Saturday, November 26, 2005

LINKS

Blackfilm.com
firstwriter.com
BlackExpressions.com
www.blackrefer.com

Blacknews.com

thabiz.com
BlackPeopleAccess.com

Are you a new author? Check out firstwriter.com

Friday, November 11, 2005

Agents Actively Looking

To Agents:


If you'd like your agency listed on this page, simply send me an email describing your present interests along with a short history of your agency. Most agents listed are members of AAR. If you're not a member, I simply ask that (1) you do not charge reading/editing fees, (2) your fees are generally in line with most agencies' fees (15% domestic, 20% international, etc.), and (3) you derive your revenue from the sale of clients' work, not from editing or other presale practices. You can reach me at: toddpierce@iname.com

To Writers:
On this page I've listed agents who have contacted me specifically looking for new authors to represent. Most are very specific about the material they are seeking; however, you would be best served to look up any agency in either Jeff Herman's Book or the Guide to Literary Agents, to get a general feel for an agency before submitting. Along with this, never send more than (1) a cover letter, (2) an outline, and/or (3) about 20 sample pages. At the time of their posting, all agents on this page have agreed not to charge reading/editing/consultation fees and to abide by the ethical guidelines established by the AAR. If you find that any of these agents have changed their policies, please contact me: toddpierce@iname.com

11/03
Abigail Koons at Nicholas Ellison, Inc. (SJGA)

I am looking for commercial fiction, preferably with a humorous or international/multi cultural angle. I am also very interested in
travel/adventure narrative non-fiction. My personal interests are the natural sciences, current political events, art and quirky history and would love to see any original proposals involving any or all of those subjects.

Queries can be sent to me but please include a S.A.S.E. if you would like a response. You can also email a short query to akoons@sjga.com without attachments please.

Abigail Koons
Nicholas Ellison, Inc.
55 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10003

11/03
Rolph Blythe at the Dunow & Carlson
Rolph Blythe at the Dunow & Carlson Literary Agency is actively looking to expand his list. His areas of interest include literary fiction, narrative and political nonfiction, current affairs, biography and memoir. He is not interested in seeing genre titles, self-help, young adult, or romance.

Please send to:

Rolph Blythe
Dunow & Carlson Literary Agency
27 W. 20th Street, Ste. 1003
New York, NY 10011
rolph@dunowcarlson.com

Queries via mail are preferred, though authors are free to email with a short query (no attachments). Submission requirements are as follows:

Fiction: Please include a query letter, synopsis, and no more than three sample chapters along with an SASE.

Nonfiction: Please include a query letter and finished proposal along with an SASE. If a finished proposal is not yet available I will consider projects based on a mission statement, outline, and a short writing sample.

11/03
Alièka Pistek Literary Agency
Alièka Pistek Literary Agency is a full-service agency which negotiates domestic, foreign, film and audio rights for clients. The
agency opened in September 2003 and adheres to the AAR's canon of ethics.
Alièka Pistek began her agenting career in the foreign rights department at ICM, where she worked with such distinguished authors as Richard Ford, Jay McInerney and Haruki Murakami. Within two years, she was appointed Director of Foreign Rights and Agent at Nicholas Ellison, Inc. In addition to domestic agenting, she sold and managed international rights for New York Times bestseller Nelson DeMille and writers Olivia Goldsmith and Carol Higgins Clark.

Select sales include: LAB 257: The Frightening Story of the Government's Secret and Deadly Virus Research Facility by Michael Christopher Carroll (William Morrow, 2004), THE WHALE AND THE SUPERCOMPUTER: On the Northern Front of Climate Change (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004), ENOUGH ALREADY!: A Girls' Guide to Office Politics by Marcelle DiFalco and Jocelyn Herz (Touchstone, 2005), AMNESIA NIGHTS by Quinton Skinner (Ballantine, 2004) and MORE THAN ENOUGH by John Fulton (Picador, 2002).
Alièka welcomes query letters in the following fiction categories: crime, historical, mystery, romance, thriller/suspense, and in these nonfiction categories: biography, current affairs, health/diet, history, memoir, spirituality, science, and travel.
Please send query letter, first two chapters and SASE for fiction submissions. For nonfiction submissions, please send query letter, proposal, sample chapter and SASE or e-mail a very brief query with no attachments to info@alickapistek.com.

Alièka Pistek Literary Agency, LLC
302A West 12th St., #124
New York, NY 10014

11/03
Lorin Rees at the Helen Rees Agency
I have recently joined The Helen Rees Literary Agency in Boston, and am actively seeking writers.

The Rees Literary Agency was started over 20 years ago. We represent non-fiction and fiction authors. Our most successful books have been non-fiction and business oriented books, including: "Reengineering the Corporation" by Michael Hammer and James Champy; "Chutzpah" by Alan Dershowitz; "Discipline of Market Leaders" by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema; and "It's Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy" by Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff. We also represent Senator John Kerry.

I am interested in both fiction and non-fiction books, but I am most inclined to non-fiction novels that portray historical events to weave a story of great proportions.

Some of my favorites books are: "Common Ground," by J. Anthony Lukas, "In Cold Blood," by Truman Capote, and "Native Son," by Richard Wright.

We do not charge a reading fee and SURVIVE off commissions of sold book.
Lorin Rees
Rees Literary Agency
376 North St.
Boston, MA 02113

11/03
Natasha Kern, literary agent and president of Natasha Kern Literary Agency, has sold well over 500 books for clients from more than 25 states. After working in publishing in New York for several years, she founded her own literary agency in 1986. Natasha has a strong commitment to developing new talent as well as careers for published authors. She is acquiring new clients in the following areas: women's fiction, including chick-lit, mommy-lit, contemporary romances, historicals and romantic suspense; inspirational fiction; suspense novels, including mysteries, psychological suspense and spiritual thrillers. In nonfiction: narrative nonfiction, body, mind, spirit, health/alternative medicine, investigative journalism, psychology, parenting, popular science, controversial issues, spirituality, business, and multicultural subjects.
Her clients include best-selling fiction authors Robin Lee Hatcher, Connie Mason and Leigh Greenwood as well as Edgar Winner Eliot Pattison and Lewis Perdue. In nonfiction, she has represented books that have been selected as top ten books of the year by NYT, ALA, PW and Amazon as well as many other awards. The agency has sold books to every major publisher and to many medium-sized publishers including: Fiction: Mortal Fear by Greg Iles, The Da Vinci Legacy by Lewis Perdue, DanielsGift by Barbara Freethy, The Diamond Conspiracy by Nick Kublicki, Present Danger by Susan Andersen, Kiss Me Once, Kiss Me Twice Kimberley Raye, The Thirty-Third Hour by Mitch Chefitz, and Sweet Release by Pamela Clare. Nonfiction: The Power of Losing Control by Joe Caruso, Hope Is The Thing With Feathers by Chris Cokinos, Victorias Daughters by Jerrold Packard, Biocosm by James Gardner, and The Waiting Child by Cindy Champnella.

Natasha Kern
Natasha Kern Literary Agency
P. O. Box 2908
Portland OR 97208-2908

website: www.natashakern.com


10/03
Michelle Tessler at Carlisle & Co (UPDATE)

Michelle Tessler has sold two books by writers who found her name on literaryagents.org, most recently in October 2003. She is actively
looking for more talent to represent. Michelle specializes in high quality non-fiction including narrative, biography, memoir, cultural and social history, popular science, travel, and mind/body/spirit. She is also open to literary fiction --although credentials are key (even if in the form of publications in small literary reviews). For information on Michelle's list, please go to:

http://www.carlisleco.com/michelle.htm

10/03
Bob Mecoy at Creative Book Services (UPDATE)
After more than 20 years as an editor at Crown Books, Simon & Schuster, Morrow/Avon, NAL and Dell/Delacorte, Bob Mecoy has become an agent with Creative Book Services. He is interested in literary and commercial fiction including mystery, science fiction and fantasy, and narrative nonfiction including topics such as business, sports, adventure, science, politics and current affairs. He is not interested in seeing romance,
children's or young adult books, screenplays or poetry. Please query via either snail mail (and an SASE is a must) or via e-mail ( no attachments will be opened so please paste additional materials to your e-mail).

Bob Mecoy
Creative Book Services
66 Grand Street, No. 1
New York, NY 10013
e-mail: mecoy@aol.com

9/03
Ron Formica at NEPA
Ron Formica is New England Publishing Associates newest agent. Before becoming an agent, he worked as NEPA’s managing editor for seven years, overseeing the production and editing of several books, including Facts About the American Wars (H.W. Wilson, 1998), Wilson Calendar of World History (H.W. Wilson, 1999), and American Presidents: Year by Year (M. E. Sharpe, 2003). He is the editor of Famous First Facts About the Environment (H.W. Wilson, 2002). Ron is currently seeking new titles in several areas of non-fiction, including current events, world and U.S. history, biography/memoir, entertainment, sports, and health and exercise. You can e-mail short queries to Ron at formica@nepa.com Please—no unsolicited e-mail attachments.
New England Publishing Associates (NEPA) was founded in 1983 as a full-service literary agency and book packager specializing in non-fiction books for the adult market. Since then we have placed more than 600 of our clients’ titles with some 100 U.S. and overseas publishers. NEPA sells an average of 70 titles per year. Our mission is to provide personalized service to all of our authors. We work closely with our clients to shape and perfect each proposal so that it can be sold to the right editor at the right publisher, giving personal and expert attention to placing each project entrusted to us.
Please visit the New England Publishing Associates website at www.nepa.com for more information, including a submissions guidelines and a guide to the kind of books we represent and what we have sold in the past.

9/03
Andrea Somberg at the Maass Agency
Andrea Somberg is an agent and rights director at the Donald Maass Literary Agency. She's actively looking to expand her list, particularly in literary, mainstream, and young adult fiction. If you'd like to contact her, please send a one page letter and the first five pages of your ms to asomberg@maassagency.com (please, no attachments), or via snail mail to:
Donald Maass Literary Agency
160 West 95th Street
Suite 1B,
New York, NY 10025

9/03
Elise Proulx (Agency Scout) for Lowenstein-Yost Assoc.
Elise Proulx is Lowenstein-Yost Associates' Northern California scout, looking for both fresh voices and more experienced writers from Northern California and the Pacific Northwest as well as elsewhere.
Elise worked in the New York media world for eight years. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where, in addition to scouting for Lowenstein-Yost, she reads fiction submissions for National Magazine Award winning Zoetrope: All-Story Magazine. She is also on the executive committee of Litquake, a literary festival in San Francisco (www.litquake.org).
Elise was an in-house agent at the agency for two years, and left to be an editor at Henry Holt and Owl Books. She has worked for Spin Magazine and Fox News. She is co-author, with New York radio personality Joan Hamburg, of CITY WEDDINGS. Elise graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in English Literature and is originally from Los Angeles.
She is especially interested in timely literary fiction; quirky fiction, including women's fiction; mysteries; memoir; travel; history; and books on health, medicine and dating.
To Submit: Queries should be sent via e-mail to: EProulx100@earthlink.net or through the www.lowensteinyost.com website.


9/03
Lantz Powell
Located in Chattanooga the Literary Agency for Southern Authors works only with authors in the Southern United States. We follow the cannon of ethics of the AAR and have no reading fees. We speak Southern but understand how to pitch abstract profit projects to some of the biggest with over twenty years of experience. For more information email us at: southernlitagent@aol.com
Lantz Powell, CLS
Literary Agency for Southern Authors
2123 Paris Metz Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
423-893-5539

9/03
Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc.

Areas of interest:

Nonfiction: popular reference, business, self-help/psychology, humor, biography and current affairs, women's interest, spiritual, multicultural, parenting, anything to do with games, movies, chronologies.
Fiction: literary/commercial fiction, women's fiction, mysteries

How to Contact: For fiction, send a query letter, synopsis, sample first page, and SASE via snail mail. For nonfiction, send a query letter and a SASE via snail mail. Please no e-mail queries, phone calls or unsolicited manuscripts: and please do not send anything via methods that require signatures, such as UPS or FedEx.
Sheree Bykofsky Associates, Inc.
577 Second Avenue, PMB 109
New York, NY 10016

www.shereebee.com

9/03
Tracy Brown at Wendy Sherman Associates
Wendy Sherman, President of Wendy Sherman Associates, Inc. recently announced a new association with Tracy Brown whereby Brown will develop and represent his own list of clients under the auspices of the agency. For Sherman and Brown the association represents a professional reunion since they worked together from 1996 to 2000, as Publisher and Executive Editor respectively, of Owl Books, the trade paperback division of Henry Holt & Company. At Owl and Holt they acquired and published such distinguished books as Father and Son by Larry Brown, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, The Black Flower and The Year of Jubilo by Howard Bahr (now a client of Sherman’s) and the New York Times bestseller Real Boys by William Pollack.
Tracy Brown has held senior editorial and executive positions in book publishing for 24 years. He has been Editor in Chief of Book-of-the Month Club, Editorial Director of Back Bay/Little Brown, Editorial Director of Quality Paperback Book Club, Executive Editor at Henry Holt, and, most recently, Senior Editor at Ballantine. His trade paperback acquisitions include the New York Times bestsellers Life and Death in Shanghai by Nien Cheng, And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts, Reagan’s America by Garry Wills, and The Six Day War by Michael Oren. Brown also edited books by such esteemed writers as Rikki Ducornet, Barry Gifford, Laura Hendrie, Jan Kerouac, Greil Marcus, Roland Merullo, Barry Miles, Stewart O’Nan, Salman Rushdie, Jeff Shaara, and Alison Weir.
As a literary agent Brown will represent authors of serious non-fiction (history, current events, biography, memoir, health, psychology, religion/spirituality, business, nature, and travel) and literary fiction.
Tracy Brown
C/O Wendy Sherman Associates
450 Seventh Ave., Suite 3004
New York, NY 10123

9/03
Linda Konner
I am seeking ONLY adult nonfiction -- practical self-help and how-to, with a smattering of celebrity and pop culture material -- by or with top experts in their field (ideally with an established media platform). I do NOT want fiction, memoir, children's, illustrated books, or poetry. An unpublished book writer is free to make submissions to me (one-page queries with SASE via snail mail) as long as he/she has a suitable expert collaborator in mind.
Linda Konner
Linda Konner Literary Agency
10 West 15th St., Suite 1918
New York, NY 10011

9/03
Peter Rubie Agency (Update)

Peter Rubie: He is looking for high profile writers, ideally previously published by at least a legitimate press such as a commercial university press, or is a recognized expert in their field (can be business, parenting, history, science, true crime, etc., doesn't matter) who are keen to write about what they know best and have an audience that will be intrigued by what they have to say. He is particularly looking for narrative nonfiction by journalists, historians, or scientists. Quote: "I do take on and sell first novelists (I have sold four this year) but I take a long time to get to new material focusing first on the material my clients send me. I am a sucker for good writing, but there are many who think they can write well, and few who can really do it."

June Clark: She has a background in marketing and cable TV before working in publishing, and is looking for TV/film/theater, pop culture, women's issues, parenting, commercial New Age, prescriptive self-help, and trendy or offbeat business and reference books.

Hanna Rubin, She is a new agent at the agency, a former magazine editor and is actively looking for American history and biography, travel narrative, business, environmental reporting, and outstanding fiction. She's looking for distinct voices and literate writers who have a passionate investment in their work.

Potential clients should visit the web site to see what kinds of books and writers they represent, as well as for submission guidelines.
THE PETER RUBIE LITERARY AGENCY, Ltd
Web Page: www.prlit.com
240 W 35th Street, Ste 500
New York, NY 10001

9/03
Richard Henshaw Group;
Richard Henshaw--Agent
Susannah Taylor--Associate Agent

Richard Henshaw Group was formed in 1995 when Richard Henshaw left his postition as agent and Director of Foreign Rights at Richard Curtis Associates to form his own agency. We are members of AAR, HWA, MWA, SFWA and RWA.

While both Richard and Susannah have a wide variety of interests, currently Richard would love to find an upmarket thriller or a contemporary literary book with magic realism or sf themes. Susannah is always looking for clever, witty women's fiction or a DAY AFTER TOMORROW-esque thriller.

For more information on RHG, what we currently represent and are looking for, please see our website; www.rich.henshaw.com.

Richard Henshaw Group
127 W. 24th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10011
submissions@henshaw.com

9/03
Kristin Lindstrom at Lindstrom Literary Group

I established the Lindstrom Literary Group in 1993 and am looking for both commercial and literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. In particular, I keep an eye out for new, talented writers of mysteries, thrillers and women's fiction, and nonfiction covering current affairs, biography/memoir, history, science, world events, and lighter subjects in the area of popular culture.

I work closely with authors to fine tune manuscripts and proposals before submission to publishers, but do not charge clients for my editorial work. I'm particularly interested in both new and published writers looking to establish a long-term business relationship.

Before becoming an agent, I was an independent marketing communications specialist for 10 years, working with a wide range of corporations. I spent six years at the start of my career as an editor of a monthly magazine in the energy industry, and come from a family of university English/creative writing professors and writers. As a literary agent, I combine my background in writing with my experience in marketing to offer clients well-rounded professional guidance.

Authors of fiction and nonfiction can send me a query letter and the first three chapters of their manuscript with a synopsis. Nonfiction writers preparing a proposal can forward either a completed proposal or a mission statement, brief outline and writing sample. Authors may contact me by email with a short query.

Kristin Lindstrom
Lindstrom Literary Group
871 N. Greenbrier Street
Arlington, VA 22205
Email: LindLitGrp@aol.com

9/03
Faith Hamlin at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates

I represent primarily non-fiction--medical/health/science, psychology/psychiatry, self-help, biography, sports, business, narrative non-fiction, and a select list of children's book authors. Although I've been an agent for 18 years, I'm always looking for new authors with strong credentials, original ideas and excellent writing skills. A substantial media and lecture platform is helpful. I prefer to look at a short email that describes the project and the credentials of the author. We require a S.A.S.E. if the author wants mailed material returned. I am a member of AAR.
Faith Hamlin
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
55 Fifth Avenue (15th Floor)
New York, NY 10003
fhamlin@sjga.com

http://Greenburger.com

9/03
Talia Cohen at the Dail Agency
As a new agent with Laura Dail, I am primarily interested in literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. In the non-fiction realm, I am particularly interested in cultural and social history, religion, and popular science, as well as quirkier ideas. I am also looking to sign up writers of quality women's fiction and YA.

Writers should send a query letter via mail along with SASE. Email queries or those without SASE will not be answered.

Talia R. Cohen
Laura Dail Literary Agency
80 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1503
New York, NY 10011

9/03
Paul Cirone at the Priest Agency
I'm mainly interested in literary fiction; multi-culturual voices, magical-realism, narrative non-fiction. Just to give you an idea the clients
I represent are Leif Enger who wrote PEACE LIKE A RIVER, Gabriel Brownstein, who won the Pen/Hemingway award for first fiction, for his collection, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

The best way to reach me is to write to me at:
THE AARON PRIEST LITERARY AGENCY
708 Third Ave
23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017

A query letter with a synopsis is all I require.

9/03
Scott Miller at Trident Media Group

Scott Miller at Trident Media Group is actively seeking quality books across all genres, in fiction and non fiction. In particular, he is always looking
for well written thrillers, literary fiction, crime fiction, and compelling narrative non fiction. More can be found at
http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/miller.htm
You can query Scott Miller by e-mail at smiller@tridentmediagroup.com

9/03 (Update)

The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Ethan Ellenberg founded his own agency in October 1984 and we are now in our 19th successful year, averaging sales of more than a hundred books a year for the last two years. Prior to opening his eponymous agency, Ethan Ellenberg held positions as Contracts Manager of Berkley/Jove and Associate Contracts Manager of Bantam.

We are members of several professional organizations, including the Association of Author's Representatives, whose canon of ethics we follow. We don't employ readers and we work with authors to improve their books without charge. We charge absolutely no fees and we don't recommend book doctors.

We are actively looking for new clients and are interested in a wide-range of topics. We represent fiction writers, especially commercial fiction (including romance, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction and fantasy), andwe're open to first-time writers. We also represent children's fiction (for all ages). And, we're very interested in nonfiction and represent authors of narrative nonfiction, health, science, history, biography, cookbooks, spirituality, science, current affairs, business and almost any other topic with a strong narrative.

Contact either Ethan Ellenberg or Michael Psaltis. We prefer submissions by postal mail, but do accept queries by e-mail (without attachments). For fiction, we consider a synopsis, three chapters, and an author bio. For nonfiction projects, we consider book proposals, which should contain an outline, an author bio and sample chapters (if available). We try to respond within 4-6 weeks. We will not return material or respond to any submissions we're not interested in unless it is accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope. Please see visit our website (www.ethanellenberg.com) for complete submission information.

The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
548 Broadway, # 5E
New York, NY 10012
www.ethanellenberg.com

9/03
Miriam B Tager at the Nancy Love Agency
Miriam B. Tager specializes in Mysteries/Thrillers. She especially likes to cultivate new mystery writers who are serious and dedicated to this genre. She also works with authors on Non-fiction book proposals, by giving important input and making them more marketable.

Background:
As a former New York City Teacher and graduate of Bank Street College, she specialized in the art of teaching writing, and even taught on the college level at Medgar Evers College.

Currently, she is a reader/evaluator of new books for The Book of the Month Club and also writes fiction in her spare time. She is a member of AAR.


Interested in: Mysteries/Thrillers (no serial killers, please)
Non-fiction - Parenting, Bio, History, Self-help, Health, Crime,
Public Affairs, Women's Issues, How-to, Sociology, Psychology,
Politics and Narrative NF

NOT interested in: Children's, Science Fiction, Horror, Romance, Short Stories,
Poetry and Academic books.

Submissions: Please only contact me by regular mail. Always include a SASE.
Fiction - (Mysteries): Send the first 3 chapters, a synopsis
Non-Fiction: Send a proposal (if you have one), a bio, the first
chapter.
Contact:
Miriam B. Tager
250 E. 65th St. Suite 4A
New York New York 10021

9/03
Joe Veltre at Carlisle & Co

Carlisle & Company is a prestigious boutique agency that represents both fiction and non-fiction. The agency has been in business for over five years, but our staff has many years of experience in the industry.

Joe Veltre graduated with a B.A. degree from Emory University. He has been in publishing for over 6 years and brings to Carlisle & Company a broad background in publishing.

Prior to joining the agency, Veltre was Director of Development at Miramax Films and Editor at Large at Miramax Books. He started his publishing careerat St. Martin's Press. As a Senior Editor at St. Martin's, he oversaw the Dead Letter & Minotaur Mass Market Mystery imprints, and acquired and edited books in many genres. In October 2000, Joe became Senior Editor at HarperCollins where he acquired and edited high quality non-fiction, focusing primarily on business and reference.
He has edited such books as:

PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL by John Heilemann (HarperCollins)
CHINA DAWN by David Sheff (HarperCollins)
TRADING WITH THE ENEMY by Nicholas Maier (HarperCollins)
HOW TO GO TO COLLEGE ALMOST FOR FREE by Ben Kaplan (HarperCollins)
GIANTS OF ENTERPRISE by Dr. Richard S. Tedlow (HarperCollins)
THE RICH PART OF LIFE by Jim Kokoris (St. Martin's Press)
ZEN AND THE ART OF MURDER by Elizabeth Cosin (St. Martin's Press)
THE COLD TRUTH by Jonathan Stone (St. Martin's Press)
ON SPEC by Richard Rushfield (St. Martin's Press)
JINN by Matthew Delaney (St. Martin's Press)

As Literary Agent, his areas of focus include: commercial fiction & non-fiction, thrillers, mysteries, literary fiction, narrative & political non-fiction and business non-fiction. As Rights Director, Joe represents nternational, film & television rights for Carlisle & Company.
For more detailed information, please go to www.joeveltre.com or www.carlisleco.com
FICTION -- Query letter with two sample chapters & SASE
NON-FICTION -- Query letter with proposal & SASE
May also send short email query to jv@carlisleco.com

Joe Veltre
Carlisle & Company
6 West 18th Street
12th Floor
New York, NY 10011

9/03
Stephanie Kip Rostan at Levine Greenberg
I'm looking for both fiction and non-fiction and work with a broad range of projects -- right now, in non-fiction, I'm particularly looking for smart self-help, mainstream spirituality and narrative nonfiction on pop culture or historical topics, and in fiction, suspense, chick lit and women's fiction, both more commercial and more literary.

People should contact me by email at srostan@levinegreenberg.com with a query, and they are welcome to include their proposal or sample material as an attachment.

9/03
Neeti Madan at Sterling Lord
Neeti Madan is an agent at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. She represents a wide variety of books, including narrative nonfiction, literary and commercial fiction, and pop culture. Prefers snail mail queries.

Neeti Madan
Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
65 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012

9/03
William Clark
William Clark is interested in mainstream literary fiction and quality non-fiction, i.e. narrative, history, science, architecture, music, popular culture, etc. Quote: "I rarely handle genre fiction or self-help, diet, or how-to books. I accept queries via email only." Guidelines posted at:

http://www.wmclark.com/queryguidelines.html

9/03
The Knight Agency
We are definitely actively looking for new and published authors at The Knight Agency. Deidre Knight is seeking women's fiction, romance (contemporary, comedy, paranormal, inspirational), chick lit, African American fiction, and commercial fiction. In particular, she's eager to find high concept fiction that will translate well to film.

Pamela Harty is actively seeking general nonfiction (parenting, health, self-help, inspirational, Christian, and other prescriptive titles.) In fiction, she's seeking romance and women's fiction. Both agents specialize in African American fiction and nonfiction.

To query, please email Knightagent@aol.com, attention Judson Knight. Submission guidelines are on the web site at www.knightagency.net. NOTE: we are no longer accepting queries by regular mail, so please email.

9/03
Elaine English at Graybill & English
I'm looking for commercial fiction manuscripts, primarily women's fiction (including romances), thrillers and mysteries. I prefer a query letter first, which can be sent via email (with no attachments) or snail mail. If I'm interested and think the story has potential, I will ask to see a synopsis of the complete manuscript and the first three chapters. If I like those, I may well ask to see the full manuscript before making a final decision. Further information is available on our website, www.graybillandenglish.com.

Elaine English
The Graybill & English Literary Agency, LLC


9/03
Laurie Abkermeier at DeFiore and Co.
Laurie Abkemeier of DeFiore and Company is interested in nonfiction projects only, and particularly in the areas of science, health, parenting, business and psychology. But she is also looking for cookbooks, self-help, pop culture, and narrative nonfiction. [Pretty much anything but fiction.] Please email a succinct query describing your nonfiction project to lma@defioreandco.com. Please do not send attachments unless requested. Alternatively you may snail mail a one-page synopsis of your project to
Laurie Abkemeier, DeFiore and Company
Atlanta Office
525 Stillhouse Lane
Alpharetta, GA 30004.
Please include an SASE for a response.

9/03
Scott Hoffman at PMA
Scott is a new agent at PMA and has recently sold nonfiction and a first novel to Crown and Berkley, respectively. He is "open to representing new authors" and welcomes query letters sent to:
Scott Hoffman
PMA Literary and Film Management
45 W. 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10010

9/03
Kristin Lindstrom

I established the Lindstrom Literary Group in 1993 and am looking for both commercial and literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. In particular, I keep an eye out for new, talented writers of mysteries, thrillers and women's fiction, and nonfiction covering current affairs, biography/memoir, history, science, world events, and lighter subjects in the area of popular culture.

I work closely with authors to fine tune manuscripts and proposals before submission to publishers, but do not charge clients for my editorial work. I'm particularly interested in both new and published writers looking to establish a long-term business relationship.

Before becoming an agent, I was an independent marketing communications specialist for 10 years, working with a wide range of corporations. I spent six years at the start of my career as an editor of a monthly magazine in the energy industry, and come from a family of university English/creative writing professors and writers. As a literary agent, I combine my background in writing with my experience in marketing to offer clients well-rounded professional guidance.

Authors of fiction and nonfiction can send me a query letter and the first three chapters of their manuscript with a synopsis. Nonfiction writers preparing a proposal can forward either a completed proposal or a mission statement, brief outline and writing sample. Authors may contact me by email with a short query.

Kristin Lindstrom
Lindstrom Literary Group
871 N. Greenbrier Street
Arlington, VA 22205
Email: LindLitGrp@aol.com


9/03
Michelle Tessler at Carlisle & Co (Update)
Michelle Tessler, an agent with Carlisle & Company and a member of the AAR, is actively looking for high quality non-fiction including narrative, biography, memoir, cultural and social history, popular science, travel, and mind/body/spirit. She is also open to literary fiction --although credentials are key (even if in the form of publications in small literary reviews). For information on Michelle's list, please go to
http://www.carlisleco.com/michelle.htm Queries can be emailed to mtessler@carlisleco.com

8/03
David Robie at BigScore Productions Literary Agency
(Note: this agency specializes in books for a religious market.)

I am seeking published authors who write fiction and nonfiction for ABA or CBA (Christian Booksellers Assoc.) audiences. I've sold projects to Random House, Doubleday, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Warner, Barbour, Zondervan, and more. See our website for more details.

David Robie, Agent
BigScore Productions
P.O. Box 4575
Lancaster, PA 17604
Email: drobie@bigscoreproductions.com
Website: www.bigscoreproductions.com


3/03
Esther Sung at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
Esther Sung at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates is looking to expand her fiction and non-fiction lists. Although her first fiction deal was for two historical novels, she is seeking both literary and commercial fiction. Areas of non-fiction that interest her include memoir, history, the natural sciences, sociology, and multi-cultural studies. A few personal passions include gardening/horticulture, birds (and other wildlife), and travel.

Looking especially for new and emerging writers, you can query her by email (esung@sjga.com) or by regular mail:

Esther Sung
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc.
55 Fifth Ave., 15th Fl.
New York, NY 10003


3/03
Steve Laube at The Literary Group
The Literary Group has moved toward the CBA (Christian Booksellers Assoc.) market by hiring Steve Laube, former editorial director at Bethany House, to acquire projects with a Christian character, fiction and nonfiction; he will remain in Phoenix and run the Group's West Coast office there. In addition to specifically Christian literature he also will be representing Science Fiction works and other general market categories.
Steve Laube
The Literary Group
5501 N. 7th Ave., #502
Phoenix, AZ 85013


3/03
Ted Weinstein (Update)
Ted Weinstein Literary Management represents authors of intelligent, adult nonfiction. They are particularly interested in current affairs, politics, biography, history, business, science, technology, environment, pop culture, true crime, lifestyle, travel, self-help, health and medicine. They do NOT represent fiction, stage plays, screenplays, poetry, or books for children or young adults. AAR membership pending. Recent sales to Random House, Simon & Schuster, John Wiley and others. More information about the agency and detailed submission guidelines are available at:
http://www.twliterary.com/


3/03
Whitney Lee at The Fielding Agency
I just started the agency in January 2003 and am not an AAR member yet but do adhere to the AAR ethical standards.

The Fielding Agency is a literary agency based in CA that specializes in selling foreign rights for a handful of literary agencies and also
represents a few select clients domestically.
Since our time is mostly spent selling overseas, we only take on those clients whose work we feel very passionate about.
I am interested in the following: commercial and literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, science, history, memoir, business, sports, and culture.
Whitney Lee
The Fielding Agency
269 South Beverly Drive, #341
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
E-mail: wlee@fieldingagency.com


3/03
Sunshine Coast Literary Agency (Australia)
My agency, the Sunshine Coast Literary Agency is based in Qld, Australia. It has only been running for approximately 6 months and therefore has no track record. I am currently in negotiations to get my first manuscript published and also in negotiations to make the same book into a movie with several prominent USA film companies. I do not charge any fees until I secure a contract, so no author is "ripped off". I will do minor editing or major editing myself if I think the manuscript is worth it. My fees are in line with other agencies - 15% domestic, 20% overseas.

The only manuscripts I really don't consider are sci-fi. I am happy to look at all other manuscripts.

I cover Australia, specifically Queensland - but also the world. I have several US clients.
Cindy Lloyd

suncoast_litagency@yahoo.com.au



2/03
Joel Pulliam at The Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
I am a new agent the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. I am actively looking for non-fiction (history; politics; international issues; business; cultural studies; narrative non-fiction.) I am also happy to consider literary fiction and mysteries, particularly those with a historical, international, or pop culture bent.

Joel Pulliam
Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
PMB 515, 1155 Camino Del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014


2/03
Betsy Thorpe Literary Management
I am a former acquiring editor in book publishing, specializing in health and parenting books. I was most recently at John Wiley & Sons, and before that Macmillan Books, Broadway Books, and HarperCollins. I left in 2000 when my daughter was born, and have since written two health books as a co-author. Betsy Thorpe Literary Management was founded in late 2002 as a result of finding a great new writer called Julie Catterson-Lindahl. She has written a book called On My Swedish Island, A Lifestyle of Well-Being in Scandinavia. Her writing skills and story of discovery of finding a terrific new way of leading a healthy and rewarding life was exactly the right project with which to start off my agency. I hope to find more exciting writers and projects to represent, and as my agency is new, I am very receptive to queries. I am looking for nonfiction proposals on the subjects of health, parenting, lifestyle books (including decorating and cooking) and narrative nonfiction on the former topics. I have worked with many doctors, nutritionists, as well as lay experts in many fields.

To my clients I bring a wealth of experience on what editors are looking for in a project, and how best to develop a good idea and turn it into a winning proposal. I also advise my clients on the ins and outs of working with major book publishers, and help manage relationships with the editor and writer. Although I do not yet have enough clients to join the AAR, I do strictly follow their canon of ethics.

Betsy Thorpe Literary Management
P.O. Box 16524, Stamford, CT 06905

1/03
Matthew Miele at The Hawkins Agency
"I started at the Hawkins Agency in 2000 and have been actively looking ever since. My most recent projects include a collection sold to Simon & Schuster entitled LIT RIFFS, an anthology of original stories inspired by songs from authors I've brought together including Jonathan Lethem, JT LeRoy, Heidi Julavits, Neal Pollack, David Ebershoff, Julianna Baggott, Greil Marcus, Alan Light etc. Due out Summer '03.

"In addition, a hot young, author named Matthew Derby, whose most recent collection, SUPER FLAT TIMES, was sold to Little, Brown due out Spring '03. Writes about the human condition in the future and I believe to be the next, Phillip K. Dick.

I'm open to all genres with a challenging, provactive bent."
Matthew Miele
John Hawkins & Associates
71 West 23rd Street
Suite 1600
New York NY 10010


1/03

Leylha Ahuile at the Carol Mann Agency
UPDATE: Leylha Ahuile is no longer actively looking. (8/03)

"I'm a new agent at the Carol Mann Agency. I am one of the few Latina and bilingual agents in the business and actively seeking writers. Prior to joining this agency I was the publisher of Alfaguara USA, one of the mayor publishers out of Spain. I currently represent authors such as
Federico Andahazi, Alberto Fuguet, Marcela Serrano, and Edmundo Paz-Soldan, among others."

Leylha Ahuile
Carol Mann Agency
55 Fifth Avenue
New York NY 10003





12/02
Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency
Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency, LLC is actively seeking high quality fiction and nonfiction by authors with solid credentials.

Fiction: Literary, commercial mainstream, women's, historical romance, romantic suspense, science fiction/fantasy.

Nonfiction: Narrative, memoir, biography, history, popular culture, business, spiritual, psychology.

Profile:
On the advice of Jane Isay, Editor and Chief of Harcourt Trade Department, Kristin established her own agency in 2002. Prior to opening
Nelson Literary Agency, LLC, Kristin worked for Denver super agent JodyRein. There she honed her skills as a subrights agent and as an
acquisitions scout and editor.
Kristin is a graduate of theUniversity of Denver Publishing Institute. She also studied creative writing with National
Book Award Nominee Patricia Henley at Purdue University.

Contact:
Kristin Nelson
Nelson Literary Agency, LLC
1020 15th Street, Suite 26L
Denver, CO 80202-2312
query@nelsonagency.com
www.nelsonagency.com

11/02
Dreyer & Helland Literary Agency
We are seeking new and experienced writers in all genres. We have solid connections with the world of academic publishing, but are branching out into many other fields. We will accept unsolicited manuscripts - Send to:
Dreyer & Helland Literary Agency
114 1/2 3rd St. N.
Suite #11
GF, ND 58203
email us with book ideas to: booksterbooks@yahoo.com


10/02
Bret Norris of the Norris Literary Agency, LLC
Update 3/03: No longer actively seeking new clients
"My experience came from Multimedia Product Development in Chicago, IL while I completed my MA in writing at DePaul
University. I prefer to look at mainstream fiction, literary nonfiction, and children's books. As I'm building a client list, I will consider a number of
genres -- all of which are listed on my site. I do not charge any fees up front.

"My agency accepts email and standard mail queries. In fact, I do things a bit differently. If I find an author that has promise, I go through one edit
before signing any kind of contract with the author. That gives the author a chance to explore me as an agent, and it gives me a chance to explore the writer. I do this for two reasons. One, as a writer myself, I'm very interested in promoting good writing. Two, I use a contract specialist, and
I would rather spend time concentrating on writers instead of wrangling over legalese.
Bret Norris
Norris Literary Agency, LLC
PO Box 31009
Seattle, WA 98103
http://www.norrisliterary.com




7/02
The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Ethan Ellenberg founded his own agency in October 1984 and we are now in our 17th successful year, averaging sales of more than a hundred books a year for the last two years. Prior to opening his eponymous agency, Ethan Ellenberg held positions as Contracts Manager of Berkley/Jove and Associate Contracts Manager of Bantam.
We are members of several professional organizations, including the Association of Author's Representatives, whose canon of ethics we follow. We don't employ readers and we work with authors to improve their books without charge. We charge absolutely no fees and we don't recommend book doctors.
We prefer submissions exclusively by postal mail. For fiction, we consider a synopsis, three chapters, and an author bio. For nonfiction projects, we consider book proposals, which should contain an outline, an author bio and sample chapters (if available). We try to respond within 4-6 weeks. We will not return material or respond to any submissions we're not interested in unless it is accompanied by a self addressed stamped envelope.

The Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
548 Broadway, # 5E
New York, NY 10012
www.ethanellenberg.com



7/02
James Vines / Vines Agency
Needs: "I'm interested in quality commercial fiction (women's fiction, thrillers, and African American) and quality commercial non-fiction (narrative history, science, and prescriptive)."
Profile: The Vines Agency, Inc. is an independent literary agency located in New York City, dedicated to providing full-service representation and management for clients, and offering representation to a broad range of fiction and non-fiction literary properties. Since 1989, James C. Vines has become a premier literary agent in New York, with many properties under contract with domestic and foreign publishers, or under contract for feature film or dramatic television productions. The agency handles work by best-selling writers from all over the world, and seeks to maintain a diverse mix of projects, including literary and commercial fiction, category fiction such as mystery and historical, as well as quality commercial non-fiction.
The Vines Agency, Inc. is a full-service agency, regularly negotiating book publishing agreements and licensing rights on behalf of author, publisher, and film producer clients to the top trade publishing houses in the United States and throughout the world. The list of publishers with whom the agency has negotiated contracts includes Alfred A. Knopf, Bantam Books, HarperCollins Publishers, Doubleday Publishing, Penguin Putnam, William Morrow & Co., Avon Books, St. Martin's Press, Warner Books, Crown Publishers, Grove/Atlantic, Little, Brown & Co., Dell Publishing, Broadway Books, Hyperion, Simon & Schuster, Random House, and many others.
The Vines Agency, Inc. works directly in the domestic license and disposition of all primary and subsidiary publication rights: hardcover, paperback reprints, serialization rights, audio editions, book club editions, and merchandising and electronic rights. Foreign editions and translation rights are represented by the agency's extensive network of overseas sub-agents and foreign scouts. Licensing of film and performance rights is handled directly by the agency or through the agency's West Coast affiliate literary agents, who include Creative Artists Agency, Endeavor, The Gersh Agency, and United Talent Agency. The Vines Agency, Inc. is affiliated with The Authors Guild and The Writers Guild of America.
Contact:
James C. Vines
THE VINES AGENCY, INC.
648 Broadway
Suite 901
New York, NY 10012
www.vinesagency.com



7/02
Creative Word Management (California)
We are actively seeking adult fiction only. We are most interested in receiving commercial/mainstream, historical fiction, ethnic, crime/detective, suspense/thrillers, and character-driven sci-fi/horror novels.

We offer quick response time, professionalism, and industry standard commissions (there's never a reading fee). Please visit our website for additional details: http://creativeword.netfirms.com. Send Query, SASE and complete synopsis to:

cwm@socal.rr.com (not attachments)
Giselle Springer
Creative Word Management
19528 Ventura Blvd., #372
Tarzana, CA 91356


6/02
New Agency: Literary Solutions, Inc.
"I would like my agency listed on your site. I meet the 3 criteria you list: I do not charge any upfront fees, my commission fee structure is 15% for BOTH domestic and international, and my only income is derived from the sale of a client's work.

I have been getting the business up and running since September, 2001; officially began advertising as of January, 2002, and I have several children's and adult authors under contract. I am actively promoting their work to publishers."
Dr. Deborah K Arrowsmith
Literary Solutions, Inc.
7613 Nuthatch Circle, Mailbox #2
Parker, Colorado 80134-2705
720-851-9155 (Office)
303-841-9503 (Fax)
303-907-7236 (Cell)
darrows1@aol.com (Email)
www.literarysolutions.com (Website)


5/02
Harris, Harris & Donahue, Ltd.(UK)
Harris, Harris & Donahue, Ltd. represents authors in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Africa and elsewhere. We are looking for well written fiction and non-fiction. We do ask that writers query agents before submitting work, and that all manuscripts be provided in proper form. The agency is new and will consider first-time writers. No reading fees or editing fees are charged. See website for tips on queries, submissions and manuscript preparation and writer's guidelines.
Contact: Susan L. Donahue

HARRIS, HARRIS & DONAHUE, LTD
Literary Agents
1421 E Street - Suite 3
Lincoln, NE 68508

http://harris-donahue.tripod.com


4/02
UPDATE: New Brand Agency Group, LLC
West Palm Beach * Manhattan * Los Angeles * Stockholm
www.literaryagent.net
(Email queries only)

Name of individual agents: Mark Ryan, Ingrid Elfver-Ryan
Fiction and nonfiction with bestseller or high commercial potential (projects with national and/or international appeal likely to sell at least 100,000 copies). RYAN: Fiction: adult and/or young adult (thrillers; mysteries; suspense; light horror; mainstream; light literary). Nonfiction: popular culture; success/leadership; psychology/self-help; relationships (interpersonal and/or romantic); personal growth; spirituality; gift/novelty; autobiography/biography; humor. ELFVER-RYAN: Fiction: adult (mainstream; fantasy; magical realism; historical; soft sci-fi; non-genre romance; women's; literary). Nonfiction: popular culture; women's issues; success/leadership; psychology/self-help; relationships (interpersonal and/or romantic); personal growth; spirituality; inspiration; religion; gift/novelty; business/investing.
Representative titles that you have recently sold (title, author, publisher): 24/7 and The Hill by Jim Brown (Ballantine), The Marriage Plan: How To Marry Your Soul Mate In A Year Or Less by Aggie Jordan, Ph.D. (Broadway/Bantam); The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci (Harcourt-Brace/Paramount); The Finnegan Zwake Mystery Series by Michael Dahl (Pocket /Scholastic); The Young Shakespeare Mystery Series (Hyperion); The Misfits, Inc. Mystery Series by Mark Delaney (Peachtree); The Crisis Counselor by Jeff Caponigro (Contemporary); Eat Or Be Eaten by Phil Porter (Prentice-Hall); Father To Son by Harry Harrison (Workman); The Walrus Was Paul: The Great Beatle Death Clues of 1969 by Gary Patterson (Simon & Schuster); The Dog's Drugstore by Dr. Richard Redding & Myrna Weibel, D.V.M. (St. Martin's); The Women's Guide to Legal Issues by Nancy Jones (Renaissance); The Husband Book by Harry Harrison (Andrews McMeel); The Scooter Spy Mystery Series by Michael Dahl (Pocket); Various mysteries by Rae Foley (Simon & Schuster); Various young adult novels by Susan Rottman (Peachtree/Penguin).


3/02
Michelle Tessler / Carlisle & Company
Michelle Tessler at Carlisle & Company is actively seeking high quality literary fiction and non-fiction, including narrative, biography, cultural and social history, memoir, popular science, travel and spirituality. Books recently placed can be found at http://www.carlisleco.com/michelle.htm. Query Michelle by email at mtessler@carlisleco.com.



3/02

Robert E. Tabian/Literary Agent

Established in 1992, his agency represents titles published by Putnam, Viking/Penguin, Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, HarperCollins, William Morrow, Random House, Broadway, Warner and Hyperion among others. His list consists of a wide range of both fiction and non-fiction titles with special interest in mainstream and literary fiction, contemporary women^Òs fiction, thrillers and mysteries. In non-fiction, the agency is looking for narrative non-fiction, informational and how to titles by credentialed professionals, popular culture, business, science, medicine and health, psychology, history, cultural studies and diet and exercise.

While I am not currently a member of the AAR (although I've begun the membership process), I do meet all three of your criteria for inclusion on the list.

Robert E. Tabian/Literary Agent
31 East 32nd Street Suite 300
New York, New York 10016


3/02
Jonathan James Agency

Jonathan James, M.A., Ph.D., literary agent with over 20 years experience of editing, teaching, and publishing, of the James Literary Agency of Chicago, Denver, and New York, seeks queries regarding new works of quality literary fiction (no genres) and short-story collections from both established and
emerging authors.

Since 1997 we've represented clients' work to commercial mainstream, academic, and small presses both in the United States and internationally. Please do not send any synopses, sample chapters, or partials until we've asked. Query via e-mail only.

No reading fees, 15%D, 20%I, no editing or other pre-sale fees.

Recent Sales: "The Beginning Before the End: Stories," Viking; E. D. McMillan, "Peter and Sarah," a novel, Scribner; both to be released in 2003-04. Others in initial phases of negotiation and discussion with Scribner, W.W. Norton, and Texas, Chicago, and Michigan UPs.

Email Contact Only: jameslit11@hotmail.com

3/02

Michael Larsen &Elizabeth Pomada, Literary Agents

“We are charter members of AAR and have sold books to more than 100 publishers and are celebrating our 30th anniversary.”

Elizabeth handles fiction, narrative nonfiction and nonfiction for women. For a completed novel, Elizabeth is eager to see the first ten pages of a completed novel followed by a two-pages synopsis. For narrative
nonfiction, she likes to see the first three chapters followed by a two-page synopsis.

Michael handles general nonfiction that will be of interest to large publishers. For a how-to book aimed at a wide national audience, Mike likes to start by seeing the title and promotion plan prepared according to the
instructions in the revised edition of his book on proposals, which is available at libraries. You may email this information as a letter (no attachments please). For other kinds of nonfiction, he likes to see a
proposal written according to advice in his book.

Michael Larsen & Elizabeth Pomada, Literary Agents
1029 Jones Street
San Francisco, California 94109
www.larsen-pomada.com

3/02
Farris Literary Agency

Farris Literary Agency, is manned by Mike Farris and Susan Morgan Farris, both attorneys. As a start-up agency, they are actively seeking new clients and are interested in a broad range of areas: thrillers, suspense, mysteries, romance, horror, westerns, mainstream, how-to, law, true crime, self-help, politics, sports, entertaiment, and history. They have not been in business as an agency long enough to become members of AAR, but intend to adhere to the AAR's ethical guidelines. They do not charge a reading fee, their commission structure is 15% domestic and 20% foreign, and will derive revenue solely from the sale of a client's work. They can be contacted by query letter with SASE at:

Farris Literary Agency
P.O. Box 570069
Dallas, Texas 75357-0069
e-mail at farris1@airmail.net


3/02i
The Wainwright Agency

Established in 2000 (but with over 16 years of agenting experience), The Wainwright Agency represents a wide range of authors engaged in diverse intellectual and literary pursuits, including the PEN Award winning translator Peter Constantine, who most recently translated The Complete Works of Isaac Babel (W.W. Norton), media critic and novelist Laurie Stone, and Thom Weidlich, journalist and historian, author of Appointment Denied: The Inquisition of Bertrand Russell (Prometheus).

We are interested in seeing quality work by authors of both fiction and nonfiction, in most areas with the exceptions of science fiction, fantasy, and children's books.

The Wainwright Agency
459 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10013
212.431.9065 tel
abrooks13@cs.com

Contacts: Jessica Wainwright, President; Alison Brooks, Associate
UPDATED: 7/02


12/01

Elyse Cheney, an agent at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, primarily handles narrative nonfiction and literary fiction, but is also currently looking to sign up history (fiction and non), thrillers and horror. Recent titles include: The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah; A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers, The Catsitters by James Wolcott, I Knew A Woman by
Cortney Davis, and others.

Elyse Cheney
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates


12/01 (International)
James Rouch
C/O Author Management.
P.O. Box 4646.
Bournemouth.
Dorset. (UK.) BH8 9ZF

Email: information@author-management.com ( no attachments)
Web: www.author-management.com
Author Management was recently founded by the author James Rouch. The agency is looking for new authors in all categories of fiction, biography and autobiography. Non-fiction and childrens literature will also be considered.

No reading fees, commission in line with the trade average. Not as yet a member of any Associations but we adhere to what is considered in the trade as 'best practise'. Submission details and general information about the agency will be found on our website. Free editorial guidance is offered, even to authors we do not take on. We answer all correspondence 'same day' and advise of a date by which submissions will receive a response.

11/2001 (International) UPDATED 3/02
The Oxford Literary Agency is a new agency, looking for new talent in literary and children's fiction. We will accept unsolicited manuscripts (synopsis, along with first 1-3 chapters). No fees. Guaranteed replies. Please contact Rebecca O'Connor or Shelley Cox:


As of 3/02, Oxford Literary Agency has asked to be removed from the site because they are presently full-up on clients. (Contact information removed.)


11/2001
Jennifer Jackson, of the Donald Maas Agency, is interested in seeing new work, particularly mystery and suspense, romance and women's fiction, and fantasy and science fiction novels.

Jennifer Jackson
Donald Maass Literary Agency
160 West 95th Street, Suite 1B
New York, NY 10025
http://home.earthlink.net/~jjacksonagent/index.html

11/2001
Update for Doris S. Michaels Agency
They handle fiction and nonfiction. From their books page, their strengths are in business, literary fiction, and self-help, many of which have been placed with large New York houses.

"Please read our home page to find out about the types of books we are interested in representing before you send a query."

The Doris S. Michaels Literary Agency, Inc.
New York, NY
www.www.dsmagency.com

Doris S. Michaels, President
Faye Bender, Literary Agent
Rebecca Bonfanti, Office Manager



11/2001 (Note: See UPDATE for more recent information)
After more than 20 years as an editor at Crown Books, Simon & Schuster, Morrow/Avon, NAL and Dell/Delacorte, Bob Mecoy has become an agent with Creative Book Services. He is interested in literary and commercial fiction including mystery, science fiction and fantasy, and narrative nonfiction including topics such as business, sports, adventure, science, politics and current affairs. He is not interested in seeing romance, children's or young adult books, screenplays or poetry. Please query via either snail mail (and an SASE is a must) or via e-mail ( no attachments will be opened so please paste additional materials to your e-mail).

Bob Mecoy
Creative Book Services
1 West Street, Suite 100
New York, NY 10004
e-mail: mecoy@aol.com

11/2001
Bert P. Krages, an attorney and published author, is starting an agency practice oriented towards science, technical, and health books although he will consider other nonfiction as well. "Since I am starting out, I am willing to work with previously unpublished authors who have marketable concepts."

Bert P. Krages
Attorney at Law
6665 S.W. Hampton Street, Suite 200
Portland, Oregon 97223


11/2001
Sam Stoloff, an agent with the Frances Goldin Agency, which specializes in progressive literature and politics, is looking for literary fiction, history, accessible sociology and philosophy, cultural studies, serious journalism and topical nonfiction which have a progressive orientation. "I like I like the quirky, the controversial and the iconoclastic."

Sam Stoloff
Frances Goldin Literary Agency
57 E. 11th St., Suite 5B
New York, NY 10003


11/2001

Ted Weinstein has ten years experience directing
licensing, marketing and promotions for several publishing houses. Although new agents are not immediately eligible for AAR membership, Ted stands by the AAR cannon of ethics and will apply for membership.

"I represent authors of literary fiction and intelligent, adult nonfiction. I have a special interest in biography/history, current events/politics, pop culture/social issues, business, science/technology, art & design, travel, women's/men's issues, cooking, gardening, lifestyle, self-help/how-to, health, parenting, religion. No genre fiction. No juvenile or children's.

Submission guidelines: No unsolicited mss. For fiction, submit query with first 25 pp of MS. For nonfiction, submit proposal, table of contents, and sample chapter. No return of material without SASE. No phone or fax queries. No reading fees. Commission: 15% domestic, 20% international."
Ted Weinstein Literary Agency
287 Duncan Street
San Francisco, CA 94131


11/2001
We are interested in commercial and literary fiction, and all types of nonfiction. Some recent sales are TOWNIE (a novel) by John Butman to Permanant Press, ADOPTED BY BEARS (narrative nonfiction) by Ben Kilham with Ed Gray to Henry Holt, and a 2-book deal with Chronicle Books on behalf of our client theknot.com. Please see our website for more information on our agency and recent sales.

RLR Associates is Jennifer Unter (Vice President) and Caroline Schechter (Literary Associate).

We accept queries via mail only (no email or phone calls please). Please send a query letter, along with a sample chapter or outline and return postage to:
RLR Associates
Literary Dept.
7 West 51st Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10019




7/2001
Wales Literary Agency, Inc. We do not consider most genre fiction, such as SF/Fantasy, Horror, and Action/Adventure, nor Poetry, Sreenplays/Scripts or Children's Books, or most Category non-fiction, such as How-To and Self-Help. We represent literary fiction and narrative non-fiction and specialize in books by Northwest writers and books for a female readership. We also encourage works by ethnic writers and gays and lesbians. We do not discourage writers outside of these categories, however, as we are foremost interested in quality work, and encourage all writers of it to consider our agency. Recent sales include: Duff Wilson's FATEFUL HARVEST (HarperCollins). Duff will be on NBC-TV "TODAY SHOW" on Sept. 17th to talk about the book! Also, Brenda Peterson and Linda Hogan's SIGHTINGS (National Geographic), K. Lake's RIDES, AN AUTO BIOGRAPHY (Algonquin), and Sheila Nickerson's MIDNIGHT TO THE NORTH (Tarcher). New Address:
Wales Literary Agency
PO Box 9428
Seattle, WA 98109-0428
waleslit@aol.com

5/2001
Julie Barer, a new addition to Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, is seeking literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, history, biography, religion and cultural studies. She is especially interested in working with emerging writers on developing their careers. You can contact her by email (jbarer@sjga.com) or by regular mail:

Julie Barer
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
55 Fifth Avenue
15th Floor
NY, NY 10003


5/2001
Ginger Norton, of Sedgeband Literary Associates, is "looking for good nonfiction of just about any type, and great mysteries, especially hard boiled detective and whodunits. We also want some very good sci-fi in the vein of Blade Runner, or like anything written by Arthur C. Clark, near future without aliens. We prefer email queries, or letters sent through US post, with a S.A.S.E, to included a short synopsis and bio. We do not accept email attachments, or phone queries."
Ginger Norton
Sedgeband Literary Associates
7312 Martha Lane
Fort Worth TX 76112

4/2001
Jim Levine is actively expanding into both literary and commercial fiction and has recently taken on younger writers. Take a look at his web site before submitting: www.jameslevine.com
Jim Levine, President
James Levine Communications
307 Seventh Avenue - Suite 1906
New York, NY 10001


4/2001

Kimberely Cameron, of Reece Halsey North, would like to be added to this page. She is mostly interested in fiction - especially literary and mainstream - and has made recent sales for first time novelists to commercial New York houses.

Kimberely Cameron
Reece Halsey North
98 Main Street
PMB 704
Tiburon CA 94920



4/2001


Felicia Eth has asked to be added to this page:





"Felicia Eth Literary Representation is a one person independent agency run by Ms. Eth. A former agent in N.Y, at Writers House Inc., Ms. Eth opened her agency on the West Coast 10 years aago to provide a conduit for writers to N.Y. A small personalized agency Ms. Eth handles intelligent, provocative non-fiction and an occassional high quality novel. Right now Felicia is actively looking for strong non-fiction in areas of narrative non-fiction, travelogue, social, psychological or women's issues, or journalism. Some recent books of Ms. Eth's in these areas include SOCRATES CAFE/Chris Phillips (Norton), COFFEE, THE DRIVING FORCE OF HISTORY/Stewart Allen(Ballantine), HOOKED: Five Addicts Confront Our Rehab System/Lonny Shavelson(New Press), BABY CATCHER-My Amazing Life as a Midwife/Peggy Vincent(Scribner's)."





Please query by letter, feel free to include a synopsis and sample writing. Brief e-mail queries fine to feliciaeth@aol.com.


Felicia Eth Literary Representation
555 Bryant Street
Suite 350
Palo Alto CA 94301-1700








4/2001


Book Ends, a book packager cum agency, has requested to be added to this site. They have recently applied for AAR membership.

Literary fiction, nonfiction spirituality, mysteries, suspense and thrillers should be sent to the attention of Jacky Sach.

Romance, business, relationship books, self-help and cozy mysteries should be sent to the attention of Jessica Faust.

Both agents will look at women's fiction, health and pet books, parenting, psychology, and general nonfiction.

To submit your material, send the following: (1) A query letter outlining your professional and publishing experience, (2) A synopsis of your book, (3) One or two sample chapters of your book, and (4) A self-addressed stamped envelope in order to receive a reply, and sufficient postage for the return of your material (if you would like it sent back to you).





Please visit their web site for more info before submitting: www.bookends-inc.com

BookEnds, LLC
136 Long Hill Rd
Gillette, NJ 07933








3/2001


B.J. Robbins is looking for "smart, lively literary fiction and narrative nonfiction, as well as popular history." Send only a cover letter and the first 3 chapters, for fiction, and for nonfiction, a proposal with at least one sample chapter.



B.J. Robbins
5130 Bellaire Avenue
N. Hollywood CA 91607


3/2001
UPDATE 7/02: Nancy Stauffer is presently accepting new clients from referrals from our existing clients.
Nancy Stauffer is selectively reading for clients. But be warned: she's an established agent and takes on very few new writers. She is interested almost exclusively in literary fiction, including short stories and literary narrative non-fiction. Clients include: Sherman Alexie, Mark Spragg, Martha Bayles Leon Uris, Arthur Hailey, and Leo Buscaglia. But her sensibilities are really along the literary fiction and literary non-fiction line. She is also interested in writers and writing of the American West. Query by mail only. Send a cover letter (brief bio, publishing credits, if any) and the first 20 pages of a manuscript, with SASE.

Nancy Stauffer
Nancy Stauffer Associates
P.O. Box 1203
Darien, CT 06820



3/2001
I recently heard from Rebecca Bonfanti, who said the Doris S. Michaels Agency is interested in seeing new work. They handle fiction and nonfiction, but see their main web site for specific types of manuscripts they handle. From their books page, their strengths appear to be in business, literary fiction, and self-help, many of which have been placed with large New York houses.

"Please read our home page to find out about the types of books we are interested in representing before you send a query."

The Doris S. Michaels Literary Agency, Inc.
New York, NY
www.www.dsmagency.com

Doris S. Michaels, President
Faye Bender, Literary Agent
Rebecca Bonfanti, Office Manager


3/2001

Don Congdon Associates, Inc., was established in 1983, and has four agents: Don Congdon, Michael Congdon, Susan Ramer and Cristina Concepcion, all members of the AAR. Among our clients are Joel Achenbach, Ray Bradbury, Thomas Berger, Evan Connell, Carlo D'Este, Ellen Gilchrist, Lucia Nevai, Geoffrey Perret, David Sedaris, Rosa Shand, William Styron. We continue to look for new authors of commercial fiction and non-fiction in most categories except for romance, children's, poetry and screenplays. Please query us via either snail mail (a SASE is a must) or email (although for security reasons we don't open attachments, so please paste additional material to your email). You may address a query to a particular agent, but it will be reviewed by all the members of the agency if that agent decides it is not for him or her.

Don Congdon Associates, Inc.
156 Fifth Avenue, Suite 625
New York, NY 10010-7002
Update 7/2002: Don Congdon Associates, Inc., has changed our email address from
congdon@veriomail.com to DCA@doncongdon.com.



3/2001
Lisa Wessling, of the Knight Agency, send us this listing for her agency, particularly for Pamela Harty who is new to the agency:

Our most recent sales include works to Penguin Putnam, Random House, St. Martin's Press, Warner Books, Broadman & Holman, Harlequin, Andrews McMeel, and many others.

We specialize in the following areas: romance, women's fiction, commercial fiction, literary and multicultural fiction. In non-fiction we are seeking business, finance, self-help, music, entertainment, media-related, pop culture, how-to, inspirational/religious, psychology, travel, and health. We are NOT interested in science fiction/fantasy (unless it is a romance), mystery, horror, poetry, or action adventure.

New agent Pamela Harty recently joined The Knight Agency in the fall of 2000. Pamela is our Subsidiary Rights Director, and is also building her own client list. Pamela handles primarily non-fiction, including parenting, popular history, African American history, religion, and business. She is also seeking women's fiction and romance. Pamela has already placed projects with McGraw Hill and Thomas Nelson.

For more information about The Knight Agency, including FAQs and our current client list, please see the link to our website at http://www.knightagency.net




3/2001

Marlene Connor Lynch has expressed interest in having her agency included here. The Connor Agency represents books being published by HarperCollins, Warner Books, Crown, McGraw Hill, Simon and Schuster, Avon and others. The Agency also serves as a book consultant and agent for such corporations as Essence Communications, publishers of Essence magazine. Recently published and upcoming titles represented include: OUTRAGEOUS COMMITMENTS: The 70 Vows of an Indestructible Marriage by Dr. Ronn Elmore (HarperCollins), HOW TO LOVE A BLACK MAN by Dr. Ronn Elmore(Warner Books), a Literary Guild alternate selection and Blackboard bestseller; SEDUCTION OF THE SENSES by Snow Starborn (Sourcebooks), BLACK SUN SIGNS by Thelma Balfour, a Blackboard bestseller; SIMPLICITY'S SIMPLY THE BEST HOME DECORATING BOOK (Simon and Schuster), a Main Selection of Better Homes and Gardens Book Club, an alternate for the Literary Guild and a one-shot for Rodale Press; and GRANDMOTHER'S GIFT OF MEMORIES by Danita Green (Broadway Books), a Literary Guild alternate selection

Marlene Connor Lynch
Connor Literary Agency
2911 West 71st
Minneapolis MN 55423


3/2001

Jeff Kleinman, of Graybill & English, will represent both nonfiction and fiction.

Nonfiction: health, parenting, aging, nature, pets, how-to, etc.; especially narrative nonfiction, particularly books with a historical bent, but also travel, nature, ecology, politics, military, espionage, cooking, romance, equestrian, pets, memoir, biography.

Fiction: very well-written, character driven novels; some SF&F, suspense, thrillers; otherwise mainstream commercial and literary fiction. No children's, romance, mysteries, poetry, or screenplays.

How best to contact: "I prefer snail mail queries - a cover letter plus a few sample pages, or ideally the first 3 consecutive chapters (if fiction), + SASE. I'll also accept email queries, but I won't open attachments, so the text needs to be inserted directly in the body of the email."

New sales in the past month include: Philip Gerard's ALMOST AN ARMY (Dutton, Fall 2002), mid six figure advance; Caitlin Sweet's A TELLING OF STARS (PenguinPutnam, Spring 2003), first novel, SF&F, five figure advance.

Jeff Kleinman
Graybill & English
1920 N Street, NW, Suite 620
Washington, DC 20036
URL: www.GraybillandEnglish.com/jmk/
email: Jmkagent@aol.com


3/2001

Mark Ryan, of the New Brand Agency Group, asked to be included here:

NEW BRAND AGENCY GROUP is a non-fee-charging agency for authors of fiction and nonfiction with bestseller or high commercial potential. Member agents have placed properties with Paramount, DreamWorks, Ballantine, Broadway, Prentice-Hall, Pocket, Hyperion, Bantam, Workman, Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's, Penguin, Harcourt-Brace, etc. Authors include Jim Brown (24/7, Ballantine), Carol Plum-Ucci (The Body of Christopher Creed, Harcourt and Hyperion, Edgar Finalist and Printz Honor Book), and Aggie Jordan, Ph.D. (The Marriage Plan: How to Marry Your Soul Mate in One Year or Less, Broadway and Bantam).

New Brand agents make regular trips to New York and Los Angeles, and they frequently participate at writers' conferences (panels, workshops, and keynotes) throughout the United States. Visit their website at www.literaryagent.net for their event schedule, as well as informative articles, sample queries and proposals, and a sample author/agent contract.


New Brand Agency Group
370 Jefferson Drive, #204
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
URL: www.literaryagent.net
email: submissions@literaryagent.net

6/2000

Jo Fagan became an agent at Jane Dystel Literary Management in 1999 after more than 20 years on the publishing side as Vice President and Director of Subsidiary Rights at Crown Publishers, a division of Random House. She is interested in literary fiction, selected commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction including topics such as politics, economics, current affairs, extreme adventure, sports, etc., solid backlist nonfiction and quirky nonfiction. She is not interested in children's books, YA, sci/fi/fantasy.

For a more complete overview, including titles recently sold and links to the Jane Dystel site, click here.

Jo Fagan
Jane Dystel Literary Management
One Union Square West
Suite 904
New York, NY 10003


5/2000

Joelle Delbourgo is actively considering new clients:

Joelle Delbourgo Associates, Inc. is a literary agency representing a wide
range of fiction and nonfiction: from serious nonfiction including history,
psychology, science, cultural studies, medicine and health, and literary and
narrative nonfiction to commercial nonfiction including self-help, business
and popular culture. We seek out thesis-based nonfiction by original
thinkers who are at the forefront of their fields, as well as research-based
works that present significant new research to light. Our fiction interests
list spans literary fiction to commercial, mainstream fiction, including
women's fiction, thrillers, mysteries, and historical fiction. The company
works with The Agnes Krup Literary Agency for foreign rights and with a
network of film and television agencies and internet companies to create
multimedia properties.

For a full over of her agency, click to her agency page.

Joelle Delbourgo
Joelle Delbourgo Associates, Inc.
450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 3004
New York, NY 10123


4/2000

New Agent at Lowenstein Agency

Earlier today I received a letter from Dorian Karchmar, new agent at the Lowenstein Agency. Ms. Karchmar is actively seeking literary & commercial fiction, as well as literary nonfiction. She holds an MFA degree from the University of Iowa and has made recent sales to Algonquin and Broadway. She can be reached in care of the Lowenstein Agency, 121 West 27th Street, Suite 601, NYC NY 10001. Please no email submissions.




Update: 3/2000
Wendy Sherman, star agent and regular visitor of this site has a new address: 450 Seventh Avenue Suite 3004 New York, NY 10123. wendy@wsherman.com
Also, Jessica Lichtenstein has recently joined her agency. Lichtenstein was formerly a Senior Editor at Harper Collins and St. Martins press. She is specializing in romance and mysteries. Address queries to Lichtenstein at Wendy Sherman Associates at the above address.
The agency, still fairly new, is interested in a broad range of quality fiction -- upmarket women's, fiction, legal suspense, thrillers, etc.--as well as nonfiction, particularly memoir and narrative non-fiction



I'd love it if you would add Carlisle & Company to your agents list. There
are two agents, Michael Carlisle and myself. Our agency is an AAR
member-agency. Among our clients are Dava Sobel (Longitude, Galileo's
Daughter), James Gleick (Chaos, Faster), Mark Lindquist (Never Mind
Nirvana, forthcoming Villard), Sarah Willis (Some Things that Stay, FSG),
Buzz Bissinger (Friday Night Lights) and NBA-winner John Casey.

(Recently Michael sold Sands Hall's first novel) to Leona Nevler at Ballantine
for a nice six-figure amount.

Best regards,
Christy Fletcher

Carlisle & Company
24 E. 64th Street
NYC 10021
www.carlisleco.com

Many thanks for your note. We do have some news to contribute to your site.
Susan Barry, formerly the editorial director for business and general
reference at McGraw-Hill, has joined us as an agent. Her list will be
primarily trade science and business titles. Susan can be reached at
sbarry@swayneagency.com.

The Swayne Agency Literary Management & Consulting
337 East 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
www.swayneagency.com


(From Jenny Bent)
This year I sold a fabulous literary memoir by a graduate of the UVa Writing Program--Angelhead by Greg Bottoms. This is Greg's first book, and we made a high five-figure deal with Crown. I also sell a great deal of commercial nonfiction--self-help, psychology, health, and spirituality. Right before Christmas I made a six-figure deal (with bonuses) with Viking for a book called Emotional Longevity by Dr. Norman Anderson and P. Elizabeth Anderson. Dr. Anderson is associate director of the NIH. This is a first book for the Andersons, as well (many of my clients are first time authors).




Pesha Rubinstein
PESHA RUBINSTEIN LITERARY AGENCY
1392 Rugby Road
Teaneck, NY 07666

UPDATE: 2/2000
Though I believe Pesha is still actively seeking new authors, some writers have received rejections stating that she is not considering new work at this time.

Update: 3/2001
Agency has closed.



Jim Cypher, Author's Representative, The Cypher Agency
816 Wolcott Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508-4247

Within a period of only a few months, I placed TWO books by widely published motor
sports writer Monte Dutton with Brassey's, a mid-size house that's expanding
its sports book offerings: (1) AT SPEED: AN IRREVERENT LOOK AT NASCAR's
PEOPLE, PLACES AND FANS, a compilation of many of Monte's previously
published syndicated print and Internet columns; and (2) TONY STEWART'S YEAR
2000 NASCAR SEASON, an unauthorized biography that will provide an inside
look at the accomplishments of the emerging NASCAR superstar by offering a
week-by-week, behind-the-scenes account of Stewart's 2000 Winston Cup racing
season.

I'm actively looking for talented new clients, both novelists and
nonfiction book writers. Best thing an unrepresented writer can do is to
browse my Web site to learn about my agency's activities.

UPDATE: 2/2000

Writers' Showplace helped place Monte Dutton's work, as reported below:

"Monte Dutton's work was featured on Writers' Showplace Inc. (WSi) at
http://www.writersshowplace.com when WSi co-founder Francesca Vrattos
contacted Jim Cypher regarding possible representation for AT SPEED. At the
same time WSi co-founder Gaylene Givens got in touch with Batsford Brassey
Publishing, informing them of the book. As a result a connection was made.
Writers' Showplace brought together both agent and publisher... His
book, At Speed: Up Close and Personal with the People, Places, and Fans of
NASCAR will be released by Brassey's this year. An interview with Monte can
be read at http://www.writersshowplace.com/spotlight.html"


Wendy Sherman, rising star of the Aaron Priest Agency, is doing so well she will open her own agency early next year in New York. (More info, see entry 10/21.) In the past year, she's sold books for major clients and first time authors. With her new agency, she will most likely be looking for more clients. She asked me to post her temporary address here: Wendy Sherman, 12 Moonshadow Ct., Kinnelon, NJ 07405. She can also be reached via email: wshermanlit@aol.com


Among sales by New England Publishing Associates during the past few
months: THE LITERARY 100 to Facts On File, TREASON: The Mysterious Case of
Aaron Burr and THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN EXPLORATION both to
John Wiley, ROBERT E. LEE: Winning In The Organizational Wilderness to Prentice
Hall, VOLCANOES: The Human Perspective to Princeton University Press,
LOYALTY.COM to McGraw-Hill, THE DICTIONARY OF NAUTICAL LITERACY to
International Marine, and OLD FAITHFUL to Hungry Mind Press. We handle VERY
little fiction, but we are accepting new non-fiction clients, particularly
in history, biography, business, health, science, and reference.
Prospective clients should check our web site at www.nepa.com for further
information and submission guidelines. It's fine to test the waters by
sending a brief e-mail query to neap@nepa.com. Members of the AAR.

Edward W. Knappman
New England Publishing Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 5
Chester, CT 06412
Voice: 860-345-7323 Fax 860-345-3660
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT www.nepa.com


We'd just like to add that we are, in addition to
northwest writers and books appealing to female readership, interested in
Asian-American, African-American and gay and lesbian writers among others
for our eclectic list of literary fiction and narrative nonfiction.
Also, the agency is now "Wales Literary Agency" - Dan Levant retired a few
years ago.


Best,
Nancy Shawn

Wales Literary Agency
108 Hayes St.
Seattle, WA 98109
206-284-7114 phone
206-284-0190 fax
waleslit@aol.com


Caroline, at Book Deals, asked me to post a listing for their agency. Check their web page for submission information. (After I checked, I had a few questions. Here's their answers: (1) What's your basic rate of commission for book length manuscripts? 15% domestic and 20% international. (2) Do you charge reading fees, editing fees, or routinely suggest authors use an editing service? No, no, no....(3) And, by chance, are you a member of any agents' organizations? We've got an application going in to AAR.) You can find their address on their webpage. Email: BOOKDEALS@aol.com


Sally Driscoll is no longer with the Coen Agency and is no longer actively seeking manuscripts.

Elisabet McHugh is seeking clients. She will consider: "All areas of Nonfiction and most areas of Fiction. I do NOT handle SF/Fantasy, Horror, Poetry, Sreenplays/Scripts or Children's Books. Submission requirements: Query first by Email. Do not send material unless asked for. Be professional. McHugh Literary Agency, 1033 Lyon Rd, Moscow ID 83843-9167." Email: UPDATE: Her recent sales include: BEYOND THE HORIZON, to Harlequin; NATURAL PROSTATE HEALERS, to Prentice Hall; LIGHTEN UP: EASY, LOWFAT COOKING, to Time-Warner; SILENT WITNESS, to Bantam; FRANKLY, MY DEAR...: The Life of Clark Gable, to McFarland & Co; THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF SMALL BUSINESS SUCCESS, to Bookhome Publishing; Recently she applied to become a member of AAR.


Our agency doesn't charge any fees, and I am in dire need of smart nonfiction
books.

Attached is a company one page.

Thank you,
Andy Whelchel
National Writers Literary Agency
www.nationalwriters.com

(View One Page Below:)

Surpassing all odds, National Writers Literary Agency has excelled by utilizing the talents of some of the United Statesí most prolific writers. Originally formed by Donald Bower in 1981, the agency kept a low profile until 1997, when it was revamped by now President Andrew Whelchel. The agency to that point only selling 10 books in its history began a new trend of success for its clients.

By the beginning of 1999, National Writers Literary Agency has placed its clients with some of the worldís largest publishers and production companies. Now representing clients in almost every genre and niche market available the company represents authors like; Coleman Stokes (71 published novels under 8 pen names including Jake Logan, Nicholas Adams, Andrew Coleman and Nicholas Pine), Gloria Chisholm (Best-selling CBA book Encourage One Another), Jim Wilson (Science Editor, Popular Mechanics Magazine), Jay Carter (author of the best-selling book Nasty People), and Boston Globe columnist Mike Tougias who has penned 15 books himself including a fall 1999 release from W.W. Norton.

Since taking the reins Whelchel and his partner Jason S. Cangialosi, Vice President, have vastly expanded their contacts and sales list. Reflecting a knowledge of trends and a taste for unique fresh voices the agencyís sales include: under development at MGA Entertainment, Executive Order, a feature film in docu-drama style that ties events in history to a secret collective of power in the United States government. From Gloria Chisholm, a series of gift books to be released in the fall 2000 by Random House based on her original CBA best seller. For film with Singer-White Entertainment a book titled Attitude Problem, by Coleman Stokes (Andrew Coleman) a young adult thriller with captivating realism. Career Press, from Mike Sincere, The Long-Term Day Trader, a book for both beginning and experienced investors on Internet trading. Also from Mike Sincere with McGraw-Hill, The After-Hours Trader, a book about the year 2000 change to a 24-hour stock market, and how to make money buying on-line 24 hours a day. With White Cliffs Media, and by David Ireland (Publisher BPM Magazine) a biography of rave DJ Doc Martin who is most often credited with creating the underground in the west. Under option with Orly Adelson Productions, Escapade a screenplay about four young girls who travel cross country to meet their favorite stars, by actress Natalie Cosby. At Hal Leonard Publishing, How to be a DJ, a book for DJís from the underground rave scene to the radio by Mike ìBaluî Regan. Orly Adelson Productions, a series, Eagle Roost, the story of a family living life without modern convenience on the side of Pikes Peak in Colorado, written by Gloria Warren. This collective example of diversified taste echoes the agency's commitment to its list of renown clients.

Both Andrew Whelchel and Jason Cangialosi have availed themselves of the opportunity to better aid the writing community by speaking at conferences. Each year both speak at the Writers Foundation Conference in Denver Colorado. Whelchel has also been a speaker at Kent State University's summer writing program, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers Conference.

[Pitching]

Pitching is about the intricacies of your idea
and is better suited to a script meeting than to a pitch. You give the
agent no clear idea as to who you are or why you're compelled to write
this. Try a teaser paragraph first, a single something about you that
gets the attention of the reader right away. They need to know who you
are before anything else.

You probably knew that. Here's the hard part: the next paragraph has
to be the spine of the story in 3 or 4 sentences. Try really hard to
relay barebones narrative, here; what you've got right now are
intricate plot details better suited to a two-or three-page treatment
than to a narrative description. I'm not quite sure WHAT YOUR STORY
IS, but I get a strong sense of the intricacies involved in it. Try
describing your story the way they might do it on the back of the
jacket. Think of your major plot points in this order: If / Then /
Then What? IF this happens, THEN this happens because of it, BUT THEN
this has to happen to solve the whole mess. This whole paragraph
should be an expansion of the idea, not a full-out summary.

The next paragraph is all about you -- 3 or 4 sentences describing
relevant facts about you that demonstrate the connection between you
and your idea. You get to make yourself look brilliant, and given the
idea it shouldn't be too hard ;-).

Lastly, end with a paragraph where you tell the agent that you're only
showing it to one agent at a time. Not only are most agents not
friendly towards simultaneous submissions, but it makes that agent
worry less about someone snapping up their find.

Try that. Let me know how it goes.

Back Story: Too Much, Too Soon?

By Cynthia VanRooy

Ever have the experience of meeting someone at a party and within
minutes you’ve heard about their three miscarriages, the ex-husband they
left because of his drinking, the brother who’s in prison, but it’s not
his fault, his friends got him into trouble, and the uncle who’s
suspected of using drugs? What’s your reaction? Do you want to know
this person
better, pursue this new relationship further? Hardly! You can’t wait
get away from this stranger you already know too much about.

This is the most common mistake new romance writers make—subjecting
their reader to the same kind of too-much-too-soon information dump. It’s
understandable. We want the reader to love our heroes and heroines as
much as we do, to understand why they do what they do. Our mistake is in
wanting the reader to understand before we’ve given them a reason to
care.

If the stranger were your best friend instead, that would change your
reaction considerably to the details they relayed. This holds true for
your fictional characters, too. The reader needs to become emotionally
involved with them, become caught up in the present moment of the
characters’ lives before they can be interested in anything that happened
before the story started.

That’s what backstory is—the events that happened prior to page one
that led up to the story. The most dangerous thing about backstory is that
it’s boring. Nothing is happening to engage the reader. The characters
aren’t acting. You’re just relaying information about them in the most
uninteresting way possible—telling.

Rather than start your novel with backstory, start with the culminating
action that is the result of that backstory. Give the reader only as
much information as they need to follow that action without becoming
confused. Trust the reader. They’re bright, they’ll get it. Honest. Need an
example? Story opens . . .

A woman is driving at night. The only things keeping her weary, hurting
body awake are tension and adrenaline. She has to put as much distance
between herself and Richard as she can, but she knows she needs to stop
and rest soon before she becomes a menace to anyone else on the road.
She takes the next exit off the freeway and finds herself in a small,
seedy-looking town, the stores all closed and the streets mostly
deserted. She spots a motel up ahead. She pulls her car into the parking spot
in front of the orange neon lights proclaiming “office.”
With an effort she releases the steering wheel, only to discover her
hands are shaking. She takes a couple of deep breaths trying to get
herself under control, then grabs her purse and opens the car door.
In the office the clerk hands her a pen and shoves the register toward
her. She hesitates and has a moment of panic as she tries to decide
whether to use her own name. No, better not. She signs her first grade
teacher’s name, the only one she can think of. The clerk stares at her
left eye and she can feel it’s swollen. She wonders if it has begun to
turn black. The clerk hands her the room key and she hurries to escape his
scrutiny.
Once in her room she bolts the door and puts on the chain before
turning on the light and dropping her bag. She’s so tired she wants to
collapse, but knows she’ll sleep better after a warm shower to ease the
aches. As she peels off her clothes she notes in the mirror the bruises
blooming on her ribs and hip. And yes, her eye has turned black.
After a shower that does little to relieve the pain, she is making her
way from the bathroom when the phone rings. She freezes, clutching the
towel tightly around her, her hands fisted in the terrycloth. Oh, God,
he’s found her already. The phone continues to peal insistently and she
reaches out a trembling hand and lifts the receiver.

Nothing confusing here, you understand what’s happening, The passage
raised some questions, but that’s a good thing. That’s how you draw the
reader in. Who is Richard? Why is she running away from him? What will
happen if he finds her? Is he the one who hurt her?

To get hooked into this character and this story you didn’t need to
know the woman ran away at sixteen to escape her abusive home life, that
she lived on the streets for two years, that she got her act together
and worked her way through college, that Richard is a musician she met in
a coffee house where she worked, that she fell in love with him because
of his protectiveness, that the protectiveness revealed itself shortly
as control, and that it turned into the same kind of abusive behavior
she used to get from her father that she had promised herself never to
take again. Whew.

Ideally, that backstory would be fed to the reader a little at a time,
as they needed it. One of the best ways to impart backstory is in
dialog, where realistically the hero/heroine might reveal it to the other.
Dialog, with its action and white space on the page, is reader-friendly
and interesting, as opposed to long passages of introspection where the
character is doing nothing but thinking.

Aren’t convinced yet you should avoid starting your book with
backstory? An editor once told me if she wasn’t engaged in the story by page
five, she wouldn’t read any further before rejecting a manuscript. Think
that’s harsh? She’s being charitable. Most editors make that decision by
page three. Some new writers try the trick of reversing a page in their
manuscript when they send it in. Then when they get it back rejected
and the page is still reversed, they regard this as proof the editor
never actually read their story. Well . . . yes, they did. They read as
much as they needed to in order to know they weren’t interested in reading
any more.

You have three pages to interest the editor/reader in your novel. Don’t
waste them on backstory. Throw the reader right into the action. A
hundred years ago writers had the luxury of beginning a story with “Once
upon a time . . .” Today’s readers are too impatient. Toss them right
into the garden with a sobbing Cinderella and her fairy godmother and
explain later. Your readers will thank you for it.