer (Rubin Pfeffer Content)
12. Erica Rand Silverman (Stimola Literary Studio)
13. Deborah Warren (East-West Agency)
14. Edward Maxwell (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
15. Sorche Fairbank (Fairbank Literary Representation)
16. Stephen Barr (Writers House)
17. Susan Hawk (Upstart Crow Literary)
18. Brianne Johnson (Writers House)
19. Jennifer Rofe (Andrea Brown Literary Agency)
20. Heather Alexander (Pippin Properties)
21. Stacey Glick (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret)
22. Jennie Dunham (Dunham Literary)
23. Tracey Adams (Adams Literary)
24. Adah Megged Nuchi (Jill Corcoran Literary Agency)
25. Ammi-Joan Paquette (Erin Murphy Literary Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top picture book publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking children’s picture books by authors and, in some cases, illustrators. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Nonfiction Literary Agents – Arranged by Book Genre

The book agents below are the top nonfiction literary agents based on sales for many of the most popular nonfiction book sub-genres. In most cases, the author representatives below are shown based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for nonfiction books. In that regard, you can consider the following nonfiction book agents the best nonfiction literary agents.

Top Literary Agents for Nonfiction (General) | 25 Top Nonfiction Book Agents

These are 25 of the best literary agents for nonfiction books representing nonfiction writers and nonfiction authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for nonfiction books. In that regard, you can consider the following nonfiction book agents some of the top book agents for nonfiction.

1. Celeste Fine (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
2. Larry Weissman (Larry Weissman Literary)
3. Frank Weimann (Folio Literary Management)
4. Stephen Hanselman (LevelFiveMedia)
5. Andrew Stuart (The Stuart Agency)
6. Jim Hornfischer (Hornfischer Literary Management)
7. John Maas (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
8. Chris Ferebee (Christopher Ferebee)
9. Scott Waxman (Waxman Literary Agency)
10. Christy Fletcher (Fletcher & Company)
11. Janis Donnaud (Janis A. Donnaud & Associates)
12. Patrick Walsh (PEW Literary)
13. Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
14. Doug Abrams (Idea Architects)
15. Meg Thompson (Thompson Literary Agency)
16. Curtis Yates (Yates & Yates)
17. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
18. Stephanie Tade (Stephanie Tade Agency)
19. Sealy Yates (Yates & Yates)
20. Steve Troha (Folio Literary Management)
21. Russell Galen (Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency)
22. Gail Ross (Ross Yoon Agency)
23. Zoe Pagnamenta (Zoe Pagnamenta Agency)
24. Todd Shuster (Aevitas Creative Management)
25. Ted Weinstein (Ted Weinstein Literary Management)

See agent bios and contact info for the top nonfiction publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking nonfiction books and nonfiction authors. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Business Book Literary Agents | 25 Top Business Book Agents

These are 25 of the top business book agents for representing business book writers and business book authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for business books. In that regard, you can consider the following business book agents some of the best business book literary agents.

1. Stephen Hanselman (LevelFiveMedia)
2. Ted Weinstein (Ted Weinstein Literary Management)
3. Lisa DiMona (Writers House)
4. Christy Fletcher (Fletcher & Company)
5. Bonnie Solow (Solow Literary Enterprises)
6. Celeste Fine (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
7. Melissa Flashman (Janklow & Nesbit)
8. Jeff Herman (Jeff Herman Agency)
9. Al Zuckerman (Writers House)
10. David Fugate (LaunchBooks Literary Agency)
11. Howard Yoon (Ross Yoon Agency)
12. Matt Yates (Yates & Yates)
13. Andrew Stuart (The Stuart Agency)
14. Frank Weimann (Folio Literary Management)
15. Fredrica Friedman (Fredrica S. Friedman and Company)
16. John Maas (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
17. Todd Shuster (Aevitas Creative Management)
18. James Levine (Levine Greenberg Rostan)
19. Rafe Sagalyn (ICM)
20. Lucinda Blumenfeld (Lucinda Literary)
21. Esmond Harmsworth (Aevitas Creative Management)
22. Scott Hoffman (Folio Literary Management)
23. Steve Troha (Folio Literary Management)
24. Kirsten Neuhaus (Foundry Literary + Media)
25. Steve Ross (Steve Ross Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top business book publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking business books and business book authors. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Literary Agents for Memoirs | 25 Top Memoir Book Agents

These are 25 of the top book agents for memoirs representing memoir writers and memoir authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for memoirs. In that regard, you can consider the following memoir book agents some of the best memoir literary agents.

1. Frank Weimann (Folio Literary Management)
2. Robert Barnett (Williams & Connolly)
3. Jim Hornfischer (Hornfischer Literary Management)
4. Alan Nevins (Renaissance)
5. Larry Weissman (Larry Weissman Literary)
6. Marc Gerald (Europa Content)
7. Marly Rusoff (Marly Rusoff & Associates)
8. Scott Waxman (Waxman Literary Agency)
9. Adam Chromy (Movable Type Management)
10. Steve Ross (Steve Ross Agency)
11. Lisa Leshne (The Leshne Agency)
12. Curtis Yates (Yates & Yates)
13. David Vigliano (AGI Vigliano)
14. Bill Clegg (The Clegg Agency)
15. Joseph Veltre (Gersh Agency)
16. Rob McQuilkin (Massie & McQuilkin)
17. Peter McGuigan (Foundry Literary + Media)
18. Scott Miller (Trident Media Group)
19. Andrew Stuart (The Stuart Agency)
20. Kirby Kim (Janklow & Nesbit)
21. Zoe Pagnamenta (Zoe Pagnamenta Agency)
22. Janet Silver (Aevitas Creative Management)
23. Byrd Leavell (UTA)
24. Ian Kleinert (Objective Entertainment)
25. Christy Fletcher (Fletcher & Company)

See agent bios and contact info for the top memoir publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking memoirs and memoir authors. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Best Self-Help Literary Agents | 25 Top Self-Help Book Agents

These are 25 of the top self-help book agents representing self-help writers and personal development authors, based on the number of significant book deals they’ve reported for self-help books. In that regard, you can consider the following self-help book agents some of the best self-help literary agents.

1. Carol Mann (Carol Mann Agency)
2. Mitchell Waters (Curtis Brown Literary Agency)
3. Miriam Altshuler (DeFiore and Company)
4. Katie Kotchman (Don Congdon Associates)
5. Heather Jackson (Heather Jackson Literary Agency)
6. Irene Goodman (Irene Goodman Literary Agency)
7. Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein (McIntosh & Otis Literary Agency)
8. Lorin Rees (Rees Literary Agency)
9. Heide Lange (Sanford J. Greenburger Associates)
10. Wendy Sherman (Wendy Sherman Associates)
11. Rick Richter (Aevitas Creative Management)
12. Marilyn Allen (Allen O’Shea Literary Agency )
13. Joanne Wyckoff (Carol Mann Agency)
14. Nicole James (Chalberg & Sussman Literary Agency)
15. Michael Hoogland (Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC)
16. Rebecca Gradinger (Fletcher & Company)
17. Dado Derviskadic (Folio Literary Management)
18. Alicia Brooks (Jean Naggar Literary Agency)
19. J.L. Stermer (New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.)
20. John Maas (Park & Fine Literary and Media)
21. Deidre Knight (The Knight Agency)
22. Tina Wainscott (The Seymour Agency)
23. Peter Rubie (FinePrint Literary Management)
24. Julie Hill (Julie Hill and Associates)
25. Penny Nelson (Manus & Associates Literary Agency)

See agent bios and contact info for the top self-help publishing agents above, and all other publishing agents seeking self-help books and self-help authors. Simply enter your first name and email address in the opt-in form on this page for FREE INSTANT ACCESS.

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Book Publicist FAQ for Authors – Best Literary Agents

What does a book publicist do? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

A book publicist is hired to create additional exposure for a book via major media outlets, with the primary purpose of selling more copies of the book. While it is possible to pitch most most well-known media outlets (TV, radio, podcasts, print, online) yourself, a well-known book publicist who’s successfully getting exposure with such outlets in the past is going to have an easier time. For the very reason authors want one of the best literary agents to pitch the biggest and most powerful book publishers, authors can benefit from a powerful book publicist to get major media. Like the best literary agents, book publicists know what to say and how to say it—concisely.

Do authors need to hire book publicists? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

No.

I simply wrote this article is because some of my coaching clients who’ve scheduled an Introductory Coaching Call with me and then gone on to get agents (click here to see Author Success Stories) have asked me if they should hire publicists. Some of those authors have gotten some of the best literary agents, while other have gotten up-and-coming agents.

During my nine years as an author coach—and my time as a literary agent prior to that—I never had a situation in which a publisher required or expected an author to hire a publicist. However, some authors do so, to sell more books and increase the odds they’ll be able to publish more books. In other words, the more successful your first book is, the easier it is to get a book deal for the next book(s). Even if you have one of the best literary agents–and a great publisher who does a lot to promote your book–your literary agent and publisher aren’t going to do everything possible to promote your book.

That means an author can/should do some things as well. And, if an author hires a private publicist, the author should coordinate his or her efforts with their publisher, so they don’t duplicate their work. Some publishers do a little to promote a book; others do a lot. Some publishers have an in-house team dedicated to publicity; others have just one person. And, still others, especially small publishers, have just one person who works on publicity part-time, while other book publishers outsource most or all of their publicity efforts.

Are there different types of book publicists? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

Yes.

In two respects.

First, book publicists are like the best literary agents in that some are highly specialized, whereas others are generalists. In other words, some book publicists have experience helping all types of authors get exposure for their book in all types of media (TV, radio, podcasts, print, online), while others only work with certain types of book in certain types of media outlets. Depending on the unique nature of your book, the promotional efforts of your publisher, and other factors, it might make sense for you to promote you book in different ways than someone else. You might have more success and a greater return on your investment.

Book publicists also vary regarding how and what they charge. Most charge a flat fee for a certain amount of time (many have a minimum) or a certain amount of outreach they plan to do that’s agreed on. Some publicists (very few) charge an hourly rate. And, even fewer, charge a fee only when they get results (hardly any publicists work this way, as it’s very difficult, even for a very good publicist, to predict which books are going to do very well—and luck, good timing, or divine intervention (however you want to look at it) are part of the process as well.

How much does a book publicist cost? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

Legitimate book agents, including the best literary agents, don’t get paid unless they sell an author’s book. Hiring a book publicist, however, is like hiring a book editor when it comes to the investment required. You can get a good publicist for anywhere between $2-3,000 or tens of thousands of dollars. It will depend on the caliber of the publicist (as you likely already know, you usually get what you pay for). The cost will also depend on the term of your agreement (most publicists will tell you it takes months to get traction and see decent results). And, the cost will depend on the type of media exposure you want.

For example, it’s going cost more to get booked on major morning TV shows than it will to get booked on small radio stations or a small blog. The cost will also depend on whether you hire the publicist for one round or cycle of promotion or do something long-term. Many publicists are hired for multiple months (minimum) with a monthly cost of thousands of dollars.

Whatever you do, don’t expect to make all the money you spend back via book sales if you hire a publicist. That might happen, but it might not. The best way to think of it is as an investment in your writing career.

In other words, hiring a publicist is no different than hiring someone to create an author website, hiring a freelance editor, or hiring a coach like me to give you the best chance of getting the best literary agents interested in your book. No one that you hire can (or should) promise you’re going to achieve a certain result or outcome. All they can (or should) say is that working with them will give you the best chance of achieving the results you want.

And, if that person has a proven track record and genuinely believes you might be successful together, that’s the best you can hope for.

How should you choose a book publicist? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

If you’re going to hire a publicist, shop around. Do Google searches to browse the many different types of publicists online. Then consider setting up a consultation with multiple publicists, prior to make a decision. Most publicists offer a free or paid consultation, during which you learn things to help you become a better marketer. And, of course, such calls will help you make a better decision regarding who you decided to ultimately hire—if you decide to hire someone.

Where can I learn more about author platform? – Best Literary Agents Article Series

Explaining how to improve one’s profile or platform to attract the best literary agents–or to improve your market reach after you have a book agent–is one of the most difficult things to do in an article. That’s because there are so many different ways to promote a book, depending on an individual author’s: book, time, location, physical limitations (perhaps due to age or a disability), computer ability, pitch ability, article writing ability, interview ability, personality, money available to invest in platform (though you can do a lot without paying), personal preferences, etc.

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula.

The good news is you don’t need to be an extrovert, young, good-looking, etc. to promote a book—authors ask me about things like that sometimes. Anyone can promote a book, and there are many ways to do it. The trick is finding the right way for you.

It’s the same writing a query letter to send to the best literary agents.

There are certain things every author should and shouldn’t do when writing a query. And, learning and following those things will help you significantly improve your odds of getting a good agent. But nothing compares to consulting with someone experienced who can help you see your unique opportunities (and trouble spots) for your unique book and situation.

That’s why I suggest every author consult with someone about their query. Just like a good publicist helps authors find the best hooks, angles, and media people to pitch a story to…I help authors find the best hooks and angles, and the best literary agents, to pitch a story to. Again, click here if you want to learn more about scheduling an Introductory Coaching Call.

And, click here if you want to see my
2-part guide about Author Platform.

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Best Literary Agents | Additional Information and Resources

Before you submit your query letter to one of the top literary agents above, there are two things you need to know. First, this assortment of the best book agents is partly based on deals that have been “self-reported” by the agents to a website called Publishers Marketplace. That means there are many other book agents making deals that don’t report them. In other words, this grouping of the best literary agents doesn’t including every good agent. There are many more successful publishing agents that we weren’t able to include.

How can you find them AND get access to their
contact information and submission requirements?

Click here to enter our FREE Literary Agent Directory
with instant access to more than 1,100 agent profiles.

OR…

Click here now to see the
100 Top Literary Agencies.

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