Home » Directory of Literary Agents – USA Literary Agents
The Directory of Literary Agents
Welcome message…
7 Insider Secrets to Get a Top Agent, Publisher, and Book Deal
Press the play button below to listen.
Click here to view and/or download a free PDF transcript
of this audio program
* * *
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: M
Biography
Nick Mullendore is a literary agent with the Vertical Ink Agency. Nick Mullendore is the Founder & President of the Vertical Ink Agency, which he established in January 2016 after having worked with the Loretta Barrett Books, Inc. literary agency since March of 1998. He remains a Partner in and the President of Loretta Barrett Books – which continues to serve its existing projects and clients – while building his own Vertical Ink list by working with existing Barrett Books clients as well as new clients on their original book projects.
Nick began his publishing career in publicity at HarperBusiness, the trade business books imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. There he learned in-depth the world of major publishing before making the leap to agenting. Over the years he’s worked with authors such as Ray Kurzweil, Mariah Stewart, Mark Nepo, Jessica Bird, George Weigel, Betty White, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Chaz Bono, Phil Plait, Harold Schechter, MJ Rose, Carol Goodman, Jack Kelly, Noah Levine, Dr. James Martin, Wayne Muller, Bill O’Hanlon, Melvin Urofsky, Theresa Rebeck, and many others on a variety of bestselling fiction and nonfiction books.
Nick has a wealth of experience selling US, foreign, audio, and television and film rights for a wide range of fiction and nonfiction books. He specializes in nonfiction, particularly in the genres of Mind/Body/Spirit, Health & Wellness, Business & Leadership, Inspiration & Motivation, Current Events & Politics, Popular Science & Psychology, Pop Culture, Memoir, Humor, History, and Sports, and is willing to consider proposals in other nonfiction genres as well. Nick is more selective when it comes to the fiction he takes on, but it’s fair to say that loves fiction that successfully rides the line between “literary” and “literate” while still maintaining something of a commercial sensibility.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Inspiration * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Travel *
170 Union Street Suite 4L Brooklyn NY 11231 USA
Biography
Michael Mungiello is a literary agent with InkWell Management. He graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied Government and English. In the intern years, he worked for Lippincott Massie McQuilkin and Dzanc Books. He also spent a semester working in his college’s English Department as a teaching assistant for a course on Jewish American Literature. His interests include intellectual histories, counterintuitive social science, literary criticism, and jazz.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Historical * Literary *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * General Nonfiction * History * Music * Narrative * Psychology * Science * Upmarket *
521 Fifth Avenue Suite 2600 New York NY 10175 USA
Paula Munier
Talcott Notch Literary ServicesDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email *Biography
Paula Munier is a literary agent with and Content Strategist for Talcott Notch Literary Services. She says: “For nearly twenty years, this framed quotation has graced my office: “Après les choses qui sont de première nécessité pour la vie, rien n’est plus précieux que les livres.”
It’s from Pierre Simon Fournier’s 1764 typography manual, and it means: “After all the basic necessities of life, there is nothing more precious than books.”
That’s how I’ve felt about books since my mother started reading to me as a baby. As soon as I could read my favorite stories on my own, my literary fate was sealed. I’ve lived in the world of words ever since—as a reader, a writer, an editor, and now as an agent.
The only thing I love more than books are the writers who write them. I’ve had the privilege of working with talented wordsmiths of every stripe—from reporters, nonfiction authors, content creators, and memoirists to novelists, screenwriters, graphic novelists, cartoonists, comic book writers, short story writers, and poets.
Writers are my tribe. I began as a journalist, and over the years I’ve penned countless new stories, articles, essays, collateral, and blogs, as well as authored/co-authored more than a dozen books, most recently Fixing Freddie, 5-Minute Mindfulness, and A Miscellany of Murder. Along the way, I’ve added editor, acquisitions specialist, digital content manager, and publishing executive to my repertoire—the common denominator being my commitment to writers and writing, no matter what my title. From Gannett, Greenspun, and Prima Games to Disney, Quayside, and F+W Media, I’ve fought the good fight for good writing and good writers. And I’ve loved every minute of it.
But now, as an agent, I have the opportunity to support talented writers in the most direct manner possible, helping my clients do good work, land great publishing deals, and build successful writing careers. So if you’re a writer as obsessed with words and stories as I am, and you’re in it for the long haul, consider working with me. My specialties include mystery/thriller, SF/fantasy, romance, YA, memoir, humor, pop culture, health & wellness, cooking, self-help, pop psych, New Age, inspirational, technology, science, and writing.
P.S. If you write crime fiction…you should know that I’m very involved with the mystery community, having served four terms as President of the New England chapter of Mystery Writers of America as well as on the MWA board. (I’m currently VP of that organization.) I’ve also served as both co-chair and Agents and Editors chair on the New England Crime Bake committee for seven years and counting. And I’m an active member of Sisters in Crime.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * General Fiction * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Mystery * NoMG * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Inspiration * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * New Age * Pop Culture * Psychology * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology *
Biography
Dee Mura is a literary agent with and the founder of Dee Mura Literary. Dee began her career in the editorial and marketing departments of Newsweek Magazine, and in the trading and futures departments of Goldman Sachs. With an offer from the Brazilian government to produce sporting and concert events in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil, Dee launched her own production company and public relations division representing artists from around the globe. A close relationship with several of these artists led to the development of Dee Mura Enterprises, a talent and literary personal management company with a hands-on approach to developing performing artists and writers for film, television, personal appearances, and corporate events. When several of her film and TV writers expressed the desire to write for publication, Dee Mura Literary was born. The company now flourishes under the direction of Dee’s diverse experience in media, marketing, editorial, finance, and personal management, with the goal of contributing quality, innovative literature to the publishing world.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Erotica * Ethnic Fiction * Espionage/Military * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Paranormal * Religious * Satire * Science Fiction * Romance * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * Family * Film/Entertainment * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * General Nonfiction * Government * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Inspiration * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Middle Grade * Military/War * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * New Age * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Travel * True Adventure * Young Adult *
P.O. Box 131 Massapequa Park NY 11762 USA
Biography
Karen Murgolo is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She has over 25 years of experience as an editor and agent. She has edited New York Times bestselling books like Nobel Prize Winner Elizabeth Blackburn’s and Elissa Epel’s The Telomere Effect; Ballerina Body by Misty Copeland; Eat to Beat Disease by Dr. William Li; Enough Already by Valerie Bertinelli; and cookbooks by Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Boulud, and others. As an agent she’s represented authors from award-winning psychologists to food writers to a shaman.
Before coming to Aevitas, Karen was Editorial Director, Lifestyle and Culinary, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, as well as Editorial Director, Grand Central Life & Style. She graduated from Wesleyan University with honors and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Program (now Columbia). She is an IACP Digital Media Judge.
Based in New York, Karen is interested in authoritative health, wellness, science and psychology, spirituality, inspirational (or just really fun) memoirs; original cookbooks, and narratives that illuminate a compelling subject or start a conversation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Design * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Technology * Women’s Issues *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Dana Murphy is a literary agent with Trellis Literary Management. She joined Trellis Literary Management in 2022, after a decade building her list at The Book Group. She represents a wide range of fiction and nonfiction for both adult and teen readers. Books by her clients have been New York Times and international bestsellers and chosen as Barnes & Noble Discover, Book of the Month, Read with Jenna, Indie Next and NYT Editors’ Choice picks.
Across genre, Dana falls in love at the story and line-level simultaneously. She’s always searching for language and plot that move in equal measure, one in constant support of the other. She believes this symbiosis can exist anywhere on the commercial-to-literary spectrum and is most drawn to writing that aims to transform the reader, disrupt hegemony, and center community — particularly by marginalized writers who have historically been boxed out of traditional publishing spaces.
In fiction, Dana looks for books (and authors!) with a soft heart, a sense of humor, and a deep earnest affection for their characters and story. Her forever favorites are genuinely hilarious romantic-comedies that read like the best kind of fan fiction, coming-of-age that captures the specificity of being young today, high-concept and/or speculative novels that press on our shared cultural bruises, and anything that celebrates found families and friendships as their own glorious love stories.
Dana’s nonfiction taste trends towards narrative nonfiction and essay collections about pop culture, class, gender, race, science, food and so on. She will always reach for well-researched cultural criticism that interrogates the power structures shaping our collective understanding of “good” taste or reckons with “low” and “unworthy” pop culture in a smart, serious way.
Born and raised on Long Island, Dana moved to New York City to study Critical Film Theory and Sociology at NYU, lived there for ten years, and now calls Philadelphia home. If she’s not answering your emails, she’s probably snuck off to one of her favorite places: a campsite in the woods, the beach in her hometown, or a quiet dive bar to drink their cheapest beer and read a book she isn’t working on.
Dana’s favorite non-client authors (if your work is similar, please get in touch!): Hanif Abdurraqib, Emily Henry, Casey McQuiston, Shea Serrano, Mary HK Choi, Kate Racculia, Kristen Arnett, Morgan Rogers, Anna Weiner, Megan Stielstra.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Journalism * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Young Adult *
New York NY USA
Erin Murphy
Erin Murphy Literary AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Erin Murphy is a literary agent with Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Erin was born and raised in Arizona, and founded EMLA in Flagstaff in 1999 after a 7-year career as an editor at a regional publishing house. As founder of EMLA she has focused not just on helping authors and illustrators to publish books for children and teens, but on building careers. In 2016, she relocated the agency headquarters to southern Maine. Her clients’ notices in addition to hitting bestseller lists include a Caldecott Honor (plus writer clients seeing their books get Caldecott silver and gold), a Newbery Honor, a Sibert Medal, Stonewall Medals, APALA silver and gold, an American Indian Youth Literature Honor, a National Jewish Book Award finalist, a Schneider Award, and multiple Edgar, Sydney Taylor, Américas, Golden Kite, Jane Addams, and Orbis Pictus awards or honors, among others.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Picture Book * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile *
Biography
Tamela Hancock Murray is a literary agent with the Steve Laube Agency. She has been a literary agent since 2001. She is a bestselling author of over thirty novels, novellas, and nonfiction books, and won an RWA Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award. Although her current writing for publication is limited to the Agency blog, because of her experience, Tamela brings the perspective of a working writer to her role as a literary agent. She represents many top authors and continues to develop new talent. She earned her BA with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College in Virginia. Today she enjoys living in Northern Virginia with her husband of over thirty years. They are the proud parents of two lovely adult daughters. She can often be found reading books on her Kindle.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Historical * Religious * Romance * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Christian * General Nonfiction * Religion * Spirituality *
8665 Sudley Road #119 Manassas VA 20110 USA
Nate Muscato
Aevitas Creative ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Online Form *Biography
Nate Muscato is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. He graduated from Vassar College with a BA in English and Italian. Prior to joining Aevitas, he worked at Farrar, Straus & Giroux and Sterling Lord Literistic, and taught high school students in Milan.
Muscato is interested in smart sci-fi, fantasy, and speculative fiction that introduces readers to imaginative new worlds—or presents radical new ways of imagining their own. He also seeks nonfiction writing that emphasizes intersectionality when considering the arts, culture, history, and the future. He is based in New York.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mystery * Science Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Cultural/Social Issues * History * Humor * Science *
James Mustelier
The Bent AgencyDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery Method(s): Online Form *Biography
James Mustelier is a literary agent with The Bent Agency. He says: “I’m looking for a range of commercial and literary fiction and non-fiction. In all genres (but particularly in literary fiction) I prize economical prose, complex characters, steadily building tension, narrative gravity, and the momentary relief of dark humor, even (or especially) amid dire circumstances.
In commercial fiction I’m looking for compact horror and mysteries with big hooks and intricate plotting. In sci-fi and fantasy I’m drawn to stories that are grounded in reality and have high stakes that touch on contemporary issues — more speculative fiction and alternate histories than high fantasy or space opera.
In nonfiction I’m looking for books that give me a vivid look into subcultures and events I might not otherwise have had the chance to explore. Much of my favorite nonfiction melds a distinct narrative voice with rigorous research.
In YA and MG I’m interested in epic fantasy, grounded sci-fi, and irreverent retellings of fairy tales, classic myths, and historical events. I’m specifically seeking stories written from diverse perspectives that draw from underrepresented cultures.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Satire * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Middle Grade * Young Adult *
Eric Myers
Myers Literary ManagementDO NOT QUERY – THIS AGENT IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING UNSOLICITED SUBMISSIONSQuery method(s): Email * Postal Mail *Biography
Eric Myers is literary agent with and the founder of Myers Literary Management in 2017, following two years with Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret LLC and thirteen with The Spieler Agency. A graduate of UCLA and the Sorbonne, Eric entered publishing as a journalist and author.
He is proud to be a member of both the Authors’ Guild and the Association of Authors’ Representatives. His own books include Screen Deco: A Celebration of High Style in Hollywood, Forties Screen Style: A Celebration of High Pastiche in Hollywood, and Uncle Mame: The Life of Patrick Dennis, all published by St. Martin’s Press.
His writing has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine and Arts and Leisure sections, Time Out New York, Opera News, Art and Auction, Variety, and Quest.
As an agent, Eric has a strong affinity for Young Adult and Middle Grade Fiction, as well as adult non-fiction, especially in the areas of history, biography, psychology, health and wellness, and pop culture. He also represents thrillers and historical fiction, and is open to memoir from writers who already have a strong platform.
Among his authors are Chris Grabenstein (Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, The Island of Dr. Libris, the Welcome to Wonderland series), Lydia Kang (Control, Catalyst, and A Beautiful Poison), MAD MEN cast member Bryan Batt (She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother), David Neilsen (Dr. Fell and the Playground of Doom, Beyond the Doors), Sam Staggs (All About “All About Eve”), Simon Gervais (The Thin Black Line), Tracey Goessel (The First King of Hollywood: The Life of Douglas Fairbanks), financial advisor Erin Lowry (Broke Millennial), former Soviet spy Jack Barsky (Deep Undercover), auto mechanic and entrepreneur Patrice Banks (The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide), and World War II Resistance fighter Justus Rosenberg, whose autobiography will be published by William Morrow in 2019.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION:
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Film/Entertainment * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Sports * True Crime *
.
Submit a Question or Comment
If you have a question or comment, click on the red button below and you’ll be able to post it. You’ll also be able to see answers to the questions I’m asked most.
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.
* * *
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.
* * *
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)
* * *
“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)