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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.
- You are searching within category(ies): Commercial *
Biography
Katelyn Dougherty is a literary agent with the Paradigm Literary and Talent Agency.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Film/Entertainment * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Photography * Pop Culture * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
Henry Dunow
Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Henry Dunow is a literary agent with the Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. Henry began his career as a literary agent in the early 1980s, with stints at Curtis Brown Ltd. and Harold Ober Associates before founding his own agency in 1997, which has since evolved into Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency. He works primarily with quality fiction – literary, historical, strongly written commercial – and with voice-driven nonfiction across a range of areas – narrative history, biography, memoir, current affairs, cultural trends and criticism, science, sports, etc. Over the years he’s discovered and introduced a number of new, younger writers who’ve gone on to become established literary voices – and is particularly proud of that. He is the author The Way Home, a memoir about fatherhood.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction *Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Sports Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Sports * Travel *
27 West 20th Street Suite 1107 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Jane Dystel is a literary agent with Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC. Jane Dystel, President, has been an agent since 1986. Her publishing career began at Bantam Books. She then moved to Grosset & Dunlap, where she was a managing editor and later an acquisitions editor. From there, she went on to become Publisher of World Almanac Publications, where she created her own imprint. When she joined the agency that would soon become Acton and Dystel Inc., she quickly developed a reputation for honesty, forthrightness, hard work, and real commitment to her authors and their writing careers. In 1994, with a growing roster of clients, she founded Jane Dystel Literary Management, which became Dystel & Goderich Literary Management in 2003, and Dystel, Goderich & Bourret in 2016. Born in Chicago, Jane grew up in Rye, New York. She is the daughter of publishing legend Oscar Dystel, who headed Bantam Books for more than a quarter of a century. In her teens, she was an accomplished figure skater. Jane received her BA from New York University and attended Georgetown Law School for one year before leaving for her first job in publishing. She has an abiding interest in legal subjects. She is married to Steven Schwinder and has a daughter, Jessica, and a son, Zachary. She lives in New York City with her husband and two dachshunds, and is a tenacious golfer.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Law * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * True Crime * Upmarket *
One Union Square West Suite 904 New York NY 10003 USA
Biography
Connor Eck is a literary agent with Lucinda Literary. He has been with Lucinda Literary since 2016, where he focuses on a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, and ghostwriting collaborations.
He represents all genres of children’s and young adult literature, adult fiction, memoir, business, sports, and narrative nonfiction. He looks for underrepresented voices, unforgettable characters, tightly constructed plots, and thematic storytelling. In nonfiction, he is drawn to original thinkers, experts with diverse backgrounds, stories that illuminate little-known subjects, and ideas that challenge the status quo or ask big questions.
Connor’s list includes, on the adult side: Once A Warrior (Sentinel), FitMind (Avery), Be Straight With Me (Andrews McMeel), The Bold Ones (McGraw-Hill), Get Out of My Head (Benbella), Dating Sucks But You Don’t (Simon & Schuster); and on the children’s side: the You Be Mommy series (Feiwel + Friends), The Book That Almost Rhymed (Dial), The Homework Squad (Magination Press), and Three Ways To Be Brave (Penguin Workshop).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Gay/Lesbian * History * Humor * Journalism * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Sports * Technology * True Crime *
575 Madison Avenue Suite 1006 New York NY 10022 USA
Lindsay Edgecombe
Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary AgencyAAR/AALA MemberQuery method(s): Email * Online Form *Biography
Lindsay Edgecombe is a literary agent with the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. Lindsay represents a wide range of titles, including narrative nonfiction, memoir, lifestyle and health, illustrated books, and literary fiction. She is drawn to projects with strong narrators, obscure journeys, and political backbones, but she is an eclectic reader and will take on any project that she’s passionate about.
Lindsay represents journalists, scientists, internationally best-selling novelists as well as debut novelists, New Yorker cartoonists, and bloggers, among many others. She loves to uncover new talent and to work with her clients to develop great proposals from the spark of an idea. Her authors have contributed to NPR’s “This American Life,” written for the New York Times and many other publications, and have been on Oprah and The Daily Show.
Lindsay graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University where she edited The Columbia Review.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Literary *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Spirituality *
307 Seventh Ave. Suite 2407 New York NY 10001 USA
Biography
Melissa Edwards is a literary agent with the Stonesong Literary Agency. She joined Stonesong as a literary agent in August 2016. Previously, she was a literary agent at the Aaron Priest Literary Agency, where she managed the foreign rights for a forty-year backlist. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and Vanderbilt Law School, Melissa began her career as a litigation attorney before transitioning into publishing. She is a tireless advocate for her clients and a constant partner during the publication process and beyond. Melissa also acts as a contract consultant for authors and agents under the business MLE Consulting. She can be found on Twitter @MelissaLaurenE.
Melissa is currently highly interested in developing her adult commercial fiction list, with a particular eye out for vibrant and fun young women’s fiction, mysteries and thrillers featuring characters from underrepresented backgrounds, and upmarket book club fiction.
Melissa is not the best choice for horror, science fiction, or historical fiction.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * Pop Culture * Young Adult *
270 West 39th Street Suite 201 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Natalie Edwards is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary after nearly two years at Janklow & Nesbit Associates. Prior to that, she worked at Curtis Brown, Ltd. At Trellis, Natalie supports Allison Hunter and Michelle Brower, while actively building a list of her own.
In terms of fiction, she is seeking commercial, upmarket, and literary titles both contemporary and historical: stories of queerness and diaspora (i.e., Patsy), hidden histories, workplace satires/sendups of #girlbosses, and anything that offers biting social commentary and disrupts conventional wisdom. She is particularly drawn to accessible voices with a literary sensibility, in the vein of Ann Patchett and Zadie Smith, especially when they let her in on a subculture or historical truth she’s never encountered before. She also enjoys contemporary retellings of classic works, particularly by authors from underrepresented and marginalized groups.
In the nonfiction space, she is looking for hybrid memoirs (think H is for Hawk or In the Darkroom), which combine personal stories with research/reportage; narrative nonfiction like Say Nothing or Bad Blood; and cultural histories about music, film, art, and sports. There is nothing more delicious to her than the implosion of a scam, and nothing sweeter than rightful justice being handed down, so anything involving bad actors getting their comeuppance at the hands of passionate advocates for truth, she wants to see.
Natalie grew up in Pasadena, California and attended Bowdoin College, where she earned her BA in English with a minor in History and played four years of varsity softball. She lives in Brooklyn and still plays on several softball teams in the city.
Natalie’s dream authors include: Ann Patchett, Zadie Smith, Carmen Maria Machado, Robert Kolker, Susan Faludi, Patrick Radden Keefe, Samantha Irby, Fiona Davis, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Karina Longworth, Nicole Dennis-Benn, and T Kira Madden.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Danielle Egan-Miller is a literary agent with and the president of Browne & Miller Literary Associates. Danielle learned the business of book publishing from the agency side as she began her career as the assistant to, later the associate of, legendary literary agent Jane Jordan Browne.
She went on to hold editor positions with Dearborn Trade, NTC Business Books/Contemporary Books and McGraw-Hill Trade, where she acquired adult non-fiction titles with a strong emphasis on business subjects. In 2002, Danielle rejoined Jane as her partner and the agency was renamed Browne & Miller Literary Associates; she became owner and president of the agency in 2003. Danielle holds a BA in English from Loyola University of Chicago and is a graduate of the Radcliffe Publishing Course. She is also a member of the Association of Authors’ Representatives, Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and The Authors Guild.
As an agent, Danielle has sold hundreds of books, with a heavy emphasis on commercial adult fiction. Her roster includes several New York Times bestselling authors and numerous prize- and award-winning writers. Many of Browne & Miller’s authors have won prestigious awards including the Edgar Award, the Canadian Governor General’s Award, the RITA Award, the Anthony Award, the Colorado Book Award, the Minnesota Book Award, the Western Spur Award, the Willa Award, the Barry Award, the Dilys Award, the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award, the ECPA Golden Medallion, the Golden Quill, and the Christy Award.
Danielle spends most of her free time with her husband, teenage son, and her beloved Scottish Terriers, Scarlett O’Hara and Agnes. She is a football mom, an avid gardener, a home improvement enthusiast (she must be, as she lives in a house built in 1889), an enthusiastic cook, a strong swimmer, a beach vacation lover, and she’s addicted to (binge) reading on her iPad. Though Danielle reads ample non-fiction (she enjoys biographies in particular), most of her long-time favorite books are novels. They include: everything by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, The Alienist by Caleb Carr, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the entire epic Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, and the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She’s recently added Tana French to her list of favorite authors and believes The Likeness is as close to perfect as a novel can be.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Paranormal * Religious * Romance * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Biography * Celebrity * Christian * Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * Health/Wellness * History * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Music * Narrative * Religion * Science * Spirituality * Sports *
52 Village Place Hinsdale IL 60521 USA
Biography
Judith Ehrlich is a literary agent with Judith Ehrlich Literary Management. A former award-winning journalist, Judith is the co-author of The New Crowd: The Changing of the Jewish Guard on Wall Street (Little, Brown, 1989). She shifted gears in l998 and worked as a senior associate of the Linda Chester Agency for five years before launching her own agency in 2002. Judith is a member of the Author’s Guild and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. She was formerly on the Council of Conservators of the New York Public Library and served on the board of directors of The Shakespeare Society. For many years she was on the advisory board of The Partisan Review.
Judith has sold a wide range of nonfiction and fiction and looks for that special quality that makes a book compelling. Among her strongest interests are narrative nonfiction that combines fascinating original material with superb writing, topical business books by industry leaders, and prescriptive women’s books with a strong platform. Prescriptive books should offer fresh information and advice, and most authors must have ongoing experience with national workshops and lectures or strong newspaper, radio or TV presence, depending on the work. In fiction, she looks for novels that have a strong opportunity for print review or appeal to book club readers. She is drawn to stories that pull you in and won’t let you go. In upmarket, literary, and quality commercial fiction, she looks for novels that have sympathetic characters, original plots with surprising twists, and strong descriptive writing. She is also interested in fresh, well-crafted, riveting thrillers of all kinds including legal and medical ones.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Prescriptive * Psychology * Science * Women’s Issues *
146 Central Park West 20E New York NY 10023 USA
Biography
Ethan Ellenberg is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. Ethan opened his literary agency in late, 1984 after holding jobs at both Bantam and Berkley/Jove. At Berkley/Jove he was manager of the Contracts Department. At Bantam he was Associate Contracts Manager. He says: “I remain excited and committed to assisting Authors at different stages of their careers. I work with a number of talented people writing and illustrating many different kinds of books and that’s what I like. If you have something special in any of the commercial fiction genres I would be interested in hearing about it. For children’s books works of the imagination and beauty will always interest me. If I can’t help you, I will share your work with a colleague.
The business of book publishing has changed almost beyond recognition since I joined the industry. It’s as complex as any business I know and that makes it daunting for everyone involved. Our goal is to assist Authors where they need it most, passionate dedication to help them earn a living, and honest feedback about their work.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Action/Adventure * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Military/War * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * New Age * Politics * Psychology * Reference * Science * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * True Adventure * True Crime * Young Adult *
155 Suffolk Street #2R New York NY 10002 USA
Biography
Chelsey Emmelhainz is a literary agent with Copps Literary Services. She joined Copps Literary Services in 2021 after a decade as an editor of upmarket fiction and nonfiction. Upon graduating from the Denver Publishing Institute, she got her start at HarperCollins with William Morrow and Avon Books. She was most recently a senior editor at Crooked Lane Books.
As an editor, Chelsey worked on projects that cross the literary landscape: from Amish romance to upmarket thrillers and everything in between. Yet her true passion lies in helping authors refine their narratives to create compelling stories and advocating on their behalf. An editorial agent, she works tirelessly with authors to polish their work into commercial projects aimed at catching the eye of editors and publishers.
Chelsey is building a highly selective list, focused mainly on adult fiction and nonfiction. Regardless of genre, she is always looking for authentic storytelling and to elevate diverse voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor * Journalism * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Politics * Romance * Science * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * History * How-To * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Psychology * Technology * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
3560 S Emerson ST Englewood CO 80113 USA
Biography
Jessica Errera is a literary agent with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. She has been with JRA since 2014. She is looking for commercial women’s fiction with a fresh and fun hook, all genres of YA (especially diverse stories), contemporary romance, mysteries and suspense, the occasional historical fiction, and anything that might be read in a day on the beach. Jessica is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she spent four years cheering on the Tar Heels and a few fantastic months interning with Algonquin Books.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Historical * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Jane Rotrosen Agency 318 East 51st St New York NY 10022 USA
Biography
Annalise Errico is a literary agent with Ladderbird. Annalise is a graduate of Lesley University where she earned a B.A. in Creative writing with a double minor in Literature and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She is excited about uplifting stories by authors with marginalized voices and intersectional identities, ultimately making room for the diverse voices that have long since been ignored and suppressed in the literary world and beyond. When she isn’t agenting, Annalise spends an excessive amount of time snuggling with her cat, Mittens, and writing romance novels that are more swoony than strictly necessary.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Magical Realism * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
Biography
Suzy Evans is a literary agent with and the founder of Suzy Evans Literary Agency. She says: “I’m an attorney, author and literary agent who holds a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley. My books include Machiavelli for Moms (Simon & Schuster) and Forgotten Crimes: The Holocaust and People with Disabilities. I’m also a ghostwriter for a #1 New York Times best-selling author with 30 million copies in print and my work has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal and other major publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Parade, Forbes, Los Angeles Business Journal, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Orange County Register, McSweeney’s and The London Times.
In the adult market, I’m particularly on the hunt for great serious nonfiction, especially by historians who are looking to make the transition from an academic to trade readership and journalists who have something unique and significant to say. I’m also on the lookout for smart parenting books with truly useful, original hooks that fill a gap in the market (bonus points for humor!); food, health, and diet-related titles, especially culinary histories of all flavors and tastes; sports books with strong crossover appeal in other genres, especially history and philosophy (I’d LOVE to find the next Golf in the Kingdom or Zen and the Art of Archery); self-help of every stripe by authors with well-established platforms and riveting, elegantly-written memoir (recent favorites include William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days and Paul Kalanithi’s deeply-rendered When Breath Becomes Air), as well as cookbooks with inventive new twists; pop culture; humor, especially as it relates to parenting; and small, quirky books that make me smile or think about the world in entirely new and surprising ways. I’d also love to find a great legal thriller.
On the children’s front, I have a great love of middle grade and am particularly on the hunt for lively, engaging nonfiction that *pops* off the page and makes kids excited about reading and learning; wacky/hilarious/silly commercial MG fiction with series potential; fiction and nonfiction that explore diversity and disability in all their glorious manifestations; and graphic novels that bring history, great works of literature and fascinating historical figures (think Socrates! Machiavelli! Hamilton!) to life.
I also have a huge soft spot for classic literary works that explore the coming-of-age theme with a warm, honest voice that draws me in and makes me feel at home, contemporary YA fiction that tackles difficult issues in bold, daring ways and with inventive formats that can be brought into the classroom to stimulate meaningful discussion and debate (a la Walter Dean Myers’ Monster) and sweet, lyrical picture books that capture the imagination and call for multiple readings (favorite classics include Stellaluna and The Cat Who Walked Across France). I’d also LOVE to find an exciting, high-concept thriller that has “MOVIE!” written all over it.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Diet/Nutrition * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Parenting/Child Guidance * Philosophy * Pop Culture * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Travel * Young Adult *
1155 Camino del Mar Suite 515 Del Mar CA 92130 USA
Biography
Samantha Fabien is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “I live for the rollercoaster of emotions that characters and stories can take me on. Whether I’m swooning or gasping, I want to feel strongly enough about a project that I desperately need to share it with the world.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
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617 S. Olive St. #300 Los Angeles CA 90014 USA
Biography
Mark Falkin is a literary agent with Falkin Literary Agency. Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mark Falkin graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas and then the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He has lived in Texas for the last twenty years, where he is a literary agent and recovering music attorney, having represented platinum sellers and Grammy winners alike.
His 2006 self-published novel, Days of Grace, was optioned for a film and nominated for a literary award, The Needle Award, at POD-dy Mouth blog, where the reviewer said, “This is literature at its best . . . Falkin could easily be likened to the aforementioned Lethem or to Augusten Burroughs or even J.D. Salinger,” and Bookpeople in Austin noted, “Here’s more proof that Austin is home to some of the best new writers around . . . Falkin’s novel is reminiscent of the writing style found in Lethem, Sedaris, Coupland, and Kerouac, with his sharp wit and journalistic style.”
Working on his next book, he lives with his wife and family in Austin, where he reads, coaches recreational soccer, tries to find time to paddle Texas waters, and keeps a sharp eye on his young daughters, snatching hugs here and there.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Dystopian * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Humor * Memoir * Music * Narrative * Sports *
2605 West 49 1/2 Street Austin TX 78731 USA
Biography
Sam Farkas is a literary agent and foreign rights manager with Jill Grinberg Literary Management. She grew up in South Jersey and attended the College of William & Mary, where she received her B.A. in History and English. Upon graduation, she moved to New York to intern with Maria B. Campbell Associates, where she discovered her love for collaborating with agents and publishers around the world. She worked in the subsidiary rights department at Penguin before she joined the JGLM team in 2018. She handles foreign rights for all JGLM authors. An avid traveler, Sam has been to 14 countries spanning 4 continents, and dreams of visiting them all. She speaks Spanish, and can often be found on language-learning apps.
Above all, Sam is drawn to exemplary writing.
In Adult, Sam is looking for upmarket fiction of all stripes, but especially historical; fast-paced, high-concept speculative thrillers that make her heart race; lyrical and immersive fantasy; and single-title romance that simmers.
Sam is also open to Young Adult and Middle Grade of all genres, but she has a special fondness for thoughtful contemporary, often with a speculative twist; historical with modern sensibilities; fantasy with morally gray protagonists and complicated character dynamics; the very strange, and the very funny.
In all categories and genres, she is looking for diverse and underrepresented voices.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * History * Journalism * Juvenile * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Travel *
392 Vanderbilt Avenue Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Jessica Faust is a literary agent with the BookEnds Literary Agency. As owner and literary agent at BookEnds, she is honored to spend every day with some of the most talented authors and agents in the business. From BookEnds’ inception in 1999, Jessica has always believed that her number one job is to be an author advocate. As BookEnds has grown, she now adds agent advocate to that responsibility.
In addition to constantly growing BookEnds in new and innovative directions, Jessica represents many bestselling and award-winning authors. Her focus is on bringing more underrepresented and marginalized voices into publishing and her areas of expertise include mystery, suspense, upmarket, literary, and women’s fiction. In nonfiction, she’s seeking books and authors who will make her a better person and a better leader.
Jessica began her career as an acquisitions editor at Berkley Publishing, Macmillan, and Wiley. In addition to nearly 15 years of blogging, Jessica has a regular role on the BookEnds YouTube channel, has taught at New York University’s Continuing Education Program, written a publishing column, and has been honored by a number of different publishing organizations. Jessica hosts workshops and speaking engagements throughout the world and is a member of AALA.
While her heart will always be in Minnesota, Jessica now lives in New Jersey with her family. Outside of BookEnds, Jessica’s passions include kettlebell lifting, walking Olive, skiing, paddle boarding, cooking, baking, reading other people’s books, and generally laughing with friends and family.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Gay/Lesbian * How-To * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * Women’s Issues *
136 Long Hill Rd. Gillette NJ 07933 USA
Biography
Don Fehr is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. After a twenty-year career in senior-level editorial jobs (Atheneum, Addison-Wesley, Viking Penguin, and Basic Books) and as a publisher (Smithsonian/Harper Collins), Don Fehr joined the Trident literary agency in 2010. “My reputation is that of an editor’s editor, intensely loyal, author-centered, and entrepreneurial in the publishing and marketing of my writers,” says Don. “While traditional publishers will always have an important role in the marketplace, exciting developments are occurring, and dynamic multi-platforms are evolving. I wanted to be an integral part of that action for my authors, and Trident was clearly the literary agency to go to make a significant impact.”
Don’s experience in working with authors in many genres and subject areas, ranging from bestsellers to award winners, has given him a sense of what works in the marketplace.
Don has published over a dozen New York Times bestsellers, and his authors and books have won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the P.E.N. Faulkner Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Prominent authors he has worked with over the years have included political and legal commentators Alan Dershowitz and Linda Greenhouse, medical writers Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland and Dr. Pauline Chen, psychiatrist Peter D. Kramer, historians Niall Ferguson, Christopher Andrew, W. Bruce Lincoln, Walter McDougall, Thomas Fleming, David Reynolds, William Chafe, Omer Bartov, and Richard Evans, novelists Charles Johnson and Ishmael Reed, science writers Carl Zimmer and Franz De Waal, theologian Harvey Cox, actors Simon Callow and Klaus Kinski, pianist Andras Schiff, and other authors, including Christopher Hitchens, Paul Berman, Thomas Sowell, Bruce Chatwin, Kevin Philips, John Yoo, Grover Norquist, Fred Waitzkin, and Brent Edwards.
“Now I am using my experience and insights as a book agent to help my authors navigate the internal and changing dynamics of the publishing processes to maximize the upside while still protecting their long-term interests,” says Don. “I roam widely in terms of subject areas and categories that interest me, but what always catches my attention first is the author’s voice. Just about everything flows from that. I must be pulled in by the author’s voice before I get interested in the story or subject.”
Don is aggressive in looking to build a list of authors with “strong voices” across a wide variety of areas: literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoirs, travel, science, and health. Reading alongside his thirteen-year-old daughter, Don has now developed an interest in young adult fiction. “You’re never too old to be young again,” says Don.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Autobiography * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel *
355 Lexington Ave 12th FL New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Leigh Feldman is a literary agent with and the founder of Leigh Feldman Literary. She says: “During my twenty years at Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman Literary Agency, I represented acclaimed literary fiction such as Charles Frazier’s National Book Award Winning COLD MOUNTAIN, Arthur Golden’s International Bestseller MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, the novels and stories of Judy Budnitz (named one of Granta’s 21 Best Young American Novelists), and bestselling Young Adult author Sarah Dessen, along with many other authors of extraordinary talent. In February, 2011, I joined Writers House, and in October 2014 I am thrilled to be starting my own agency, Leigh Feldman Literary.
While my list has always been extremely selective, allowing me to give my clients the attention and support services they deserve, I am always looking for talented writers who know how to engage readers with compelling characters and masterful storytelling. Whether I’m reading literary fiction or narrative nonfiction, memoir or young adult, I look for books that, from the beginning, make me want to just drop everything and read all day. I look for complex, believable, sympathetic characters that win me over completely, compelling me to care about them and making me desperate to know what happens to them. I want to be transported into another world when I read, but I also want new and unexpected insight into the world we all live in.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Short Story Collection * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Young Adult *
New York NY USA
Biography
Jessica Felleman is a literary agent with the Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency. She began her publishing career in Los Angeles after receiving her MFA in writing from CalArts. She relocated to New York in 2015, where she spent five years at Foundry Literary + Media. She represents a range of creators, loves fresh stories about magic, and looks for commercial and literary fiction featuring underserved voices, unforgettable places, and complicated families. Jessica specializes in popular nonfiction and prescriptive titles that offer realistic advice or new perspectives to help readers better understand themselves and the world, including the #1 New York Times Bestseller THE HIDDEN POWER OF F*CKING UP by The Try Guys.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * New Adult * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Gift/Novelty * History * Humor * Journalism * Lifestyle * Pop Culture * Psychology * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * True Adventure * Women’s Issues *
27 West 20th St. Suite 1003 New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Aurora Fernandez is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. She joined the agency in 2021 as an assistant to Robert Gottlieb. Before joining Trident, Aurora was an intern at Simone Garzella International Book Scouting and attended the Columbia Publishing Course. She earned a B.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Political Science from Wellesley College and spent at year studying at St. Peter’s College, Oxford University.
Aurora is open to submissions and excited to work with authors. She is looking for commercial and upmarket women’s fiction and romance. She is drawn to works that feature diverse voices, offer an escape from reality, and balance the fun and romantic of life with the complicated and serious. She wants books with a unique hook and are perfect to discuss in book club or read on vacation. She is also interested in commercial and upmarket thrillers, especially those that focus on complicated relationships between women.
While Aurora’s interests mainly lie in fiction, she is open to nonfiction submissions. For nonfiction submissions, Aurora is looking for memoirs, narrative nonfictions, personal development, forgotten moments in history, and microhistories. Particular topics that interest her are pop culture, modern dating, mental health, folktales, women’s health, and true crime.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Romance * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Dating/Relationship/Sex * Health/Wellness * History * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Biography
Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent with Root Literary. She says: “I want to work with the kind of stories that both create and sustain life-long readers—books that make me sigh with contentment, learn something new, or take delight in the unexpected. Those stories stay with you, and they’re a gift I want to help give readers by lifting up the voices of talented and hard-working creatives.
I’m actively looking for fiction and narrative nonfiction. I’m especially excited to find high-concept commercial and literary leaning general fiction, young adult novels with a strong voice and propulsive pacing, and heartfelt and humorous middle grade novels across genres. I was born and raised in Southern California in a multi-cultural, blended family, so I have a soft spot for books that shine a spotlight on the nuances of family relationships and identity.
In all cases—no matter what genre you’re writing in—I want to read books that are inclusive and that accurately reflect our world. I like characters who aren’t your typical lead and to be surprised by the unexpected.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Contemporary * Commercial * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Narrative *
3727 W. Magnolia Blvd #205 Burbank CA 91505 USA
Biography
Celeste Fine is a literary agent and founding partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She is regularly ranked as one of the top literary agents in book publishing and advises dozens of New York Times bestselling authors. She has a special interest in the ways authors can change the way we think and ultimately the world we live in. Clients include celebrities, academics, entrepreneurs, doctors, journalists, researchers, experts, and a select list of children’s and fiction authors whose ideas and stories are picked up by major media as often as they are shared among close groups of friends. In addition to helping authors develop their proposals and manuscripts and negotiating some of the biggest book deals in the industry, Celeste counsels on the publications, television and film deals, marketing and publicity campaigns, and professional opportunities that keep people paying attention to her clients and their books, year after year. Originally from California, Celeste graduated magna cum laude in Government from Harvard University, received certifications in international conflict resolution and mediation in The Hague, and loves a good evening of dive bar banter and a game of pool.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * General Fiction * Literary * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Technology *
55 Broadway Suite 1601 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Melissa Flashman is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Melissa Flashman majored in English at Wesleyan University. After stints in the English Ph.D. program at Johns Hopkins, commercial and indie radio, the advertising world and something called cool-hunting (it was the late ‘90s), she got her first job in publishing working as an assistant in the literary department of ICM before moving to Trident Media Group where she was a literary agent for over ten years before joining Janklow & Nesbit Associates in 2017.
Melissa represents award-winning and best-selling fiction and nonfiction. In nonfiction, she is particularly interested in conversation-changing books including journalism, science, technology, business/finance/economics, memoir/narrative, essays and cultural criticism. She is drawn to a range of literary and commercial fiction and is particularly excited about stories that touch on the deeper meaning of life, family, identity and love. A good page-turner is always welcome.
Melissa’s authors have won numerous awards including the National Book Critic Circle Award, the Rona Jaffe Award, the Hugo Award, n + 1 writer’s fellowship, The Nation’s Ridenhour Prize and the American Book Award among others. A former first serial and magazine agent, she enjoys helping her writers place journalism, essays and fiction in a range of publications including The New Yorker, Harper’s, the New York Times, Vogue, The Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, the Paris Review, n + 1, Tin House, the Baffler and Jacobin.
Some recent titles by her authors include Sweetbitter (Knopf) by Stephanie Danler; The Selfishness of Others (FSG) by Kristin Dombek; Winning Arguments (HarperCollins) by Stanley Fish; Trainwreck (Melville House) by Sady Doyle; The Utopia of Rules (Melville House) by David Graeber; The Future We Want: Radical Ideas for the New Century (Metropolitan) ed. by Sarah Leonard and Bhaskar Sunkara; The Road to Ruin (Portfolio) by James Rickards; and O Fallen Angel (Harper Perennial) and Book of Mutter (Semiotext(e)) by Kate Zambreno.
She lives in Brooklyn; find her on Twitter @melflashman.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Economics * Family Saga * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Technology *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Jacqueline Flynn is a literary agent with Joelle Delbourgo Associates. Jacqueline Flynn represents both fiction and non-fiction in a broad range of categories. She is particularly interested in authors who offer unique perspectives that counter conventional wisdom and cookie-cutter solutions. She now uses her finely-developed editorial acumen to guide authors through the process of positioning their books for the marketplace, preparing proposals, and marketing their work. Jacquie specializes in coaching authors to use Social Media and other marketing tools to build and connect with their reader community. A former editor with two decades experience, she is also available to work with authors as an editor on proposals and manuscripts, both nonfiction and fiction.
Recent sales include Joseph Kelly’s MAROONED (Bloomsbury), Laura Sobiech’s memoir FLY A LITTLE HIGHER (Thomas Nelson), Jennifer Alvarez middle-grade trilogy RIDERS OF THE REALM (HarperCollins), Sue Scheff SHAME NATION written with Melissa Schorr (Sourcebooks), Anne Brown’s SUMMER GIRL (Entangled), and Gleb Raygorodetsky’s ARCHIPELAGO OF HOPE (Pegasus).
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University where she majored in International Relations and rowed on the Women’s Crew team. She is also a Hockey/Volleyball/Band Mom, knitter, and avid hiker who lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband and two sons. Like Joelle she also speaks French, but not nearly as well.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Picture Book * Religious * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Religion * Science * Sports * Technology * Travel * Young Adult *
101 Park St. Montclair NJ 07042 USA
Biography
Katherine Flynn is a literary agent with Calligraph. Katherineis has been an agent since 2008. Her clients are award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling writers. Recently, her authors have won or been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the George Washington Prize, the Hillman Prize for the Common Good, and the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, alongside numerous best-of-the-year selections and many other accolades.
Katherine represents history, biography, politics, current affairs, investigative journalism, narrative nonfiction, cultural criticism, pop culture, adventure, true crime, science, nature, medicine, business, sociology, and psychology. She also represents select fiction, and is fond of urban or foreign locales, crime novels, insight into women’s lives, biting wit, and historical settings. That said, she is open to anything that is well-written and contains a good, fresh story or big idea. She prizes securing major deals for her authors with quality publishers and placing international and film/tv rights for their books.
Prior to establishing Calligraph, Katherine worked at the Kneerim & Williams Agency for fifteen years. She previously edited history textbooks, taught English literature and composition to high school students, and worked in a rare book shop. She serves as the publishing consultant to Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute and is a Boston Book Festival board member. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University and then pursued her Ph.D. in History at Brown University, where she is now A.B.D.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Investigative * Journalism * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Middle Grade * Money/Finance * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Sports * True Adventure * True Crime * Young Adult *
88 Broad St. Suite 503 Boston MA 02110 USA
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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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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
* * *
“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
* * *
“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)
* * *
“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)