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The Directory of Literary Agents
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Literary Agent Directory
Important: Visit each agent’s website (links in their listings below) to see if they’re open to submissions before querying.
- The results are being filtered by the character: G
Russell Galen
Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Russell Galen is a literary agent with the Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency. Russell says: “I’m the only agent I know of, and maybe the only one in the history of the world, who actually grew up wanting to be a literary agent. In my adolescence I went through a period of obsession with F. Scott Fitzgerald and read every published word by or about him, including his Selected Letters edited by Andrew Turnbull, was struck by the fact that the letters to his legendary editor, Max Perkins, showed little evidence of Perkins making any contribution to Fitzgerald’s career other than, of course, buying his books in the first place. The letters to his equally legendary (though unknown to the general public) agent, Harold Ober, were more interesting. It was to his agent, not his editor, that he turned for support, advice, encouragement, and inspiration. Together they put together a career over a 20-year period.
I loved writing but was not myself a writer: I was like the clumsy kid who loves the Yankees and wants to be a coach since he can never play center field. So even as early as the age of 14 I figured out that if you wanted to help writers live the good life, rather than write yourself, you could best do that as a literary agent. I graduated from Brandeis University in May 1976 and started within days as an apprentice to the most colorful and successful agent of his era, Scott Meredith. I made my first sale within a month and had 15 uproarious, adventurous years there, making publishing industry history a few dozen times, and forming the nucleus of the client list I still represent today. When Scott died in 1993 I joined with the two other top agents there, Ted Chichak and Jack Scovil, to found this firm.
I am taking on a very few new authors in areas that have a special meaning for me. In fiction, my passion is novels which stretch the bounds of reality. There are scores of different ways to do that and I love them all. A novel needs to take me some place I can’t get to in a car, whether it be the past, the future, a fantasy world, an alternate historical track, a world in which our world touches another that is hidden or rarely seen, or one which has been changed by some new technology, event, or idea.
In nonfiction I do strong, serious books on almost any subject. I won’t take on a nonfiction book that doesn’t teach me something. I don’t do books which are merely entertaining, or which are bullshit (diet or pop psych books that don’t really help people, for instance). I’m interested in science, history, journalism, biography, business, memoir, nature, politics, sports, contemporary culture, literary nonfiction, etc. I will take on any book by a good writer willing to work hard and spend a year plumbing the depths of some fascinating aspect of man or nature.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Nature * Politics * Reference * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * Upmarket *
276 Fifth Avenue Suite 207 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Lauren Galit is a literary agent with LKG Agency. She says: “Agent: such a loaded job description. It’s the word you scream into the phone when you get stuck in an airline or cable company’s automated loop. AGENT! Or it might call to mind images of a classic real estate or Hollywood agent with slicked-back hair and too-sharp clothes. But that’s not who I am. My client, Clinton Kelly, once wrote in the acknowledgments of Freakin’ Fabulous: ‘Lauren Keller Galit, a totally chill agent who’s not even a jerk.’
Being a literary agent is my dream job (but then again, I was a literary geek at Harvard): I get to work with writers all day long, helping them craft their book ideas and editing their proposals. And then, once the proposal is complete, I get to connect with editors to sell them on something I have passionately committed myself to for the past few months. And I get to chat—a lot (but hopefully not too much). With writers, with editors, with Caitlen. All good.
I also get to be a world-class dilettante. For each new project that comes along, I delve deep into that writer’s world and expertise, learning all I can, so that I can speak knowledgeably about the subject. What could be bad about exploring a new angle on parenting or fitness or style every few months? My closet is certainly the better for it; hopefully my kids, too.
I started my agenting career in 2002 at John Boswell Associates, a literary agency and book packager that’s most noted for creating 365 Ways To Cook Chicken, as well as countless other best sellers. Because Boswell was a packager as well as an agent, he taught me how to do more than just craft a proposal and sell it; he showed me how to create a book from scratch, working with designers and production people along the way. It is that attention to detail that I bring to my current projects, even if we aren’t packaging them. I help my authors envision what their books could be.
Before becoming an agent, I was a magazine editor for 10 years, starting at GQ (Gentleman’s Quarterly) and ending at GH (Good Housekeeping). That’s where I learned to edit and copy edit, to read and reread until an article or caption or pull quote was just so. It is a skill I bring to every proposal I work on with a writer. It won’t go out until it is just so, because the proposal should beautifully and accurately represent the idea an author is dying to bring to the world.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Middle Grade Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
134 West 83rd Street 3rd Floor New York NY 10024 USA
Biography
Lisa Gallagher is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Lisa Gallagher joined DeFiore & Company Literary Management Inc., as a literary agent in 2014, after working at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates for five years.
She is actively seeking new clients both in fiction and non-fiction, who are great storytellers, delivering both narrative urgency and dramatic tension, combined with multi-faceted characters and a transporting sense of place. She has more than twenty-five years of publishing experience and insight from both sides of the Atlantic, and now as an agent, being a champion of authors and their work continues to be her passion. She represents adult fiction, adult non-fiction and some YA projects, including New York Times bestselling novelists Christopher Moore and Charles Todd, Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Keller, national bestseller Hank Phillippi Ryan and memoirist Molly Bloom, author of MOLLY’S GAME, about to be released as a major motion picture directed by Aaron Sorkin, and starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba.
Formerly SVP & Publisher, William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins), Gallagher was previously Associate Publisher at Bloomsbury USA, following a move to New York from Bloomsbury’s London office in 1998. Gallagher was educated at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, UK, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Current Events/Affairs * Diet/Nutrition * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * True Crime * Young Adult *
47 E. 19th St. 3rd Floor New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Shannon Gallagher is a literary agent with the Wernick & Pratt Agency. She spent more than twelve years in the marketing departments at various adult trade publishers, including Rodale, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster. After moving from Brooklyn to upstate New York, she spent several years as a book reviewer and copywriter. When she saw an opening at Wernick & Pratt, she was intrigued at the thought of learning about both literary agencies and children’s literature, two facets of publishing she had not yet had the opportunity to explore. After two years learning as much as she possibly could from the accomplished, dedicated agents here, Shannon was thrilled to become an Associate Agent, where she could utilize her marketing experience -– getting the right information to the right people –- to better identify, encourage, and promote authors and illustrators. Shannon is interested in both fiction and nonfiction in all categories of children’s literature, from picture books to young adult, and she especially welcomes underrepresented perspectives. A graduate of Bryn Mawr College (go, Seven Sisters!), Shannon lives with her husband and daughter in the beautiful Hudson Valley.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
4455 Douglas Avenue Riverdale NY 10471 USA
Nancy Gallt
Nancy Gallt Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Nancy Gallt is a literary agent with and the founder of the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. She attended Williams College where she received a B.A. in English. For nearly 25 years she worked selling subsidiary rights for children’s books imprints at Viking, HarperCollins, Morrow, and Greenwillow. In 2000, she founded the Nancy Gallt Literary Agency in order to represent a wide-ranging list of authors and illustrators. Publishing was always her dream job—getting paid to read books—though it turned out the editorial side was not her forte. Nancy’s children claim she must have been the definition of “nerd” in her youth, though she is proud to say that she’s never been bored, no matter what she’s doing. She avoids reading books in which children are endangered or abused. There’s enough true suffering in the world that she prefers not to read about it. She loves books that entertain and enlighten, with characters that could be treasured friends.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * General Nonfiction * Juvenile * Middle Grade * Science * Young Adult *
Biography
Lori Galvin is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents both adult fiction (especially women’s fiction and crime fiction) and non-fiction (memoir, food writing, and cookbooks). Based in Boston, a few of her clients and their projects include Kwame Onwuachi’s Notes from a Young Black Chef (Knopf ’19); Hannah Kirshner’s Water, Wood, and Wild Things (Viking ’21), Cambria Brockman’s Tell Me Everything (Ballantine ’19), and Wanda M. Morris’s All Her Little Secrets (Morrow, ’21). A few of Galvin’s client’s projects have been optioned by A24 and Netflix.
Prior to joining Aevitas, Galvin was executive editor at the multimedia publisher America’s Test Kitchen, where she led a team that produced dozens of landmark cookbooks. Galvin was also an editor at Houghton Mifflin, a restaurant cook, and ran a bed-and-breakfast in Maine.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Western * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Cultural/Social Issues * Design * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Psychology * True Crime *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Italia Gandolfo
Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Italia Gandolfo is a literary agent with Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management. Gandolfo is the Founder/CEO of Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management. She has over 25 years’ experience in media between a big 4 Hollywood Talent & Literary Agency, Publishing, PR/Advertising, and Film in Los Angeles and New York. She began her career in the entertainment industry at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) during the tenure of Founder/CEO, Michael Ovitz. She researched classified projects while coordinating and assembling development information (domestic and foreign) for talent agents, writers, directors, producers, actors etc., and was in charge of the agency’s library of confidential screenplays and manuscripts.
As the Director of Business Development for Los Angeles based, multi-media company, Meteor 17, Gandolfo raised capital for A-list media projects including the I Hope You Dance feature film, Hendrix Unplugged: Acoustic Generations, and the stage play SERRANO.
Gandolfo worked as a Senior Adviser to the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition alongside Dr. Jane Goodall and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The SBYC is the largest youth-led environmental organization in the world with a network of more than 6 million members in over 75 countries.
Gandolfo is Founder/CEO of Vesuvian Media Group, Inc.
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION:
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Sulamtia Garbuz is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. She joined the agency in 2021, after over four years at Trident Media Group. A graduate of Swarthmore College, she worked in the white collar crimes division of the US Attorney’s Office and for several labor unions before entering publishing. Sulamita gravitates primarily towards nonfiction, with an emphasis on books with a social justice bent. Her areas of specialty include narrative nonfiction, memoir, psychology, science, and journalism. She is also looking for character driven literary fiction, and is especially excited by novels that use speculative or dreamlike elements to explore current social dynamics, stories of obsession and women misbehaving, and narratives about immigration and the 2nd generation experience.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science *
214 W. 29th St. Suite 1006 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Rachelle Gardner is a literary agent with and the founder of Gardner Literary. As a literary agent since 2007, Rachelle has negotiated 300+ contracts with more than 20 publishers, and worked with more than 200 authors to bring their books to publication and build their careers.
She’s been in publishing since 1995, worked in-house at two publishing companies, and edited books published by Harper Collins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and many more. Nowadays she feels lucky to work at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
When she’s not working, you can usually find her out hiking the local trails, riding her bike, haunting bookstores, or having coffee at Starbucks.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Family Saga * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Mystery * Religious * Romance * Suspense * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Christian * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Ethnic * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Memoir * Military/War * Multicultural * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Psychology * Religion * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Travel * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Monument CO USA
Biography
Kate Garrick is a literary agent with Salky Literary Management. She joined SLM in 2021, after two decades as an agent at The Karpfinger Agency and DeFiore and Company, where she also served as contracts manager. Kate is drawn to strong narrative voices, and she has successfully represented a wide range of award-winning and bestselling fiction and non-fiction projects in her career.
Originally from Orange Park, Florida, Kate earned her B.A. in English literature at Florida State University and her M.A., also in English literature, from New York University. She lived in New York City for more than twenty years, but is now based in Portland, Oregon. Kate looks for projects that demonstrate a clear confidence of intention and a willingness to engage with our changing world with humility and curiosity. She is particularly interested in literary and upmarket fiction, memoir, and narrative non-fiction that endeavors to contribute to the conversations that will move our society forward.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Short Story Collection * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
1216 Broadway Suite 414 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Don Gates is a literary with and the founder and principal of The Gates Group, a multi-faceted communications agency in the Christian ministry space. Don works with well-known pastors, authors and ministry leaders on a variety of ministry and business endeavors. Most notably, he represents Kyle Idleman, teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church and bestselling author of not a fan.
Prior to starting his own venture, Don was the Vice President of Marketing for Zondervan, the leading Christian communications company and a division of News Corporation (HarperCollins, Fox, WSJ, etc.). He led a team of professionals on the branding, advertising, promotions, creative and public relations for books as well as worked closely with editorial and sales in all decisions. He collaborated with some of the most accomplished authors and leaders in the Church, including Rick Warren, Anne Graham Lotz, Philip Yancey, Lee Strobel, Ann Voskamp, Mark Batterson & Max Lucado.
Prior to joining Zondervan, Don spent fifteen years in brand management and food marketing. Most recently, he was the Brand Marketing Officer at YUM! Brands, responsible for the largest fast food seafood concept, Long John Silver’s, as well as the first-ever burger place, A&W. Previously, he was the Marketing Director of Hugs & Kisses at The Hershey Company; and started in brand management with Goldfish at The Campbell Soup Company.
A native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Don received a BS degree with a concentration in marketing and political science from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he played Ivy League football. He also earned a MBA degree with a focus in finance and management & strategy from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree in Worldview and Apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Don has been faithfully married to Amy for twenty years and is very active in the lives of their children – Don III, Abigail and Emily. He is an avid reader, engaging communicator and enjoys coaching sports. He is a dedicated member at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville; and on the board of several faith-based organizations.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Business * Christian * Money/Finance * Religion * Spirituality *
USA
Jennifer Gates
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Jennifer Gates is a literary agent and partner with Aevitas Creative Management. She has represented numerous New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors, among them Mira Bartók, author of the bestselling and NBCC Award winner The Memory Palace and the forthcoming The Wonderling; Maya Soetoro-Ng’s Ladder to the Moon; Eva Longoria’s Eva’s Kitchen; Thomas P.M. Barnett’s The Pentagon’s New Map; and Chris Gardner’s #1 New York Times bestseller The Pursuit of Happyness.
Gates received her BA in Psychology from Wesleyan University and worked in social services before becoming an editor at a division of HarperCollins. She joined Zachary Shuster Harmsworth as an agent in 1997. Jennifer Gates is a Senior Partner with Aevitas and Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Based in New York, Gates represents a range of nonfiction, including narrative and expert-driven works, memoir, current affairs, pop culture, as well as literary fiction and children’s books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Christian * Graphic Novel * Horror * Mystery * Religious * Romance *
NONFICTION: Art * Christian * Education * Health/Wellness * History * New Age * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Travel *
Ellen Geiger
Frances Goldin Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Ellen Geiger is a literary agent with the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. Ellen is also a Vice President with the agency. She has over three decades in publishing, film and television, and represents a broad range of fiction and non-fiction. She is always looking for great stories and great writing—preferably in the same manuscript—and has a lifelong interest in multicultural and social issues embracing change. History, biography, progressive politics, photography, science and medicine, women, religion and serious investigative journalism are special interests.
In fiction, she loves a good literary thriller, and novels in general that provoke and challenge the status quo, as well as historical and multicultural works. She is drawn to big themes which make a larger point about the culture and times we live in. She is not the right agent for New Age, romance, how-to or right-wing politics. Her authors span most categories and have won many awards and prizes including the National Book Award, National Jewish Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award, the Anthony, Edgar, Grawemeyer, Lambda, and Malice Domestic. She also represents several important estates, including Margaret Wise Brown, author of Goodnight Moon, the poet Adrienne Rich and novelist Tillie Olsen.
Ellen served on the board of the Association of Author’s Representatives, is a member of the Author’s Guild and PEN, and is a past president of NY Women in Film and Television. In her previous incarnation in public television, she was nominated for an Emmy for “The Legacy of the Hollywood Blacklist,” was Executive Producer of Katherine Patterson’s “Jacob Have I Loved” and the miniseries “Roots of Rhythm with Harry Belafonte,” and an Associate Producer of “The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Investigative * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Photography * Politics * Psychology * Science * Travel * Women’s Issues *
Nicole Geiger
Full Circle LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Nicole Geiger is a literary agent with Full Circle Literary. She has worked in just about every capacity in the publishing industry in her thirty-plus years plus career. As VP and Publisher of Ten Speed Press/Tricycle Press then VP and Publisher of Random House/Tricycle Press, Nicole was the primary acquirer and directed the production and marketing of up to 30 children’s titles yearly. In 2011, she founded Nicole Geiger Publishing, a consultancy for publishers, where she helped launch AMP! Comics for Kids and Beyond Words’ children’s publishing in partnership with Simon & Schuster, and currently manages the publishing program of Yosemite Conservancy.
As a literary agent with Full Circle Literary, Nicole focuses on a limited group of clients who create fiction and nonfiction for board books through middle grade. Curious, commercially minded, and very editorial, Nicole is looking for strong and diverse voices that tell stories for all children. Her clients include Mercedes Acosta, Carmen Bogan, Ashleigh Corrin, Sara Fajardo, Elijah Forbes, Michael Genhart, Alexandria Giardino, Laurel Goodluck, Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Charlotte Offsay, and Beattra Solomon Wilson.
When she is not helping her clients create their best work, Nicole can be found taking walks her family’s silly chocolate Lab, puttering in the yard, and reading to her kiddos. The books on her own bedside table are usually middle grade graphic novels and adult nonfiction, especially popular science, though she’ll read about pretty much any topic as long as the writing is amazing.
Nicole has spent her career making books and is thrilled to take the next step as a literary agent with the Full Circle Literary team!
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Graphic Novel * Picture Book *
NONFICTION: Art * Photography *
Jane Gelfman
Gelfman Schneider/ICMDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Postal Mail *Biography
Jane Gelfman is a literary agent with the Gelfman Schneider/ICM Literary Agency. Jane was born in New York, and after attending an out-of-town college, couldn’t wait to move back to the city and work in Publishing. After a small flirtation with Simon and Schuster and as a “story editor” in film production, she formed an alliance with a British publisher as acquisitions editor and agent for its US rights, and then seguéd into full-time agenting in partnership with Deborah Schneider. The agency has prospered harmoniously for decades, representing a multifaceted array of wonderful writers.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Mystery * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Memoir * Science *
Biography
Tara Gelsomino is a literary agent with and the founder of the One Track Literary Agency. A voracious genre reader since childhood, Tara began her publishing industry career at Romantic Times magazine in 1998 as a writer/editor then managing editor, before transitioning to audiobook publishing in 2005 with BBC Audiobooks America as managing editor, acquisitions editor, and executive marketing manager. During her time with BBCAA, she also spearheaded creating and publishing the first crowd-sourced audiobooks via Twitter with renowned bestselling authors Neil Gaiman and Meg Cabot. (Despite not having the correctly shaped head to pull it off, she has indeed worn many hats.)
In 2013, she returned to her romance roots as the Executive Editor of Crimson Romance, a digital-first imprint for F+W Media and later Simon & Schuster, where she acquired and published more than 300 titles by new and up-and-coming authors. Her proudest achievements at Crimson include leading the imprint to become the largest romance publisher of own voices titles, with nearly 30 percent of its 2017 books by authors of color (per The Ripped Bodice’s Diversity in Romance report), and conceiving, editing, and publishing Snow Falling, the TV tie-in romance novel for the Peabody Award-winning CW show, Jane the Virgin.
Throughout her career, she has accumulated extensive experience in: creating, revising, and negotiating publishing contracts; providing in-depth editorial feedback, including developmental, line, and copy edits; designing attention-getting promotional, marketing, and social media campaigns; developing a strong network of publishing industry contacts across multiple formats and disciplines; and advising and advocating for authors and providing general career guidance
A member of RWA, Tara lives in Rhode Island with her husband and her rescue dog, Yoda. When she isn’t reading or writing, she enjoys watching too much television, buying yarn (and occasionally even knitting it), seeing Broadway musicals, and traveling to new places.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Humor Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
44 Homeland St. Johnston RI 02919 USA
Biography
Yfat Reiss Gendell is a literary agent with YRG Partners. She is the founder of agency and branding company. She represents world-builders and subject matter authorities across fiction and nonfiction. Her nonfiction projects include narrative nonfiction works of memoir (Sherri Shepherd’s Permission Slips; international zeitgeist poet Sarah Kay’s forthcoming The View from South Dakota; and Vice Admiral Robert Harward’s forthcoming The Gouge), history and science (New York Times bestseller Denise Kiernan’s The Girls of Atomic City and The Last Castle; and Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s Dr. Mutters Marvels), prescriptive nonfiction in the areas of business (Eve Rodsky and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine’s New York Times bestselling Fair Play; hospitality industry thought-leader Damian Mogavero and Joseph D’Agnese’s The Underground Culinary Tour), health and wellness (iconoclast and bestseller Yoni Freedhoff MD’s The Diet Fix; neuroscientist and TED Talk star Wendy Suzuki, PhD’s bestselling Happy Brain, Healthy Life; internationally renowned environmental toxin authority Leonardo Trasande, MD’s Sicker, Fatter, Poorer; internationally lauded neuroscientist Nan Wise, PhD’s bestselling Why Good Sex Matters; and Pierre Dukan, MD’s New York Times bestselling The Dukan Diet), parenting (bestselling “Toddler Whisperer” Tovah Klein PhD’s bestselling How Toddler’s Thrive; Jo Frost’s Toddler Rules by TV’s “Supernanny”), and humor (the New York Times bestselling Sh*tty Mom franchise of books and merchandise).
Yfat routinely helps consumer packaged goods companies and other business leaders bring their brand stories to entertainment (New York Times bestselling Suja Juice Solution; BabyGanics groundbreaking BabySafe in Seven Steps; Vera Bradley founder Barbara Bradley Baekgaard’s A Colorful Way of Living; Stella & Dot founder Jessica Herrin’s Find Your Extraordinary; and two forthcoming projects by Swedish environmental change agent Oatly). Yfat understands what her authors and creatives go through, because she is one. As an author she has published eight nonfiction titles with Chronicle Books, Stewart, Tabori & Chang, and Penguin Random House, among others. Prior to becoming an agent, Yfat worked as a lawyer and ran a boutique publishing house. She attended Brandeis University and The UCLA School of Law and spent more than a decade on the board of WIN (formerly Women in Need), one of New York’s largest providers of homeless services for women and children.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Mainstream * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Autobiography * Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Practical * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Current Events/Affairs *
33 West 17th St. PH New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Marc Gerald is a literary agent and founder of Europa Content Ltd. Gerald started his career as an editor at True Detective Magazine, before spending four years as a writer/producer at America’s Most Wanted. While there, he conceived and produced the show’s recreations as well as countless full-length TV specials for Fox.
Eventually, Gerald left Fox to head up ABA Award winning Old School Books, an imprint of WW Norton books, that is widely credited with starting a resurgence in interest in urban black literature. After publishing close to 25 books with Old School, as well as co-writing and co-producing the Stratosphere release of Six Ways to Sunday (based upon one of its titles) Gerald moved on to form The Syndicate with Wesley Snipes and Def Jam. Determined to bring literature and a love of reading to a young, urban and primarily black audience, Gerald commissioned novellas from some of hip hop’s brightest stars and sold them with CD’s supplied by Def Jam. Eventually, Gerald’s interest in germinating original ideas and packaging innovative concepts led him to representation and the formation of Los Bravos Management.
In August 2004, LBM was acquired by The Agency Group. In 2016, The AGency Group was purchased by United Talent Agency. Gerald left in May 2018 to start Europa Content.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel *
68 34th Street Suite B-531, Mailbox 74 Brooklyn NY 11232 USA
Biography
Ronald Gerber is a literary agent with Lowenstein Associates. He also manages foreign rights, permissions, and contracts at Lowenstein Associates. Before joining the Lowenstein team in April 2019, he spent several years in literary scouting at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and Maximum Films & Management and supported two agents at Writers House. Ronald is a proud graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and received his B.A., summa cum laude with high honors, from Clark University.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Celebrity * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * History * Journalism * Memoir * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * True Crime * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
115 East 23rd St. 4th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Jeff Gerecke is a literary agent with the G Agency. Jeff says: “Starting in June 2010, I am now officially running my own agency, the G Agency, LLC. I have previously worked at the JCA Literary Agency for 17 years and for the last 5 have been affiliated with the Gina Maccoby Literary Agency. I am interested in commercial and literary fiction, as well as serious non-fiction and pop culture. My focus as an agent has always been on working with writers to shape their work for its greatest commercial potential. I provide lots of editorial advice in sharpening manuscripts and proposals before submission.
I’ve been a member of the Royalty Committee of the Association of Authors Representatives since its founding and am always keen to challenge publishers for their willfully obscure royalty reporting. Also I have recently taken over the position of Treasurer of the A.A.R. My publishing background includes working at the University of California Press so I am always intrigued by academic subjects which are given a commercial spin to reach an audience outside academia. I’ve also worked as a foreign scout for publishers like Hodder & Stoughton in England and Wilhelm Heyne in Germany, which gives me a good sense of how American books can be successfully translated overseas.”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Military/War * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * Technology * True Crime *
116 West 23rd Street 5th Floor New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
David Gernert is a literary agent with and the President of the Gernert Company. David spent the first fourteen years of his publishing career at Doubleday, the last six as Editor-In-Chief. He left Doubleday in 1996 to start The Gernert Company, believing his experience as a publisher would give him some unique insight into the representation of authors. He lives in Pound Ridge with his wife and four children.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Horror * Mystery * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Current Events/Affairs * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * History * Music * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Sports * True Crime *
136 East 57th Street New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Jack Gernert is a literary agent with The Gernert Company. Jack is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he double majored in Economics and American Studies with a focus on popular culture. A former intern, Jack spent time chasing snow drifts and sunshine as a ski bum in Utah and an events coordinator in Miami before joining The Gernert Company full time in 2016. He loves stories about heroes—both real and imagined—and is often hooked by writing with a sense of humor or an unforgettable narrator.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Satire *
NONFICTION: Business * Economics * General Nonfiction * Humor * Money/Finance * Pop Culture *
136 East 57th Street New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Sarah Gerton is an associate agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd., building a list of fiction and narrative nonfiction for middle grade and young adult readers. While fantasy is her first love, she’s eager to read YA and MG fiction of all genres, gravitating toward character-driven stories with unforgettable settings. On the nonfiction side, her interests include beautifully written history, reportage, and/or memoir for a young audience. She graduated from Wesleyan University and the Columbia Publishing Course.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Middle Grade Fiction * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Middle Grade * Young Adult *
228 E 45th Street 3rd floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Claire Gerus is a literary agent with the Claire Gerus Literary Agency. Claire has been Editor-in-Chief of two publishing houses, worked for seven major publishers, including Harlequin, Rodale, Random House, Doubleday, John Wiley, Kensington, and Adams Media, written articles for U.S. and Canadian magazines and newspapers, and taught corporate communications to such clients as IBM, Kelloggs, Mutual of Omaha, and Procter & Gamble.
In 1996, she established a thriving business as a New York literary agent, selling publishers books on a variety of subjects: business, history, memoirs, religion, health, spirituality, psychology, politics, pop culture, and women’s studies. She sold a 3-million copy health bestseller and brought film star Esther Williams’ story to Simon & Schuster. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller.
In 1999, she joined Kensington Publishing in New York and founded TwinStreams Books, a complementary healing imprint. Later, as Executive Editor at Citadel Press, she acquired and edited titles on celebrity biography, self-help, relationships, spirituality, new age, diet, Judaica, and health. From 2001-August, 2002, she was Executive Editor at Adams Media, where she published the first biography of Laura Bush. She also published a wide range of new age, business, self-help, and inspirational books.
She is presently working as a literary agent and book development consultant. Among her clients are an ex-CIA agent, three psychologists, a policewoman, a District Attorney, an Assistant Attorney-General, a business communications consultant, a women’s safety advocate, a best-selling psychologist, the Wall Street Journal’s Soviet specialist, a former Miss Connecticut and inspirational columnist, a diabetes spokesperson and many more with equally fascinating backgrounds!
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Short Story Collection *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Politics * Psychology * Religion * Science * True Crime *
P.O. Box 8100 Tumacacori AZ 85640 USA
Biography
Hafizah Geter is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates.
An agent, an expert editor, and a fierce advocate, Hafizah Geter got her first job in literature over a decade ago with the literary nonprofit Cave Canem, before moving on to organizations like PEN America and Poets House in NYC. Before joining Janklow & Nesbit in 2020, she was an editor at Little A and Joey Soloway’s Topple Books where she worked on award winning fiction and nonfiction, including New York Public Library and NPR Best Books of the Year. Hafizah represents a wide array of nonfiction and literary and commercial fiction. In search of great writers and thinkers, she is eager to work with experts in their field.
In nonfiction, Hafizah is particularly interested in big-idea books that start conversations, challenge conventions, and reveal something precise about society or relationships. She is keen on books that examine technology, race, disability, queerness, inequality, science, politics, as well as cultural histories and close studies (salt, rain, mushrooms, tears, etc.).
In fiction, Hafizah is keen on a broad range of literary and commercial fiction that reveal new connections, and fuller ways for us to be human. She loves a sad book as much as a contemplative or funny one. Above all, she seeks writers whose sentences thrum with voice and style.
Hafizah was born in Zaria, Nigeria and grew up in Akron, Ohio and Columbia, South Carolina. She received her BA in English and economics from Clemson University, an MFA in nonfiction from NYU, and an MFA in poetry from Columbia College Chicago. Her memoir, The Black Period: On Personhood, Race & Origin, (Random House) is a New Yorker Magazine Best Book of 2022, a Good Morning America Anticipated Book, and an Amazon’s Best of the Month Editor’s Pick. Her poetry collection, Un-American (Wesleyan University Press), was a 2021 NAACP Image Award, a 2021 PEN Open Book Award finalist, and longlisted for the 2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize.
Currently, Hafizah is eager to receive nonfiction in the realm of reportage/journalism, big-ideas, economics, labor, abolition, science, tech/social media culture, cultural criticism, social and political sciences, prescriptive nonfiction, and nature writing.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Economics * Environment * Ethnic * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Nature * Politics * Prescriptive * Science * Technology * Upmarket *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Joshua Getzler
HG LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Josh Getzler is a literary agent with HG Literary. Josh left Harcourt in 1993 to get an MBA from Columbia Business School. After Business School, Josh spent 11 years owning and operating a minor league baseball team (the Staten Island Yankees). He left baseball in late 2006 and rejoined the book world on the agent side. Josh worked at Writers House until November 2009, building a list of adult novelists, YA and middle grade authors, and the occasional nonfiction writer; then joined Russell and Volkening. In May 2011 he partnered with Carrie Hannigan, and has been actively and happily running his list.
Josh represents more than 60 authors, including Geoff Rodkey (NYT Best Selling THE TAPPER TWINS series from Little, Brown), Paul Goldberg (THE YID—Picador), Todd Moss (The Judd Ryker thriller series from Putnam), EJ Copperman/Jeff Cohen (The best-selling HAUNTED GUEST HOUSE series from Berkley Prime Crime among others), EM Powell (The FIFTH KNIGHT series from Thomas & Mercer with more than 150,000 sales), Jessica Burkhart (Best Selling CANTERWOOD CREST series), Asha Dornfest (PARENT HACKS out from Workman) and Gerald Elias (the Daniel Jacobus mystery series from Severn).
Josh is particularly into foreign and historical fiction; both women’s fiction (your Downton Abbey/Philippa Gregory Mashups), straight ahead historical fiction (think Wolf Hall or The Road to Wellville); and thrillers and mysteries (The Alienist, say; or Donna Leon or Arianna Franklin). He’d LOVE a strong French Revolution novel. So send in your ruthless doges and impious cardinals…and your farmhouse cozies! (He does love cozies…) Give him atmosphere, let him learn something about another time or another place (or both), and kill off nasty Uncle Mortimer in the process—Josh will be yours!
Josh has also been taking on a significant amount of middle grade fiction, which has been a particular sweet spot. Settings that are just a little off seem to be a real favorite, along with contemporary/funny books about kids. Not so much high fantasy or science fiction, and definitely not picture books. (There are many others who specialize in these books, including Carrie Hannigan at HG.) Please don’t send religious fiction–he doesn’t have contacts in the Christian book market.
In nonfiction, he’s very interested in increasing his list in history (including micro-histories), business, and political thought–but not screeds.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Espionage/Military * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Action/Adventure * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * History * Journalism * Memoir * Military/War * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Sports * True Crime *
Lilly Ghahremani
Full Circle LiteraryDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Lilly Ghahremani is a literary agent with the Full Circle Literary Agency. Once upon a time, more than a decade ago, Lilly Ghahremani co-founded Full Circle Literary with Stefanie. But here’s how it really began for her: after graduating from law school, she joined a small law firm that represented authors. While she loved finessing the perfect deal for an author, she realized that what she loved even more was working closely with them. She wanted to be part of the entire creative process, helping to grow and manage their careers. So, she decided to apply her powers of persuasion to advocating for writers at all stages of their careers.
Since striking her first book deal (a pop culture book she loves to this day, sold to Random House), Lilly has focused on publishing her clients with the right publishing partner for them, whether it was Random House, Penguin, Hachette, Chronicle Books, Simon & Schuster, Wiley, Ten Speed Press, New Harbinger, or other (many, many!) fabulous publishing houses, big and small, that an author has to choose from. She does this because she loves it, and so she handpicks the authors she works with. She prides herself on representing the author, not just a specific project. She will work with you on how to brand, protect and market yourself and your work throughout the world (she’s actually taught workshops on this stuff!)
Lilly is a proud graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Go Blue!), UCLA School of Law (JD), and San Diego State University’s School of Business (MBA). She’s a recent transplant from San Diego to gorgeous Seattle (before you make fun of the weather, remember: it gives her more time to read your queries!) Whenever time allows, she’s off on a plane to explore somewhere new, most recently Tulúm, Mexico, Myanmar (formerly Burma), and the adorable towns along the Rhine River from Switzerland up to the Netherlands.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Graphic Novel * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * NoYA * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Ethnic * Gift/Novelty * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Multicultural * Music * Photography * Pop Culture *
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About Mark Malatesta
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company Literary Agent Undercover and The Bestselling Author. Mark’s authors have gotten six-figure book deals, been on the NYT bestseller list, and published with houses such as Random House, Scholastic, and Thomas Nelson. Click here to learn more about Mark Malatesta and click here for Reviews of Mark Malatesta.
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Author Coaching Testimonials
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent!
My career has spanned publishing, TV, and feature film. I’ve served as Creative Dir. for the Magazine Group, TIME Inc.; Dir. of Time World News Service, a Founding Dir. of TIME-Life Films; Exec. Prod. for both the CBS and NBC TV Networks; Prod./Dir.: Movies of the Week: CBS Cinema Center Films and Universal MCA.
In today’s publishing marketplace, agents come and go. They also very often seem to just want an easy pathway to make a buck. Many authors are let go by their agents because their last book didn’t do well enough and the agent doesn’t want to devote the time to help the author. That’s not what you’re about Mark. Even established authors need this type of support in today’s marketplace.”
Author of ten fiction and nonfiction books
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“I’m psyched to have this be official. After getting five different offers for representation from top literary agents, I signed with Stephanie Tade who got me a 6-figure book deal with Penguin!
Getting multiple agents interested in my work was really important to me. I’ve dealt with agents before and gotten screwed on things contractually so I wanted to do it differently this time. I wanted choices.
Having you help me create that, and navigate my options, was really helpful. I heard other authors talk about their great relationships with their agents and it made me want the same thing. Now I have that.”
Author of Woman on Fire
(Penguin Books)
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“After sending out the query Mark revised for me, I had the opportunity to speak with literary agents from top agencies such as Janklow & Nesbit, Trident Media, Anderson Lit, and Folio. I signed with Don Fehr at Trident and, a short time later I had a publishing contract with Berkley Books, which recently published my book in hardcover.
Before that, I sent my query letter out on my own to 30 or 40 agents and got a lot of rejections. I then found Mark online while I was researching agents. I was surprised that he offered so much during his initial consultation—for a very modest amount of money.
I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t worked with Mark. I can’t even imagine that now though, because of the grief and detours I experienced before we worked together. It was a time-consuming pain in the neck. If you want to get the attention of top literary agents and publishers, there is no substitute for working with an insider. You can’t beat experience. And having Mark on your side is incredibly valuable.”
Author of Single Handed
(Berkley Books, a Division of Penguin Random House)
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“AHHH! OMG, it happened! I got three offers of representation for my children’s picture book in the United States, even though I live abroad! When I woke up and found the first offer for representation in my email in box, I wanted to scream. But my family was still asleep so I couldn’t. 🙂
Just 8 minutes after I sent a query letter to one of my favorite agents, she replied and asked to see my manuscript. A short time later we had a lovely conversation. She was interested in representing me and sounded very positive and enthusiastic about my book. Since I also got offers from two other agents, I had to turn two of them down. One of them was upset and it felt like I was breaking her heart, but you just have to do it. I kept reminding myself that this is a good problem to have!”
Author/Illustrator of Lon-Lon’s Big Night
and many other children’s books
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“Mark, after you helped me land a top literary agent, I got publishing offers from THREE well-known publishers: Amacom, Palgrave Macmillan, and McGraw-Hill (they’re publishing my book in hardcover)!
I was at Disneyworld with my family, in the Haunted Mansion, when I got the call. I went outside and listened to the voicemail message from my agent. A huge smile came over my face. It was a fantastic feeling. For a moment I felt like life was perfect and the angels were singing.
You’re filling an important need so I’ll say this to every other author reading this testimonial. Mark showed me that getting a top literary agent is a science. If you’ve written a book, or you’re in the process, you’ve already invested a lot—a lot more than money. Don’t stop yourself from getting out there to fulfill your purpose and dreams. Thank you so, so much, Mark!!!”
Author of Customer Focused Process Innovation (McGraw Hill)
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“I got a book deal! After I started sending out my new query letter I had 6 literary agents request my manuscript in a short amount of time, which is awesome. Then, within 2 weeks of my agent starting to pitch my story to publishers, we had an offer. I signed a book contract yesterday. A little while later my agent told me that a TV co-producer asked for more info about my book.
By the way, the acquiring editor that fell in love with the manuscript jumped in with both feet and we just worked out our timeline for publication. She’s as passionate about getting my book out as I am, and that means everything. She read the manuscript in two days and said she couldn’t put it down. And the book is going to be published as a hardcover!”
Author of A Chick in the Cockpit
(Behler Publications)
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“Thank you Mark! After you helped me get a well-known agent with Hartline Literary Agency (for my previously self-published murder mystery), he got me a deal with an American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) approved publisher. I’m hard-pressed to find anything that I had an expectation for that you didn’t deliver on.
Before I worked with you I sent out queries, but no one ever requested my complete manuscript. Comparing your new version of my query to the one I wrote before, I can see a vast difference.
I’ve been in business for 35 years so I’m not just saying this… what you’re doing is phenomenal. There are other people offering similar services, but the difference is your success. Others might say they do similar things but, if you research them, they don’t have your background or track record.”
Author of The Rector
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“Mark, you’re a miracle worker. Thanks to your help with my book, query letter, and synopsis… I now have a legitimate publisher who described my book as ‘Powerful Magic’ and it’s now available in bookstores and online!
I’m a lifelong academic writer who one day found myself writing inspired short stories that came to me in dreams and I began thinking of them as novels. That’s when I had a momentous conversation, an introductory coaching call with Mark Malatesta, the American creative writing coach, or rather, to be precise, a how-to-sell-yourself-and-your-work adviser. It was the best-spent money of my life apart (possibly) for my wedding ring.”
Author of The Black Inked Pearl
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“Within 4 minutes of sending out my query letter, a top literary called me on the phone (the #1 agent on my wish list). Less than 30 days later I had three major publishers making offers. A few days after that, I signed a deal with Random House. Mark, your query letter did that.
My agent talked about the query letter you helped me create for a long, long time. When he first called me on the phone, he hadn’t seen any of my sample chapters. It was just the query letter that did it. Communicating the right thing is so important. You are a wonderful medium helping authors find their voice and elevate their writing from just a hobby to a real business… a source from which they can both learn and earn.”
Author of Lights Out
(Random House)
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“MARK, MARK, MARK!!!!!!! Holy smokes… I just signed my book deal. First, two well-known literary agents asked to represent me. One of them responded to my query letter in less than 4 minutes!!
Then THREE different publishers wanted my book and started talking about making offers. The publisher I chose is perfect for me because they produce titles for the trade, educational, and scientific markets. And they agreed to publish my book as a hardcover!!!
When I met you, Mark, it was a pivotal time. I was under the belief that I could self-publish my book with a vanity press and then seek a publisher. I didn’t know what a literary agent was, why I needed one, or how to get one. I was wandering in the dark. You guided me in the right direction and gave me a solid plan.”
Author of Intestinal Health
(Rowman & Littlefield)
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“Boom!!! I just signed a contract with Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins for (what I’ve been told by several people) is a very large advance for a first-time author.
Before working with Mark I submitted my book to agents but didn’t get any interest. This time around I got a top NY literary agency (Fine Print Lit). What cloud is higher than 9?
I had several agencies interested before deciding to go with Fine Print. And, to be honest, all of the attention didn’t surprise me. The query letter and proposal that Mark helped me develop were incredible. Agents actually said things to me like: ‘Scott, I read your proposal and I’m just blown away by it!’ Mark is extremely talented at what he does. If you have the opportunity to work with him, take advantage of it.”
Author of The Unbreakable Boy
(Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson)