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7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
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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.
Work 4100 Corporate Square Suite 140 Naples Florida 34104 USAWebsite: http://www.theseymouragency.com
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Work 65 East 55th Street 14th Floor New York New York 10022 USAWork Email: rafe.sagalynasst@caa.comWebsite: https://www.caa.com/about-us
Work 1180 Avenue of the Americas 8th Floor New York New York 10036 USAWebsite: http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
Work PO Box 17379 Beverly Hills California 90209 USAWork Email: query@renaissancemgmt.netWebsite: http://renaissancemgmt.net/
Jean Sagendorph
Mansion Street Literary ManagementCLOSED to SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Online Form >No Image Available
Work 49 W. 45th St Suite #5N New York New York 10036 USAWebsite: http://www.awfulagent.com
Work 392 Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn New York 11238 USAWork Email: info@jillgrinbergliterary.comWebsite: https://jillgrinbergliterary.com/
No Image Available
Work Kansas City Missouri United StatesWebsite: https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/
No Image Available
Work 3010 Wilshire Blvd Suite 238 Los Angeles California 90010 USAWebsite: https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/
Work 1551 N. Turstin Ave Suite 710 Santa Ana California 92705 USAWork Email: email@yates2.comWebsite: http://www.yates2.com/
Work 1216 Broadway Suite 414 New York New York 10001 USAWebsite: http://www.salkyliterarymanagement.com/
No Image Available
Work 2010 Winston Park Drive, 2nd Floor Oakville Ontario L6H 5R7 CanadaWork Email: query@psliterary.comWebsite: https://www.psliterary.com/
Work 3010 Wilshire Blvd Suite 238 Los Angeles California 90010 USAWebsite: https://www.metamorphosisliteraryagency.com/
Work 129 Morro Avenue Shell Beach California 93449 USAWork Email: abigail@redfoxliterary.comWebsite: http://www.redfoxliterary.com/
No Image Available
Trinica Sampson-Vera
New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc.Accepting SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Online Form >No Image Available
Work 3761 Renee Dr Pmb 223 Myrtle Beach South Carolina 29579 USAWebsite: https://www.sbrmedia.com/
No Image Available
Work 115 West 29th Street 3rd Floor New York New York 10001 USAWebsite: https://howlandliterary.com/
Work 5694 Mission Center Rd. #347 San Diego California 92108 USAWebsite: http://www.bradfordlit.com/
Work 27 West 20th Street Suite 305 New York New York 10011 USAWork Email: rayhane@mmqlit.comWebsite: http://www.mmqlit.com/
Work 440 Buck Road Stone Ridge New York 12484 USAWork Email: queriesvsa@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.victoriasanders.com
Work 55 5th Avenue New York New York 10003 USAWork Email: zsandler@sjga.comWebsite: http://www.greenburger.com/
Work 59 W. 71st St. Suite 9B New York New York 10023 USAWork Email: Submissions@SarahJaneFreymann.comWebsite: http://www.sarahjanefreymann.com
Work PO Box 1316 Manzanita Oregon 97130 USAWork Email: elisa@macgregorliterary.comWebsite: http://www.macgregorandluedeke.com/about/
Work 630 Ninth Ave. Suite 1009 New York New York 10036 USAWork Email: melissa@foliolit.comWebsite: http://www.foliolit.com
Jacqueline Sather
Denise Shannon Literary AgencyCLOSED to SubmissionsQuery Method(s): Email > Postal Mail >No Image Available
Work P.O. Box 640 Twinsburg Ohio 44087 USAWebsite: http://www.stormliteraryagency.com/
Work 305 Lincoln Ave Havertown Pennsylvania 19083 USAWork Email: abby@larkwords.comWebsite: http://www.larkwords.com/
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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 
“Mark, finding you has been both a treat and a treasure—I just signed a contract with my new literary agent! 
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.”
“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.
“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.
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.”
“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!”
“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)!
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!!!”
“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!”
“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.
“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.”
“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.”
“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!!!
“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.
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.”