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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
Barney Karpfinger is a literary agent with and the founder of the Karpfinger Agency. Barney Karpfinger studied English at Columbia University while supporting himself by working as a paralegal. Before establishing the agency in 1985, he ran the contracts department of a major New York publishing company.
Over the years, Barney has represented more fiction than non-fiction. Recently, though, he’s worked on a bit more non-fiction—work as varied as a philosopher’s take on procrastination, a dance critic’s look at grace in all of its manifestations and an investigative reporter’s examination of the big-money business of college football. The writers Barney works with share an ease with language and the ability to tell a compelling story.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Literary * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Investigative * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics *
357 West 20th Street New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Isabel Kaufman is a literary agent with Fox Literary. She is actively looking to build her list in fantasy & science fiction, adult literary fiction, horror, historical fiction, contemporary commercial fiction, and upper-level young adult literature. She is looking for smart, inventive, ambitious storytelling and welcomes speculative elements across all genres. She is also interested in creative nonfiction and microhistories particularly related to travel, food, and incisive cultural perspectives on luxury and beauty.
Her taste is varied, but she is consistently drawn to dynamic, thoughtful prose and vibrant character voice. She is actively seeking work from historically underrepresented and marginalized perspectives. She appreciates fresh takes on familiar archetypes, new perspectives on well-known myths and fairytales, and crossover rehabilitations of “archaic” genres such as noir, gothic, and classical revenge tragedy (she has a master’s in revenge tragedy and is willing to get bloody!).
Recent books she has loved include THE GLASS HOTEL, by Emily St. John Mandel; SEVERANCE, by Ling Ma; the LOCKED TOMB trilogy, by Tamsyn Muir; PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE, by Samantha Shannon; THE IDIOT, by Elif Batuman; LUSTER, by Raven Leilani; PLAIN BAD HEROINES, by Emily Danforth; FRESHWATER, by Akwaeke Emezi. Nonfiction favorites include PRIESTDADDY, by Patricia Lockwood; SECONDHAND TIME, by Svetlana Alexievich; BLOOD, BONES, AND BUTTER, by Gabrielle Hamilton; and THE EMPEROR OF SCENT, by Luca Turin. Permanent must-read authors include Helen Oyeyemi and Megan Abbott.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Historical * Horror * Literary * Mystery * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Beauty/Fashion/Style * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Travel *
110 West 40th St Suite 2305 New York NY 10018 USA
Biography
Trena Keating is a literary agent with Union Literary. Sherepresents a range of talented authors with strong voices and creative and cutting-edge ideas, including novelists, journalists, celebrities, and experts writing for a popular audience such as professors, doctors, scientists, and entrepreneurs. She manages complicated estates, works with multi-platform writers, develops and grows authors in mid-career, and introduces new voices to the book world, building their career through media opportunities and around the world. Her list is a balance of #1 NYT bestsellers and debuts; she finds that equal are the pleasures of working with masters of the craft and new talent filled with promise. Prior to becoming an agent, Trena was Editor-in-Chief of Dutton and Associate Publisher of Plume, both imprints of Penguin, Senior Editor at HarperCollins, and humanities assistant at Stanford University Press and has had the honor to work with such esteemed, award-winning, and bestselling writers as Tracy Chevalier, E.L. Doctorow, Diane Johnson, Toni Morrison, and Joyce Carol Oates, as well as actively publishing estate classics from George Orwell and Ayn Rand. She has appeared as a publishing expert on Kathy Griffin’s television show and “Inside Edition”. Trena takes on a select list of clients so she can actively edit and effectively manage each career.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: General Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Celebrity * Education * General Nonfiction * Journalism * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Money/Finance * Science *
30 Vandam Street Suite 5A New York NY 10013 USA
Biography
Rachel Kent is a literary agent with Books & Such Literary Agency.Rachel Kent has been an agent with Books & Such since 2007. Rachel started at Books & Such as a summer intern while she was attending U.C. Davis and then, after graduating, worked part-time at the agency as an assistant. Her favorite part of the job was reading a manuscript and providing an author with feedback to help him or her to improve the project.
She graduated from Davis in three years with a bachelor’s degree in English and minors in both religious studies and psychology.
Rachel has more than eight years of experience and training working closely with Janet Kobobel Grant
and Wendy Lawton, as well as part-time with author Robin Jones Gunn in creating marketing materials and promotional ideas to keep Robin connected with her readers. Through Rachel’s work at the agency and with authors, she has gained an understanding of the publishing process, contract negotiation, and what it takes to successfully write and market a book.
Rachel’s goal is to develop strong relationships with her authors and to help them to develop lasting relationships with their editors and publishers. Good relationships have always been important to her. She likes to stick by people. She believes that as long as two people are dedicated toward working together, the relationship can work, and they can accomplish the task at hand.
Rachel acquires fiction and nonfiction projects with a special interest in YA, 20-something and 30-something projects.
She lives with her husband and family in Northern California.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Christian Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Fantasy * General Fiction * Inspirational Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: 20- and 30-Somethings * Christian * General Nonfiction * Religion * Spirituality * Young Adult *
2222 Cleveland Avenue #1005 Santa Rosa CA 95403 USA
Biography
Kat Kerr is a literary agent with the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She joined Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2019 after working previously at Corvisiero Literary Agency. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelors in English in 2009 and is drawn to literary and commercial voices within the adult and YA markets, as well as adult nonfiction. Kat feels strongly about supporting programs like We Need Diverse Books and is passionate about creating space in this industry for those from historically marginalized communities.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chick Lit * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Psychology * Women’s Issues *
1000 Dean Street Suite 252 Brooklyn NY 11238 USA
Biography
Emily Sylvan Kim is a literary agent with the Prospect Agency. She says: “Reading has always been my addiction so I feel very fortunate that it is my career as well. After a childhood spent devouring books in Denver, Colorado I majored in English at Carleton College where I once electively took and enjoyed a class titled “Dickens and Scott, the Longer Novels.” I gave law school a try for a year after graduation but the lure of fiction was just too strong so I moved to New York City, the hub of the publishing industry. This was one of the best decisions in my life. I worked at Writers House literary agency for five years while also writing reviews for Publisher’s Weekly as well as my own fiction and poetry. I even met my husband in a poetry class!
In 2005, I was thrilled to take the next step in my career by opening the doors to Prospect Agency. My inspiration in naming the agency came from Brooklyn’s beloved Prospect Park. With winding trails, woods and meadows, there is a place for everyone to find a bit of peace in the middle of a crowded city and I strive to provide just such a haven for our clients. I am proud to have built an agency composed of so many talented agents who represent a wide array of authors and illustrators.
Even though a love of reading brought me to agenting, as my career has advanced, I found myself equally drawn to the business aspect of creating books. Publishing is the nexus of art and commerce. How we navigate that intersection is endlessly fascinating and of critical importance to the future of literature. By working and listening closely to both publishers and writers, I always strive to foster dialogue and create innovative opportunities. I understand that we are in a time of great change and that decisions we make now will have a lasting impact on our future. As an agent, I have taken a leadership role in helping to shape the digital landscape. By embracing and understanding technology, we can make sure we stay relevant and fresh for both long time readers and also attract new audiences.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Juvenile * Memoir * Science * Travel *
551 Valley Road PMB 377 Upper Montclair NJ 07043 USA
Biography
Kirby Kim is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. A native of Los Angeles, California, Kirby attended Harvard-Westlake high school then went to Pomona College where he was a PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) major. He spent the year after graduation teaching English in South Korea and when he returned moved to San Francisco to get his JD at UC Hastings College of the Law.
Kirby moved out to New York in the spring of 2004 and got his first job in publishing working for Charlotte Sheedy Literary, at that time an affiliate of Sterling Lord Literistic. He then moved to Vigliano Associates where he gradually started representing his own projects. In 2008, he joined Endeavor which the following year merged with William Morris. He stayed at WME for five years before joining Janklow & Nesbit.
Kirby represents both literary and commercial authors. When it comes to literary work, he’s alternatively drawn to rich, sweeping stories that try to encompass a time or a place or tightly written, narratively innovative stories that bridge genres. His commercial interests include thriller, horror, speculative and science fiction, young adult, and middle grade.
He also represents a range of nonfiction working with leaders and journalists in the areas of science, culture and current affairs. He’s also known for representing pop culture, in particular music and comedy.
Kirby is currently a board member of the Asian American Writers Workshop. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and two kids.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * General Nonfiction * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Music * Narrative * Pop Culture * Science *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Margaret King is a literary agent with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. She has worked in WME’s Literary Department since 2007, when she began her career after graduating from Princeton University. She represents both literary and commercial fiction, along with narrative nonfiction, memoir and some lifestyle titles in the areas of food, psychology, health, faith/spirituality and well-being. She is drawn to books and stories that move her deeply, offer a new perspective and make her feel something. She is on the lookout for new voices and storytellers and is deeply committed to growing, nurturing and guiding literary careers long-term.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Religious * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Ethnic * Family * Film/Entertainment * Food/Drinks * Gardening * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Memoir * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Religion * Science * Spirituality *
11 Madison Avenue 18th Floor New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Harvey Klinger is a literary agent with the Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. Harvey received his M.A. in The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. He began his publishing career at Doubleday where he expected to become the next Max Perkins among editors. Instead, he left and worked for a literary agent for eighteen months and began forming his first client list. A two-year stint followed in association with an independent publicist. Harvey created his own independent operation in October, 1977 and has never looked back. He personally loves great adult commercial and literary fiction; and in non-fiction, books with a strong narrative voice in all disciplines, but written by an author who already has an established professional platform in one’s field of expertise.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Diet/Nutrition * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Politics * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * True Crime *
300 W. 55th St. #11V New York NY 10019 USA
Biography
Peter Knapp is a literary agent and partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. First joining Park Literary in 2011, Peter Knapp represents authors of middle grade and young adult fiction. His clients include New York Times bestselling and award-winning authors, such as Soman Chainani, Lindsay Cummings, Sara Holland, Will Walton, Emily Bain Murphy, and more. Before joining Park Literary (now PFLM), he was at Floren Shieh Productions, a book-scouting agency working with film clients, and he continues to actively look for cinematic manuscripts with great hooks, as well as literary stories with awards-potential. A graduate of New York University, Pete now lives in Brooklyn with his husband.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Humor Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
55 Broadway Suite 1601 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Abigail Koons is a literary agent and partner with Park & Fine Literary and Media. She is an agent, partner, and the Executive Director of International Rights. She heads up the International Rights and Serious Nonfiction departments. She represents a select list of both emerging and established fiction and nonfiction authors, with a particular interest in projects that explore our relationship with the world around us.
Abigail began her professional career working for Swedish multinational corporation EF Education in visa and immigration law. She left to attend the NYU Summer Publishing institute before joining The Nicholas Ellison Agency, a division of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates as a foreign rights assistant and junior agent where she worked with Nelson DeMille, Christopher Moore and many other internationally bestselling authors. She joined Theresa Park at Park Literary shortly after its inception as the Foreign Rights Director and literary agent, and has proudly participated in its evolution to Park & Fine Literary and Media.
A graduate of Boston University, Abigail considered post-graduate work in international business, literature, and law until she discovered being a foreign rights and literary agent allowed her to pursue all three interests simultaneously. She lives in Brooklyn with her family (but travels often).
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * General Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Current Events/Affairs * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * History * Lifestyle * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Sports * Travel *
55 Broadway Suite 1601 New York NY 10006 USA
Biography
Marie Lamba is a literary agent with the Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. Marie Lamba (www.marielamba.com) is author of the young adult novels What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head and Drawn, of the picture book Green Green: A Community Gardening Story (Farrar Straus Giroux), and of the upcoming picture book A Day So Gray (Clarion). Her articles appear in more than 100 publications, and she’s a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest. Marie has worked as an editor, an award-winning public relations writer, a book publicist, and has taught classes on novel writing and on author promotion.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Satire * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Celebrity * Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Food/Drinks * Gardening * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Pop Culture * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * Women’s Issues *
245 Park Avenue 39th Floor New York NY 10167 USA
Biography
Peter Lampack is a literary agent with the Peter Lampack Agency. Peter joined the William Morris Agency in 1967 through its now famous mail room training program, acceptance into which is said to be more competitive than Harvard. Peter was David Geffen’s first assistant when David was a rising star in the television department, then served as an assistant to Sol Leon and Lou Weiss, veteran TV agents and co-heads of the department before being promoted to an agent himself. His other mentors at WMA included President Nat Lefkowitz, and Executive VP and International Head of the Film Department Howard Hausman.
As a novice agent still in his twenties, Peter discovered and sold a treatment/pilot script entitled, The Sign of the Tiger, the Way of the Dragon by Ed Spielman and Howard Friedlander, which became the iconic television series Kung Fu starring David Carradine. Peter’s other clients included head writers of The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, The Merv Griffin Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Laugh In, and the comedian and talk show host Steve Allen.
Peter also represented The Negro Ensemble Company, a groundbreaking off-Broadway theater troupe which presented original dramatic plays about the social and economic conditions of African Americans. That company’s play, Ceremonies In Dark Old Men by Douglas Turner Ward won the Pulitzer Prize.
After 5 years in the television department, Peter transitioned into film where he represented actors, writers, directors and producers. He successfully packaged Gordon’s War, written by Spielman and Friedlander and produced by Robert Schaffel, also a client. The 20th Century Fox/Palomar Pictures film was actor Ossie Davis’ debut as a feature film director. Peter sold the first television script by Sylvester Stallone, a then-aspiring writer in New York. He also represented a production company which was a joint venture between Robert Schaffel and Academy Award winner Jon Voight.
Peter sold a first novel by Jeffrey Konvitz, his direct rival at the talent agency CMA. That novel, The Sentinel, became a New York Times Best Seller. Peter sold the film rights to head of Universal Pictures, Ned Tanen, as the largest book-to-film deal of the year with Konvitz writing the screenplay and producing the film. Peter sold The Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler, the first in the now famous ‘Dirk Pitt’ action adventure book series.
Cussler’s third novel, Raise The Titanic, hit the New York Times Best Sellers List and remained there for 24 weeks. (Peter sold the film rights to British entertainment tycoon Lord Lew Grade in the largest book-to-film deal of the year. (Many years later Peter sold film rights in the series to Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz for what was reputed to be the largest deal of its kind in Hollywood history.)
In 1977 Peter founded his eponymous agency. He has represented NYT Best Selling authors Sally Mandel, Doris Mortman, John Coyne, Warren Adler, Ted Bell, Martha Grimes and Clive and Dirk Cussler. His longtime client, J. M. Coetzee, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2003. Non-fiction authors have included Laurence Bergreen, Gerry Spence, Judith Kelman and Peter Scardino, MD, the Head of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. Peter continues to ply his trade every day.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Science * Technology *
350 Fifth Avenue Suite 5300 New York NY 10118 USA
Biography
Laura Langlie is a literary agent with the Laura Langlie Agency. Laura says: “After working for fourteen years for publishing companies and a literary agency, I launched my own literary agency in 2001. I work primarily with authors of fiction (commercial, literary, mystery), of nonfiction (narrative nonfiction and biography), and of children’s fiction (middle-grade and young adult novels). My clients include Renee Ashley, Mignon F. Ballard, Dan Begley, Jessica Benson, Meg Cabot, Joan Druett, Jack El-Hai, Sarah Elliott, Robin Hathaway, Mary Hogan, Lauren Lipton, Delia Ray, Cheryl L. Reed, and Meg Tilly, among others.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * Romance * Satire * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Autobiography * Biography * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Law * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Women’s Issues *
147-149 Green Street Hudson NY 12534 USA
Biography
Felice Laverne is a literary agent with and the cofounder of the ArtHouse Literary Agency. Her publishing career has always been rooted in championing bold voices and writers from marginalized communities. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in English, Creative Writing, from Georgia State University, she started her career at About Words Agency directly after college where she worked as an agent until leaving to complete her master’s degree in Publishing at Kingston University in London, England. There, Felice specialized in Diversity & Inclusion in Publishing, which drove her career-long passion for bold voices the world had never heard before.
After years of then partnering with major houses as a book editor and ghostwriter, including having edited phenomenal big-name books such as Zerlina Maxwell’s The End of White Politics (Hachette) and Paola Ramos’ Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity (Vintage), among so many others, she is now back to her roots as a literary agent with a growing list of bold titles.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Dystopian * Ethnic Fiction * Fantasy * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * New Adult * Satire * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cooking/Cookbook * Cultural/Social Issues * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * Humor * Multicultural * Narrative * Pop Culture *
3093 Broadway 363 Oakland CA 94611 USA
Biography
Daniel Lazar is a literary agent with Writers House Literary Agency. Writers House is one of the largest literary agencies in the industry. As a company, we represent a wide range of adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction. Daniel says: “I’m always on the lookout for distinct fiction and great, lively non-fiction. I represent adult and children’s books (and for children’s books, I focus mainly on middle grade and YA). For fiction, I love stories that introduce me to new worlds—or even better, recreate the ones I may already know. I also especially love historical fiction of all kinds. For non-fiction, I enjoy memoirs, narrative non-fiction, all stripes and studies of pop-culture, and even small gifty books that strike my fancy and make me smile. I’m a huge fan of graphic novels and memoirs. And as the oldest child of six who has changed many, many diapers in his life, I’m equally intrigued by any book with unique views on parenting and family life.
If you think your pages can make me hold my breath or miss my subway stop or even laugh out loud, please read my submission guidelines and check out some of my clients’ books listed below. I’d love to hear from you.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Literary * Religious * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Family * Fitness * General Nonfiction * Gift/Novelty * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Juvenile * Memoir * Middle Grade * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Pop Culture * Religion * Science * Young Adult *
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Susanna Lea is a literary agent with and the founder of Susanna Lea Associates. She works in both the New York and Paris offices. She studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Oxford. She was previously director of international projects at Éditions Fixot/Robert Laffont, supervising the publication and sale of rights for international bestsellers, before leaving to found Susanna Lea Associates.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Suspense * Thriller *
NONFICTION: Biography * Cooking/Cookbook * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Lifestyle * Mind/Body/Spirit * Science * Upmarket *
331 West 20th Street New York NY 10011 USA
Biography
Lisa Leshne is a literary agent with The Leshne Agency. She has been in the media and entertainment business for over 30 years. Lisa’s experience spans the broadest range of the industry. In 1991, she co-founded The Prague Post, the largest English-language newspaper in Central Europe, along with its book division and website, PraguePost.com. Lisa worked in Prague as the newspaper’s Publisher for almost a decade. In 1999, she moved to Manhattan to work for Accenture as a Senior Consultant in the Entertainment & Media Group. She later worked in strategy and business development for Dow Jones, and was Executive Director, International, for WSJ.com, the Wall Street Journal Online, responsible for digital business operations in Europe and Asia, where she oversaw advertising, marketing and circulation. Lisa also served as VP, Strategy and Business Development, for Ink2, an industry leader in the print-on-demand industry and the owner of Cardstore.com. Lisa worked for a year after 9/11 at the Partnership for New York City’s Financial Recovery Fund, evaluating grant applications and providing strategic advice to small businesses destroyed in the World Trade Center attacks. Prior to founding The Leshne Agency in 2011, she was a literary agent at LJK Literary.
Lisa’s clients include Czech bestselling novelist and memoirist Ivan Klima; New York Times Bestselling author of The Buy Side, former Wall Street trader and CNBC.com contributing writer Turney Duff; Author of Miracles We Have Seen, No Regrets Parenting and 940 Saturdays, pediatrician and parenting expert Dr. Harley Rotbart; #1 Los Angeles Times, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of Living With a SEAL: 31 Days Training With the Toughest Man on the Planet, former rapper, serial entrepreneur, Marquis Jet and 100 Mile Group co-founder and Atlanta Hawks co-owner Jesse Itzler; Author of the Washington Post bestselling My (Underground) American Dream, former Goldman Sachs VP, immigration rights activist and co-founder and chairman of the Ascend Educational Fund, Julissa Arce; New York Times Bestselling Author of Crazy is My Superpower, Three-time WWE Women’s Champion as “AJ Lee” and mental health advocate, AJ Mendez; New York Times Bestselling author of Shutterbabe, The Red Book, Hell is Other Parents, Between Here and April, and co-author of The ABCs of Adulthood and the ABCs of Parenthood, Deborah Copaken; Award-winning ScaryMommy.com Blogger and New York Times bestselling author Jill Smokler; RunLikeAGirl.com Blogger and New York Times bestselling author Mina Samuels; Former ABC news anchor, digital lifestyle expert, The Well Mom blogger and co-author of Geek Girl Rising, Heather Cabot; Author of Torn: True Stories of Kids, Career and the Conflict of Modern Motherhood, and co-author of Geek Girl Rising, Women@Forbes writer Samantha Walravens; College admissions expert, attorney, Forbes columnist and Observer writer Steve Cohen; Co-Founder and Partner at Village Global, the GSV Acceleration Fund and former Chief Business Officer of Chegg, Anne Dwane; Stylist and Bravo TV personality at Blood, Sweat and Heels, Daisy Lewellyn (d. 2016); Don’t Hide It, Flaunt It Blogger Meg Zucker; Million dollar winner on Survivor, reality star, TV and former Sirius XM Radio Host Jenna Morasca; American Police Beat publisher Cynthia Brown; Author of The Death of Punishment, New York Law School Professor Robert Blecker; and Award-winning author of Vodka, Tears and Lenin’s Angel and New York Post celebrity real estate and food columnist Jennifer Gould Keil.
LITERARY SPECIALTIES: An avid reader of blogs, newspapers and magazines in addition to books, Lisa is most interested in narrative and prescriptive non-fiction, especially on social justice, sports, health, wellness, business, political and parenting topics. She loves memoirs that transport the reader into another person’s head and give a voyeuristic view of someone else’s extraordinary experiences. Lisa also enjoys literary and commercial fiction and some young adult and middle-grade books that take the reader on a journey and are just plain fun to read.
TALENT MANAGEMENT: Lisa manages a select number of her literary and entertainment clients, overseeing business matters, speaking engagements, and advising them over the course of their careers.
Originally from the cornfields of Champaign, Illinois, Lisa has a BA in Sociology from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an MBA from Harvard. She has been profiled for entrepreneurial activities on 60 Minutes, Prime Time Live, the BBC, and featured in Fortune, Money, The New York Times, Washington Post, London Times, Advertising Age, Smithsonian and other publications. Lisa is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study on The Prague Post, and has been an invited speaker and panelist at Harvard and Columbia Business Schools. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, son age 14, daughter age 12, and their rescue dog, Luna May, a hound/husky/retriever mix who can be found on Instagram @LunaMayNYC. Lisa is active on several non-profit boards and in her spare time loves to see Broadway shows and experimental theater. She is a veteran of four New York City marathons and several olympic-distance triathlons. A few years ago her knees started protesting and now she preserves them for skiing and spinning when she’s not curled up with a good book. Lisa is a member of the Association of Author Representatives, the Author’s Guild, the Women’s Media Group, and PEN America.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * NoPB * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Biography * Business * Cooking/Cookbook * Computers * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Inspiration * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Medical/Medicine * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Parenting/Child Guidance * Photography * Politics * Pop Culture * Prescriptive * Religion * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Spirituality * Sports * Technology * Travel * Young Adult *
590 West End Avenue Suite 11D New York NY 10024 USA
Biography
* Picture Book authors should not submit unless also illustrators. *
Alexandra Levick is a literary agent with Writers House. She says: “I started at Writers House as an intern for Brianne Johnson and was quickly pulled from the program to begin working for Senior Vice President, Merrilee Heifetz. Later, I covered senior agent, Stephen Barr’s, paternity leave and worked as an assistant to senior agents Brianne Johnson and Rebecca Sherman. I have also worked as a bookseller in both the adult and children’s markets, as well as on the house side of the publishing business in publicity. In 2015, I graduated from New York University with my Masters of Science in Publishing: Digital and Print Media, with a specialization in Media Content Development.
I am actively growing my picture book, middle grade, young adult, and adult lists.”
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Family Saga * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Graphic Novel * Horror * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * New Adult * Picture Book * Romance * Science Fiction * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION:
120 Broadway 22nd floor New York NY 10271 USA
Biography
Ellen Levine is a literary agent with Trident Media Group. Ellen Levine has represented many award-winning authors whose books have become international best-sellers and have been made into major feature films. Her clients have won Pulitzer prizes, National Book Awards, National Book Critics Circle Awards, P.E.N. Faulkner and Hemingway Prizes, The Booker Prize, The Giller prize, Governor General Awards, the Newbery and recently, an Oprah Book Club 2.0 selection. In addition to excelling at representing literary fiction, Ellen says “I very much enjoy handling well-written popular commercial fiction and compelling non-fiction and have had great success in these areas. My non-fiction interests include, among others, memoir, popular culture, narrative non-fiction, history, politics, biography, science, and the odd quirky book.”
Ellen founded the Ellen Levine Literary Agency in the eighties. She says “My desire to provide the best for my clients is what led me to merge my literary agency with Trident in 2002. Because of Trident’s very effective Foreign Rights Department, which sells worldwide directly to foreign publishers, its Business Affairs Department, whose staff reviews and improves contracts, and its dedicated Audio Department, my authors achieve the greatest financial success.” With changes in the publishing industry opening up new opportunities for authors and Trident’s investment in E-book operations, Ellen believes that “this is a thrilling time for my writers, filled with new areas for growth.”
What does Ellen like to do most as an agent? “I love to guide my established authors’ careers, but I also love discovering fresh talent and new voices, taking authors to the next level of success. And, of course, I get great pleasure from making the best possible deals for all my clients.” Ellen is also unique in devoting time and energy to editorial relationships with her authors, offering critiques and suggestions for revision.
“I continue to be excited about shepherding and promoting my extraordinarily gifted authors, and looking forward to the talented new writers and irresistible book projects the next day will bring.”
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary *
NONFICTION: Biography * General Nonfiction * History * Memoir * Narrative * Politics * Pop Culture * Science * Women’s Issues *
355 Lexington Ave 12th FL New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Paul Levine is a literary agent with the Paul S. Levine Literary Agency. Born in New York City and raised and educated in Montreal on full academic scholarships, Levine received a Bachelor of Commerce (Magna Cum Laude) from Concordia University in Montreal and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration from York University in Toronto. In the late 1970s, he came to Los Angeles to attend University of Southern California law school (also on full academic scholarship), leaving tobogganing in the cold Canadian winters for Santa Anas blowing through the palm trees of Southern California.
Levine began his career as an associate attorney at the Law Office of Stephen F. Rohde, where he specialized in business transactions and civil litigation, with an emphasis on trademark, copyright, unfair competition, trade secrets, book publishing, and the rights of privacy and publicity for some six years. Then, answering a “blind” advertisement in the Hollywood Reporter, he went to work for over three years for the Business and Legal Affairs Departments of Warner Bros. Television, where he negotiated and drafted agreements for all above-the-line personnel (writers, directors, actors, and producers) for network and cable television programming. He was then recruited to the now-defunct Hearst Entertainment Productions, where he spent two years as Resident Counsel, negotiating and drafting agreements for all above-the-line personnel in production and distribution of made-for-television movies, first-run development, television series, and documentary programming.
In 1992, Levine established his solo entertainment law practice, first in Santa Monica, then in Venice, California. Seeing an underserved niche on the West Coast, he decided early on to focus on serving book authors. This naturally evolved into his work as a literary agent and the establishment of his agency. Seeking to expand the range of services he could offer his clients to include the representation of books, Levine opened The Paul S. Levine Literary Agency in 1996, which he has recently expanded. Whether he is considering fiction or non-fiction, Levine will not take on a project unless he feels certain he can sell it. With a preference for politically and socially important works, he represents more than 100 clients, the vast majority of whom are new, unpublished, or self-published writers. For Levine, the most rewarding moment is holding his client’s published book in his hands at a well-attended book-signing and seeing the smile on his client’s face.
Enjoying public speaking, Levine presents extensively at writers’ conferences throughout the country and at entertainment law-related classes and seminars, including teaching for over a decade at the UCLA Extension Writers Program.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Crime/Detective/Police * Ethnic Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Juvenile Fiction * Literary * Mainstream * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Romance * Sports Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Biography * Business * Computers * Cooking/Cookbook * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Ethnic * General Nonfiction * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Juvenile * Law * Lifestyle * Memoir * Middle Grade * Mind/Body/Spirit * Money/Finance * Multicultural * New Age * Politics * Pop Culture * Reference * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Sports * Technology * Travel * Women’s Issues * Young Adult *
1054 Superba Ave. Venice CA 90291-3940 USA
Biography
Sarah Levitt is a literary agent with Aevitas Creative Management. She represents critically acclaimed fiction and nonfiction writers. Her list includes journalists, academics, historians, scientists, and musicians, among others.
Levitt graduated summa cum laude as a University Honors Scholar and Founders’ Day Award recipient from New York University, with a BA in Classics and English literature. Prior to joining Aevitas, Levitt was as an agent at The Zoë Pagnamenta Agency, where she also handled contracts and foreign rights.
As an Aevitas agent based in New York, she is most interested in narrative nonfiction in the areas of popular science, big ideas, history, humor, pop culture, memoir, and reportage, in addition to voice-driven literary fiction with a bold plot and fresh, imaginative characters. She’s excited by strong female and underrepresented voices, the strange and speculative, and projects that ignite cultural conversation.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * General Fiction * Graphic Novel * Historical * Horror * Literary * Multicultural Fiction * Short Story Collection * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction *
NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Environment * Ethnic * Food/Drinks * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * Humor * Journalism * Memoir * Multicultural * Narrative * Nature * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Sports * Women’s Issues *
19 W. 21st Street Suite 501 New York NY 10010 USA
Biography
Bibi Lewis is a literary agent with the Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency. She joined the agency in 2014. She acts as the agency’s royalties and office manager and is currently building her list in both Children’s and Adult. For Children’s she represents Picture Books through Young Adult, with a particular interest in big hearted Middle Grade, innovative non-fiction and Young Adult Contemporary and Thrillers.
On the adult end, Bibi is primarily looking for women’s fiction, upmarket commercial and book club fiction and contemporary and historical romance. She enjoys projects with a big hook, complicated and fully realized characters, and sharp, quick paced prose. She is also looking for select mysteries and thrillers—particularly domestic suspense and unexpected takes on true crime.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Chapter Book * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Historical * Juvenile Fiction * Middle Grade Fiction * Mystery * Picture Book * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Juvenile * Middle Grade * True Crime * Young Adult *
155 Suffolk Street #2R New York NY 10002 USA
Biography
Stefanie Lieberman is a literary agent with Janklow & Nesbit Associates. She joined JNA as Senior Counsel in 2005 after practicing law at New York’s Guggenheim Museum and boutique entertainment firm Frankfurt Kurnit. She has degrees from Yale and Northwestern University School of Law, as well as an unwieldy and ever-growing collection of books in every category.
As an agent, Stefanie focuses primarily on upmarket fiction with commercial appeal. She loves literary thrillers, historical fiction, quick-witted beach and book club reads, and any plot-driven story with a distinctive voice and a smart, high-concept hook. Stefanie also gravitates towards novels with a strong sense of time and place, a unique atmosphere, or gripping, edge-of-the-seat suspense. She’s always on the hunt for writers who make her laugh.
In addition to upmarket fiction, Stefanie is seeking select young adult fiction and adult non-fiction titles. In the non-fiction space, she is drawn to investigative journalism, true crime, and projects that illuminate women’s experiences.
Some of Stefanie’s favorite books include: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin; Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity; The Trespasser by Tana French; Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman; The Vacationers by Emma Straub; Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson; The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton; Rules of Civility by Amor Towles; Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
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This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Romance * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: General Nonfiction * Investigative * Journalism * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
285 Madison Avenue 21st Floor New York NY 10017 USA
Biography
Kayla Lightner is a literary agent with Ayesha Pande Literary. Prior to joining Ayesha Pande Literary, Kayla worked as an assistant at Liza Dawson Associates. She is a member of the AALA (Association of American Literary Agents) as well as a member of their DEI committee. She is also on the Adult Internship Grant committee for We Need Diverse Books. A Georgia native, she earned her B.A. in English from Vassar College. Before finding her way to publishing, she held various positions including a fashion market assistant at Harper’s Bazaar and a freelance writer at Creative Loafing Atlanta. An adventurous reader, Kayla loves stories—across commercial fiction, literary fiction, and nonfiction—that masterfully straddle the line between story-telling and teaching her something new. Her full manuscript wishlist is here. When Kayla’s not reading, she can be found writing, performing stand-up, and reminiscing on her rugby days.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * Contemporary * Ethnic Fiction * Family Saga * Fantasy * Graphic Novel * Historical * Humor Fiction * Literary * Magical Realism * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Satire * Science Fiction * Short Story Collection * Upmarket Fiction *
NONFICTION: Art * Business * Cultural/Social Issues * Ethnic * History * Humor * Investigative * Journalism * Memoir * Money/Finance * Multicultural * Narrative * Photography * Pop Culture * Psychology * Sports * Technology * True Crime *
128 West 132 Street New York NY 10027 USA
Biography
Jacqueline Lipton is a literary agent with The Tobias Literary Agency. She joined The Tobias Literary Agency in 2022 after helming her own literary agency, Raven Quill Literary, for a number of years previously. She loves all things books and publishing and has been an avid reader since elementary school. Her tastes were always broad and eclectic. She loved (and still does) everything from a good murder mystery to space opera to contemporary romance and everything in between. She also loves nonfiction projects with a compelling narrative voice.
Her background is also eclectic. At university (yes, in Australia and England they call it “university”), she studied law, psychology, drama, languages, and information technology. She practiced as a banking and finance attorney in Australia, and has worked as a law professor in Australia, the U.K. and the United States where her teaching and writing has focused on laws relating to the publishing industry, digital technology law, copyright, trademark, privacy, and defamation. She is the author of LAW & AUTHORS: A LEGAL HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS (2020, University of California Press) and OUR DATA, OURSELVES: A PERSONAL GUIDE TO DIGITAL PRIVACY (2022, University of California Press).
She holds an M.F.A. in Fiction from Vermont College of Fine Arts and regularly teaches classes on writing and on legal aspects of publishing around the country.
Jacqui represents authors of fiction and non-fiction from middle grade through to adult, as well as selected projects for younger readers (picture books, chapter books etc.) She is currently focusing on developing her adult fiction and nonfiction lists and particularly enjoys mystery/crime, romance, how-to books, and compelling contemporary novels. She is not currently seeking high fantasy, and considers science-fiction selectively.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Action/Adventure * Chick Lit * Children’s Fiction * Commercial * Contemporary * Crime/Detective/Police * Fantasy * Gay/Lesbian Fiction * Historical * Horror * Humor Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Multicultural Fiction * Mystery * NoPB * Picture Book * Romance * Satire * Science Fiction * Suspense * Thriller * Upmarket Fiction * Women’s Fiction * Young Adult Fiction *
NONFICTION: Animals/Pets * Art * Biography * Business * Celebrity * Cultural/Social Issues * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * Environment * Film/Entertainment * Fitness * Gay/Lesbian * Health/Wellness * History * How-To * Humor * Journalism * Juvenile * Lifestyle * Memoir * Multicultural * Music * Narrative * Nature * Parenting/Child Guidance * Politics * Pop Culture * Psychology * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development * Technology * Travel * True Adventure * True Crime * Women’s Issues *
Cleveland OH 44124 USA
Biography
Laurie Liss is a literary agent with Sterling Lord Literistic. Executive Vice President and Managing Partner, Laurie has made it a point in her career to nurture young and unpublished authors, as well as self-published and ‘under-published’ writers. Laurie represents commercial and literary fiction and nonfiction whose perspectives are well developed and unique. Her list represents her broad-based tastes, but generally she looks for books with heart, which will positively impact society. Among her clients are journalists, academics, doctors, lawyers and athletes. Her clients include: Richard Paul Evans; Rachel Maddow; Matt Richtel; Jessica Valenti; Shankar Vedantam; Clark Howard; Malachy McCourt; Valter Longo; Darcie Chan; Obert Skye; Julie Shigekuni; Steve Schlozman; Jenna Evans Welch; Janet Reitman; Kara Lee Corthron; and Benjamin Hardy.
Notes
This literary agent represents:
FICTION: Commercial * General Fiction * Literary * Middle Grade Fiction * Romance *
NONFICTION: Business * Current Events/Affairs * Dating/Relationship/Sex * General Nonfiction * History * Humor * Memoir * Money/Finance * Narrative * Politics * Science * Self-Help/Personal Development *
115 Broadway Suite 1602 New York NY 10006 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)
* * *
“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)