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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: K
Emma Konn
Corvisiero Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Emma Konn is a literary agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. Now that Emma is a Literary Agent Apprentice, she has plans to keep educating herself about the publishing and literary realm. With plans to continue within the Literary Agency in future. In 2023 Emma will then be continuing her education by pursuing a Master’s degree. As a part of the LGBTQ+ community herself, Emma supports all people and spreads love to all.
On her own time Emma can be found hiking, reading, writing, or traveling. While Emma currently resides in Ohio, she has found that her home is often her favorite hiking trails in the Rocky Mountains. Hopefully within the next few years Emma can spend a few months backpacking through Europe and exploring cultures around the world. Emma can be found reading a simple novel by a window with a warm cup of Chai tea latte. She also enjoys writing a bit of poetry and painting sunsets.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Romance * Thriller *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Linda Konner is a literary agent with the Linda Konner Literary Agency. Linda has been in the publishing business for over 30 years, as an agent, author, editor, columnist and lecturer. She has served as editor-in-chief of Weight Watchers Magazine and Richard Simmons’s monthly newsletter, Richard Simmons & Friends, and was a features editor at Redbook, Seventeen and Woman’s World.
She was a columnist for Glamour and Fitness magazines, and her articles have appeared in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Playboy, The N.Y. Daily News, Cosmopolitan, TV Guide and Woman’s Day. Her controversial piece for New Woman magazine, “Living Apart and Loving It,” became the basis for Donahue and Sally Jessy Raphael shows.
Konner has lectured on book and magazine publishing at more than four dozen writers’ conferences and colleges, including New York University, the Willamette Writers’ Conference (Portland, Oregon), the Cape Cod Writers’ Conference, Brooklyn College, the BlissDom bloggers’ conference, and the University of Wisconsin (River Falls). Konner is a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, the Authors Guild, and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Family * Fitness * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * How-To * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Practical * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
10 West 15th Street Suite 1918 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Abigail Koons is a literary agent and partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She is an agent, partner, and the Executive Director of International Rights. She heads up the International Rights and Serious Nonfiction departments. She represents a select list of both emerging and established fiction and nonfiction authors, with a particular interest in projects that explore our relationship with the world around us.
Abigail began her professional career working for Swedish multinational corporation EF Education in visa and immigration law. She left to attend the NYU Summer Publishing institute before joining The Nicholas Ellison Agency, a division of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates as a foreign rights assistant and junior agent where she worked with Nelson DeMille, Christopher Moore and many other internationally bestselling authors. She joined Theresa Park at Park Literary shortly after its inception as the Foreign Rights Director and literary agent, and has proudly participated in its evolution to Park & Fine Literary and Media.
A graduate of Boston University, Abigail considered post-graduate work in international business, literature, and law until she discovered being a foreign rights and literary agent allowed her to pursue all three interests simultaneously. She lives in Brooklyn with her family (but travels often).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Travel *
55 Broadway Suite 1601 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Keith Korman is a literary agent with Raines & Raines. Keith is a graduate of Friends’ Seminary in New York City and Hobart College in Geneva, New York. A literary agent in his family’s firm Raines & Raines, he has represented a wide variety of authors in both fiction and nonfiction for the last 30 years. His previous works include Swan Dive, Archangel, and Secret Dreams. He lives in upstate New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * History * Memoir * Military/War * Politics * Religion * Spirituality * True Adventure * True Crime *
103 Kenyon Rd. Medusa NY 12120 USA
Biography
Parik Kostan is a literary agent with DeFiore and Company. Born in Iraq to Assyrian and Armenian parents, Parik was raised in Florida. She received her BA in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, from the University of Central Florida. While attending UCF, she was an Editorial Assistant at The Florida Review. She joined DeFiore and Company as an intern in 2017 and became an assistant in early 2018.
Parik is interested in both fiction and nonfiction, and craves stories that center BIPOC and underrepresented voices. She is particularly drawn to immigrant narratives, specifically Middle Eastern stories, as well as the intersection of political and social justice, pop culture and current events, and cookbooks that inspire you to get into the kitchen and try new things, even if you are are still learning (as she is).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Ethnic * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture *
Biography
Katie Kotchman is a literary agent with Don Congdon Associates. Katie began her career at Denise Marcil Literary Agency in 2005 and joined Don Congdon Associates as an agent in 2008. In non-fiction, she specializes in business (all areas), narrative non-fiction (particularly popular science, pop culture, memoir, and social/cultural issues), and self-help that focuses on success, motivation, and psychology. Katie is actively seeking new nonfiction clients with built-in platforms from whom she can learn something new. In fiction, she’s interested in representing women’s fiction, realistic young adult, literary fiction, and psychological thrillers. In all areas, she’s particularly interested in characters who struggle with dualities of nature and/or culture, as the topics of cognitive dissonance and those who straddle two different worlds fascinate her. She has soft spots for the Midwest, family secrets, and a good underdog story. Please do not send her fantasy, sci-fi, screenplays or poetry. Katie also manages digital rights for the agency and is a member of the AAR International Committee and Digital Innovation Committee.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Gay/Lesbian * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology *
88 Pine Street Suite 730 New York NY 10005 USA
Biography
Barbara Kouts is a literary agent with the Barbara Kouts Literary Agency. She was formerly with The Lazear Agency Inc./Talkback, Barbara Markowitz Literary Agency, and Barbara Levy Literary Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
P.O. Box 560 Bellport NY 11713 USA
Elizabeth Kracht
Kimberley Cameron & AssociatesDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
iElizabeth Kracht is a literary agent with Kimberley Cameron & Associates. Elizabeth joined Kimberley Cameron & Associates in the fall of 2010 to broaden her perspective on the publishing industry. She represents both literary and commercial fiction as well as nonfiction, and brings to the agency experience as a former acquisitions editor, freelance publicist and writer.
Elizabeth’s career in publishing took root in Puerto Rico where she completed her BA in English and worked as a copyeditor for an English-language newspaper. When she returned to the mainland she found her “vein of gold” in book publishing. She thrives on working closely with authors and researching the potential market for new books.
Elizabeth’s eclectic life experience drives her interests. She appreciates writing that has depth, an introspective voice or that offers wisdom for contemporary living. Having lived in cities such as New York, San Francisco and San Juan, Puerto Rico, she is compelled by urban and multicultural themes and loves settings that are characters unto themselves.
In fiction, she represents literary, commercial, women’s, thrillers, mysteries, and YA with crossover appeal. She is intrigued by untrustworthy narrators, tragic tales of class and circumstance, and identifies with flawed and quirky yet sterling characters. In nonfiction, she particularly loves voice—or adventure-driven memoir, and other nonfiction projects that contribute to the well-being of the self or others in addition to niche projects that fill holes in the market, offer a fresh approach, or make her laugh. She also has a soft spot for nonfiction heroic pet stories.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * Humor * Investigative * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Narrative * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Science * Spirituality * True Adventure * True Crime * Upmarket * Young Adult *
Biography
Jill Kramer is a literary agent with Waterside Productions, Inc. She was the Editorial Director at Hay House, Inc., for almost 18 years; and worked with numerous New York Times best-selling authors including Louise Hay, Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch, Ben Stein, Carnie Wilson, Doreen Virtue, Denise Linn, and many more. She is currently available for representation of all types of Adult, New Adult, and Young Adult fiction, with the exception of sci-fi/fantasy.
She also represents nonfiction books in the areas of: mind-body-spirit, self-help, celebrity memoirs, relationships, sociology, finance, psychology, health and fitness, diet/nutrition/cooking, inspiration, business/politics/history, family/parenting issues, and more.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * New Adult * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Family * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Inspiration * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development *
2055 Oxford Ave. Cardiff by the Sea CA 92007 USA
Biography
Sydelle Kramer is a literary agent with the Susan Rabiner Literary Agency. Sydelle is an agency partner and has over twenty-five years of experience as an agent. Her clients are a diverse group of academics, journalists, sportswriters, and memoirists. Among the authors she currently represents are bestselling authors Nate Silver, Alison Bechdel, Martha Nussbaum, Marya Hornbacher, Jacob Hacker and Paul Pearson, Dalton Conley, Chris Mooney, and Jonah Keri.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Biography * Education * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Memoir * Sports *
315 W. 39th Street Suite 1501 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Stuart Krichevsky is a literary agent with the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency. Stuart has over thirty years of experience as a literary agent. Since 1995, he has been president of the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency, and was previously an agent with Sterling Lord Literistic, where he began his career as a part-time mail clerk.
Krichevsky represents a distinguished list of fiction and non-fiction authors, with an emphasis on narrative non-fiction and literary journalism. His clients have appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List (over 25 titles on the printed list in the agency’s first 22 years) and have been the recipients of major literary and journalism awards, including the National Book Award, the National Magazine Award, the Governor General’s Literary Award, the George M. Polk Award, the Livingston Award, the Michael Kelly Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
Krichevsky is a native of New York City, a graduate of New York University and is married with two children. He is a member in good standing of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, and has previously served on the AAR’s Contracts Committee and its Board of Directors.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Reference * Science * Technology * Upmarket *
118 East 28th Street Suite 908 New York NY 10016 USA
Biography
Mary Krienke is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. She represents literary and upmarket fiction, voice-driven nonfiction, and memoir. She is currently looking for nonfiction and fiction that speaks to something essential and of-the-moment, especially work that engages with intersections of culture, identity, sexuality, disability, and mental health. In both fiction and nonfiction, she gravitates toward work that employs a strong and/or unfamiliar voice. Work that is psychologically rigorous and emotionally nuanced is especially welcome, as is writing that illuminates through humor or by playing with genre. Some of Mary’s clients include Ken Babbs, Kavita Bedford, Betsy Bonner, Nandita Dinesh, Stacy Austin Egan, Shelby Lorman, Vyshali Manivannan, and Ashlee Piper, and she co-represents the Berenstain Bears franchise with Flip Brophy. Mary received her MFA in Fiction from Columbia University and has a deep appreciation for dark chocolate; her other interests include film, television, art, and design.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Military/War * Narrative * Psychology *
115 Broadway Suite 1602 New York NY 10006 USA
Miriam Kriss
Irene Goodman Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Miriam Kriss is a literary agent with the Irene Goodman Literary Agency. Miriam Kriss, Vice President of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, has been a literary agent since 2004 with a focus on all genres of commercial fiction. She represents everything from hardcover historical mysteries to all subgenres of romance, from thrillers to science fiction, from young adult fiction to fantasies, and everything in between. If it’s fun to read, she probably represents it. She doesn’t look for specific stories, focusing instead on finding a voice she can fall in love with and champion. This strategy of taking on only clients she’s passionate about has led to six-figure deals for first-time authors and numerous client appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction *
Melanie Kroupa
Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLCDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Melanie Kroupa is a literary agent with Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC. has had the pleasure of working with wonderfully creative authors and illustrators for many years, creating books for children and YA at publishers such as Houghton Mifflin, Joy Street Books/Little Brown, the Atlantic Monthly Press and Farrar, Straus and Giroux, often under her Melanie Kroupa Books imprint. She also developed and taught the course “Editing Books for Children and YA” in the Simmons Children’s Literature Program.
Among the books, she has edited are Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose (winner of the National Book Award, a Newbery Honor Book, and a Sibert Honor Book), Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian (a first novel and National Book Award finalist); My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson (a National Book Award finalist) and Tasting the Sky: A Palestinian Childhood, a first book/memoir by Ibtisam Barakat (a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year).
Picture books she’s edited include many best-selling Arthur books by Marc Brown, as well as Hush! by Minfong Ho, illustrated by Holly Meade (A Caldecott Honor Book), Janice Harrington’s The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County illustrated by Shelley Jackson (four starred reviews), and Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best, illustrated by Christine Davenier, (a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year).
Melanie is now happily representing a small select group of authors including Lynne Bertrand, whose first novel, City of the Uncommon Thief, was recently hailed as “a literary Rubik’s cube…genre-defying fiction at its finest” by BOOKPAGE (Starred Review). She looks for a distinctive, compelling voice, strong characterization, and fiction and non-fiction that create a strong emotional response. Most of all, she loves discovering new voices – and nurturing them.
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 *
Dean Krystek
WordLink, IncorporatedDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Dean Krystek is a liteary agent with WordLink, Incorporated. After retiring from a long military career, Dean put away his uniform and decided to follow his passion for books. He is an alumnus of the University of Maryland and the University of South Carolina. He’s a published novelist and short story writer. He currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife Lynda.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * Espionage/Military * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Health/Wellness * History * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit *
David Kuhn
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
David Kuhn is a literary agent and partner with Aevitas Creative Management. He has represented Amy Schumer’s #1 New York Times bestseller The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo; Liaquat Ahamed’s Pulitzer Prize winning bestseller Lords of Finance; New York Times columnist Charles Blow’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones; Jessi Klein’s bestseller You’ll Grow Out of It; New Yorker editor Mary Norris’s bestseller Between You and Me; Marina Abramovic’s Walk Through Walls; Linda Hirshamns’ bestselling Sisters in Law; and Jessye Norman’s Stand Up Straight and Sing!
Kuhn graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and worked for many years as a magazine editor (Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, Brill’s Content) before founding, in 2002, Kuhn Projects, which merged with Zachary Shuster Harmsworth in 2016 to form Aevitas.
Kuhn, based in New York, represents nonfiction books that will educate, entertain, and enlighten in the areas of memoir, current events, history, politics, culture, style, food, music, and entertainment.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Science Fiction * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Music * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel *
Danya Kukafka
Trellis Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Danya Kukafka is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She is the author of the novels Notes on an Execution and Girl in Snow. She works as a literary agent, and is actively building her client list at Trellis Literary Management.
Danya began her career as a student at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she created a major titled “The Art of the Novel.” After internships at various literary agencies, she followed that passion to Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, where she was privileged to work as an assistant editor for writers like Meg Wolitzer, Paula Hawkins, Lauren Groff, Brit Bennett, Emma Straub, Gabriel Tallent, Helen Oyeyemi, Maile Meloy, Sigrid Nunez, and many more.
Danya’s debut novel, Girl in Snow, was released in 2017 by Simon & Schuster—it was a national bestseller, an IndieNext Pick, a B&N Discover pick, and received favorable reviews from The New York Times (Editor’s Choice) and The Wall Street Journal, among others. Girl in Snow has been translated into over a dozen languages worldwide, and has been optioned for a television series. Her next novel, Notes on an Execution, will be released in 2022.
Danya is interested in representing literary fiction with particularly propulsive storylines. She is seeking literary suspense, sophisticated thrillers, speculative fiction, and experimental fiction. She also loves true crime that feels attuned to today’s cultural conversations, and upmarket fiction you can read in one gulp. Her dream authors include: Megan Abbott, Angie Kim, Oyinkan Braithwaite, Rene Denfeld, Julia Phillips, Celeste Ng, Akwaeke Emezi, Susan Choi, Alex Marzano-Lesnevish, Jia Tolentino, and Karen Thompson Walker.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * True Crime *
Biography
Maura Kye-Casella is a literary agent with Don Congdon Associates. In 2001, Maura traded in her legal briefcase for a manuscript bag and joined the Denise Marcil Literary Agency. In 2008, Maura became an agent with Don Congdon Associates. Maura represents writers of narrative non-fiction, cookbooks, women’s fiction, young adult, self-help and parenting and is seeking literary works, women’s fiction, horror, thrillers, multicultural voices, and any well-written novels with quirky characters and/or unique plots and settings. She’s especially interested in works for both the young adult and middle grade markets. As to non-fiction, Maura is seeking narrative works (memoirs/adventure/true crime), any food related projects or cookbooks, pop culture, self-help, parenting and fun/interesting works that fall into the humor category.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * True Crime * Young Adult *
88 Pine Street Suite 730 New York NY 10005 USA
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Directory Instructions
Use the drop-down menu on the left to search for agents by genre, gender, location, longevity, or AAR Status. To find a specific agent or agency, enter the agent’s name or the name of the agency into the search box.
Important: If you use the search box, you must remove the search term by pressing the “Clear Search” link before you look for more agents using the drop-down menu (or you won’t see the proper results). Click on the “Show Notes” and “Show Bio” links underneath each agent for more information about that agent.
Have a question or need support? Post a comment or question by clicking on the red button at the bottom of the page.
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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)
* * *
“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)