Meet the Magnificents:

the Agents of AgentFest 2008

These are the three dozen literary agents who agreed to spend the day with us at AgentFest. We asked them to introduce themselves to you here, so they did. For more, click on their websites at the end of the biographies, or Google their names. If you're an author and haven't signed up for ITW's first-ever agent extravaganza--a full afternoon of pitching your manuscripts to the best in the business--you're missing out on a potentially life-changing experience. 

Pamela Ahearn, Ahearn Agency

The Ahearn Agency was founded in 1992 and currently represents over thirty authors. Clients are several New York Times, USA Today and Walden's bestselling authors, as well as RITA, Anthony and Agatha award winners and nominees. They include Steve Berry, S.W. Hubbard, Wendy Lindstrom, Sabrina Jeffries, Meagan McKinney, Laura Joh Rowland, and Carlene Thompson. Our agency handles general adult fiction, specializing in women's fiction and suspense. We do not deal with poetry, juvenile material, or autobiographies and science fiction. www.ahearnagency.com

 

Michelle Andelman, Andrea Brown Literary Agency

An associate agent with Andrea Brown since 2005, Michelle is the California-based agency's East Coast representative in New York City. She comes to agenting with experience in book publicity and book-to-film, and now represents work across the children's, teen/young adult, and adult book markets. Recent sales include THE THIRD TRY, an edgy, high-concept, commercial teen suicide novel named Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster's lead title for summer 2009; and LAST MIDNIGHT, a dystopian SF/F debut to Hyperion Children's. While specializing in all categories of children's books, Michelle also handles literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and graphic memoir in the adult market. What she'd most love to find at AgentFest: crime fiction, (girl) spy novels, and suspense thrillers for the teen market. www.andreabrownlit.com  

 
Donna Bagdasarian, Maria Carvainis Agency 

The native New Englander grew up in the suburbs of Boston. After graduating cum laude from Boston University, Donna pursued her master's degree in literature and philosophy, while editing the prestigious philological journal, Arion.Tired of the ivory tower, she left academia to join Addison Wesley Longman as a mathematics textbook acquisitions editor. Wanting to get back to working with books that she was passionate about, Donna moved to New York in 1998 and joined the legendary William Morris mailroom as an agent trainee. Quickly climbing out of the mailroom, she worked as the assistant to the notable literary agent Mel Berger for two years before she was promoted, all in record time. Experienced selling high-profile fiction and nonfiction as an agent, Donna joined Vigliano Associates in 2002, bringing her academic, editing and agenting skills together with her passion to represent and sell incredible authors and books.

After selling many notable and bestselling books while at Vigliano, Donna decided it was time to strike out on her own, forming DMB Literary in 2003, where she represents well-known and published authors, ranging from literary fiction to political nonfiction. Having joined Maria Carvainis Agency in the fall of 2004, Donna brings not just her client list but her experience in managing a boutique agency to compliment the agency's notable stable of bestselling authors. Donna is interested in almost all fiction: literary, women's, historical, mainstream, ethnic, with the exceptions of sci-fi and fantasy. Her interests in non-fiction range from pop-culture to sociological, scientific, political and memoir. No agency website.

 
Loretta Barrett, Loretta Barrett Books

Loretta is a literary agent and president of Loretta Barrett Books in New York. She founded the agency in 1990. Prior to that, she was editor-in-chief of Anchor Books and vice president and executive editor at Doubleday. She is a member of AAR, and has representation in every major foreign market, east and west. Barrett's nonfiction interests cover a wide range of topics. These include psychology, science and technology, religion, spirituality, current events, history, politics, women's issues, and memoir.

She represents the national bestseller THE SINGULARITY IS NEAR by Ray Kurzweil; the New York Times bestseller MOTHER ANGELICA by Raymond Arroyo; the New York Times bestseller SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL by Christopher Kennedy Lawford; and STRESSED-OUT GIRLS by Roni Cohen-Sandler, Ph.D. Other notable clients include George Weigel, theologian and author of the authorized biography of Pope John Paul II, WITNESS TO HOPE; historian Ann Douglas; astronomers Neil Comins and Phil Plait; and spiritualist writers Wayne Muller and Stephen Levine.

Her fiction preferences are largely mainstream and contemporary. She is particularly drawn to women's fiction and thrillers. Her fiction list includes FINAL TRUTH by New York Times bestseller Mariah Stewart, and the national bestseller THE LAKE OF DEAD LANGUAGES by Carol Goodman. In addition, she represents novelists such as Laura Van Wormer, M.J. Rose, Dora Levy Mossanen, Theresa Rebeck and Gary Birken, MD. Loretta Barrett does not represent children's books, cookbooks, sci-fi or fantasy. www.lorettabarrettbooks.com 

 
Laney Katz Becker, Folio Literary Management

After graduating from Northwestern University, I came to New York and started my career as a copywriter in the advertising/marketing/publicity arena. I've also worked as a journalist. My articles and essays have appeared in more than fifty newspapers and magazines including Self, Health, Seventeen, Yahoo! Internet Life, First for Women, and American Health. I am also an author. My novel DEAR STRANGER, DEAREST FRIEND was a Literary Guild alternate selection, chosen by Redbook as the Editors' Favorite Pick, recommended by Library Journal, and recipient of several awards.

Why, you may wonder, have I worn so many hats? The short answer is kids. As mine continued to grow, I altered my schedule to better mesh with theirs. That led to shifts in my career and in my objectives. Throughout the years, however, I always remained an active participant in the worlds of writing, publishing and reading. (Isn't every writer a voracious reader?) My decades of experience in "all things writerly" are invaluable when it comes to agenting and working with my authors to make sure their manuscripts or proposals are top-notch.

The agent cap fits well, and it's one I plan to wear for a very, very long time. When it comes to thrillers, I'm a particular fan of the psychological thriller. I love things that make me think--and mess with my head. Recent sales: Will Lavender's OBEDIENCE (Harmony/Shaye Areheart Books), a really smart psychological thriller set on a college campus. Fiction and reality blur in this taut debut. Eve Brown-Waite's TAKE ME HOME: My Search for Meaning--and a Decent Restroom--in the Third World (Broadway Books), a wildly funny, fish-out-of-water memoir about a pampered young woman who decides to save the world. Also a debut. Jim Beaver's LIFE'S THAT WAY (Putnam/Amy Einhorn Books) is an exquisitely rendered memoir about love, loss and learning to live again, after the death of the actor's wife. (Jim is best known for his role as Ellsworth on HBO's Deadwood.) www.foliolit.com  

 
Michelle Brower, Wendy Sherman Associates

Michelle has been with Wendy Sherman Associates since 2004, and previously worked with Joelle Delbourgo Associates. She enjoys working directly with emerging writers and is interested in representing literary and commercial fiction, memoir, pop culture, humor, crafting, graphic novels, popular science and narrative non-fiction. Books that capture elements of the strange and wonderful will always pique her interest, and she also looks for those that offer a unique perspective of the world.  In commercial fiction, she is looking for a fast-paced, quirky read, and is especially drawn to horror, fantasy, and sci-fi with mainstream appeal. www.wsherman.com

 
Kimberley Cameron, Reece Halsey North Literary Agency

Kimberley began her literary career several years at MGM developing books for motion pictures. She was the co-founder of Knightsbridge Publishing, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. In 1993 she became partners with Dorris Halsey of The Reece Halsey Agency, founded in 1957. Dorris Halsey passed away in October, 2006, but Kimberley is carrying on the legacy of agency, which was a small agency specializing in excellent writing. Among its clients have been Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner, Upton Sinclair, and Henry Miller. Cameron opened Reece Halsey North in 1995 and Reece Halsey Paris 2006. She resides in Tiburon, CA, and Paris, France. Education: Marlborough School, Humboldt University, and Mount St. Mary's College. Personal interests: Reading for the sheer pleasure of it. Enthusiastic about: Literary fiction, exceptional writing in any field, and writing that touches the heart. Not enthusiastic about: Children's fiction, poetry, and cookbooks. www.kimberleycameron.com 

 
Deborah Carter, Muse Literary Management

Deborah focuses on manuscript development, the sale and administration of print, performance and foreign rights to literary works as well as post-publication publicity and appearances.  She's looking for standout talent in thriller/suspense and mystery, espionage fiction/nonfiction, literary novels and short stories collections with popular appeal, narrative nonfiction, and children's fiction/nonfiction. Most of her clients are new writers. Those who submit should be receptive to editorial feedback and be willing to revise. Prior to starting her own agency in 1998, Deborah  worked for a literary agent, a talent manager, and a scout in the record business. She has a BA in English and music from WSUC/NYU.  See website for current client list and interests. www.museliterary.com

 
Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents

For ten years, Bill worked as an editor for NAL, Berkeley, Popular Library and Avon Books. He was director of literary affairs at United Artists and then vice president, literary affairs, at Warner Bros., both in their New York offices, charged with bringing in books for the studios to develop for feature film. For eleven years, Bill was a dramatic rights agent for books to film and television at William Morris in New York.

Since 2002 he has been a literary agent with Brandt & Hochman, representing authors and selling their work to publishers. In addition to building a list of new writers at Brandt & Hochman, Bill also continues to represent the dramatic rights of literary properties for some Brandt & Hochman clients and for a few other agencies as well. "I am looking for fresh, smart voices, in control of the story which have some resonance to today," Bill says. "Stories that hit the ground running with drama and fully developed characters. Writers with a point of view, something to say which will appeal to an audience that enjoys wit and intelligence." No agency website.

Bob Diforio, D4EO Literary Agency

Bob Diforio, founder of D4EO Literary Agency, has been in the publishing business for more than 40 years.

Graduating Williams College in 1964, he started in the business as a book sales rep for Kable News Co., selling Berkley Books to the then more than 500 magazine wholesalers. He became VP, book sales, for Kable News, and joined New American Library in 1972 as vice president, general sales manager. In ensuing years he was marketing director, executive VP, president, publisher and then CEO. As sales and marketing director of NAL, he helped launch the paperback careers of Erica Jong, Robin Cook, Stephen King, Ken Follett and Robert K. Tanenbaum. He led a management team and bought NAL from the Times Mirror Co. in a leverage buyout with Odyssey Partners in 1984. NAL subsequently bought E.P. Dutton and sold the combined company to Pearson PLC in 1986. 

Leaving Penguin USA in late 1989 after 17 years, Bob became a literary agent, starting D4EO Literary. He now represents more than 250 clients. His ITW authors include Chris Beakey, Jack Du Brul, Jeff Edwards, Steve Forman, Jeff Stephens and Joseph Teller. He attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1977-78, and has been listed in Who's Who In America for more than 20 years. www.d4eo.com


Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management

With a background in theatre, film and painting, Stephany began agenting in 1990 with Sandra Martin/Paraview. In 1992, she formed her own agency while serving as editor for the alternative health, healing, and personal growth magazine, Free Spirit. Stephany is the ghost author of five published books. For seventeen years, Stephany has represented nonfiction writers in the areas of health and wellness (especially women's health), spirituality, lifestyle (including home renovating/decorating, entertaining, food and wine), popular reference, and narrative nonfiction.

In fiction, her core interest is in stories with a strong and interesting female protagonist, both literary and upmarket commercial--including chick lit, romance, mystery, and light suspense. Stephany loves to run and is interested in sports, especially women's sports (her NYC 2006 marathon time is 4:22:10). She likes to laugh and has a somewhat dark sense of humor. She loves dogs--especially Afghan hounds. Her greatest pleasure comes from discovering a formidable new writing talent, or helping an author shape and take to market her or his potentially world-altering idea. Stephany is president of FinePrint. She is a member of AAR, the Author's Guild, and Romance Writers of America; is a member of the Women's National Book Association; and a member and former co-chair of New York Women in Publishing. She splits her time between her offices in New York City and Marfa, Texas. www.fineprintlit.com 

 
Jessica Faust, BookEnds Agency

Jessica began her publishing career as an editor at Berkley and Macmillan. In 1999 she co-founded BookEnds LLC to work more closely with authors to help make their goals come to fruition. Jessica represents mystery, suspense, thrillers, romance, erotica and nonfiction. More about Jessica and BookEnds at bookendslitagency.blogspot.com or www.bookends-inc.com

Paul Fedorko, Trident Media Group

Having built his career on the publishing side of the business--at Dell/Delacorte, Bantam, Simon and Schuster and William Morrow--Paul brings his wide array of publishing experience and unique skills, plus a diverse list of clients to Trident. Paul represents bestselling authors such as John Perkins' CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HITMAN, a hardcover and trade paperback bestseller, and SECRET HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE; George Shuman's 18 SECONDS and his latest, LOST GIRLS (coming this fall); baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield's DROPPING THE BALL; and Jack Cafferty's New York Times bestseller, IT'S GETTING UGLY OUT THERE. His other recent publications include, Alireza Jafarzadeh's ALIREZA THE IRAN THREAT; Shari Shattuck's Callie Wilde Series, LOADED, LETHAL and THE MAN SHE THOUGHT SHE KNEW, and her latest EYE OF THE BEHOLDER (in fall 2008); Kathryn Miller Haines' THE WAR AGAINST MISS WINTER and the forthcoming THE WINTER OF HER DISCONTENT; and John La Femina's outstanding cookbook, A MAN AND HIS MEATBALLS. Coming soon: NBC-TV's Richard Engel's account of reporting from Iraq; CBS's Kimberley Dozier's BREATHING THE FIRE; former FBI agent Jack Garcia's MAKING JACK FALCONE; Jane and Michael Hoffman's GREEN, dealing with renewable energy; and Dr. Linda Papadopoulos's WHAT MEN SAY, WHAT WOMEN HEAR. Paul is currently looking for mysteries, thrillers, romantic suspense and commercial fiction. www.tridentmediagroup.com 

 
David Forrer, InkWell Management

David joined Kimberly Witherspoon and InkWell in 1999, working with many bestselling international authors including Rebecca Wells and Anthony Bourdain, and focusing particularly on co-agented authors based in the UK and Australia. He began his career in publishing as an assistant with the Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. Born in Chicago, David graduated from the University of Illinois with a BA in English and a BS in marketing, and received his masters in creative writing (fiction) from Boston University in 1996. His areas of interest include literary and commercial fiction (particularly women's fiction and suspense) and edgy, humorous non-fiction. www.inkwellmanagement.com

 
Bob Gussin, Oceanview Publishing

Bob is CEO and founder of Oceanview, a new, traditional model independent publisher. Bob was formerly vice president and chief scientific officer of Johnson and Johnson. Oceanview publishes adult fiction and nonfiction with an emphasis on the thriller/suspense/mystery genre.  Many of Oceanview's titles have received national awards. Oceanview's books are distributed throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Other international rights are represented by Waterside and various subsidiary rights are represented by Writer's House. www.oceanviewpub.com

 

Anne Hawkins, John Hawkins & Associates

Anne is a senior literary agent with John Hawkins & Associates, New York. Founded in 1893 by Paul R. Reynolds, it is the oldest literary agency in the country. She works with mainstream literary and commercial fiction, including mystery and suspense, and a wide variety of nonfiction, particularly history, politics, biography, science, natural history, medicine, and women's and family issues.  A number of her books have gained distinction through award nominations, book-to-film contracts, significant foreign rights sales, major book club selections, or placement on the New York Times bestseller list. Anne is a member of AAR. Her mystery/suspense/thriller authors include Tasha Alexander, Brett Battles, Mary Anna Evans, John Gilstrap, CJ Lyons, and John Ramsey Miller. www.jhalit.com

 
Gary Heidt, FinePrint Literary Management

Gary was a John Jay Scholar at Columbia University and general manager at WKCR-FM. Upon graduating, he returned to the nightclubs as a gigging musician; the Village Voice called his first album a "masterpiece." He is a published poet and columnist. His librettos for composer Evan Hause's Defenestration Trilogy earned praise from Newsday, Opera News and the New York press, and his musical comedies (he has written several in collaboration with Gary Miles, including "The Feng Shui Assassin" and "American Eyeball") were described by The Onion as "strangely funny." Originally from Texas, he has lived in New York for a decade and a half. Gary is looking for history, science, true crime, pop culture, psychology, business, military and some literary fiction. www.fineprintlit.com

 
Scott Hoffman, Folio Literary Management

A refugee from the world of politics, Scott is one of the founding partners of Folio. He has served as vice chairman of the board of directors of SEARAC (the only nationwide advocacy agency for Southeast Asian-Americans), a board member of Fill Their Shelves Inc. (a charitable foundation that provides books to children in sub-Saharan Africa) and a member of the Metropolitan Opera's Young Associates Steering Committee. Before entering the world of publishing, he was one of the founding partners of Janus-Merritt Strategies, a Washington, D.C. strategic consulting firm. He holds an MBA from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and a BA from the College of William and Mary.

Partial client list: Pam Jenoff, Quill Award nominee and international bestselling author of THE KOMMANDANT'S GIRL and THE DIPLOMAT'S WIFE; Brent Ghelfi, author of VOLK'S GAME and VOLK'S SHADOW; Mario Acevedo, bestselling author of THE NYPHOS OF ROCKY FLATS, X-RATED BLOODSUCKERS, and THE UNDEAD KAMA SUTRA; John Hamaura, bestselling author of COLOR OF THE SEA; David Maine, author of THE PRESERVATIONIST, FALLEN, THE BOOK OF SAMSON and MONSTER, 1959; and Chris Moriarty, Philip K. Dick award-winning author of SPIN STATE and SPIN CONTROL. www.foliolit.com

 
Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency

Christina joined the agency in 2003 and has been tending a growing list of clients, including New York Times bestseller Kevin O'Brien, and Los Angeles Times bestseller Amy Wallen.  She is actively looking for writers of all genres--both published and unpublished authors. No agency website.

 

Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management

Jeff is a literary agent, intellectual property attorney, and founding partner of Folio, a literary agency in New York and Washington, D.C. which works with all of the major U.S. publishers (and, through subagents, with most international publishers).  He's a graduate of Case Western Reserve University (JD), the University of Chicago (MA, Italian), and the University of Virginia (BA with High Distinction in English). As an agent, Jeff feels privileged to have the chance to learn an incredibly variety of new subjects, meet an extraordinary range of people, and feel, at the end of the day, that he's helped to build something--a wonderful book, perhaps, or an author's career.  

His authors include Robert Hicks, Charles Shields, Garth Stein, Bruce Watson, Jon Clinch, and Philip Gerard. Nonfiction: especially narrative nonfiction with a historical bent, but also memoir, health, parenting, aging, nature, pets, how-to, nature, science, politics, military, espionage, equestrian, biography. Fiction: very well-written, character-driven novels; some suspense, thrillers; otherwise mainstream commercial and literary fiction.  No children's, romance, mysteries, westerns, poetry, or screenplays, novels about serial killers, suicide, or children in peril (kidnapped, killed, raped, etc.). www.foliolit.com

 
Katie Kotchman, Don Congdon Associates
Katie is actively seeking literary novels with strong, quirky characters, who exhibit a fatal flaw or struggle to uphold contrasting beliefs or lifestyles. In commercial fiction, Katie seeks thrillers, noir mystery, young adult, and women's fiction. She also welcomes nonfiction in pop culture, history/politics/current affairs, and true crime. No agency website.

 
Maura Kye-Casella, Don Congdon Associates

Desiring a career which would combine her love of literature with her negotiating savvy, in 2001, Maura traded in her legal briefcase for a manuscript bag and joined the Denise Marcil Literary Agency.  In January 2008, Maura joined Don Congdon Associates, where she continues to represent many bestselling authors. Maura is seeking literary novels and commercial fiction (especially suspense, paranormal, thrillers and horror). She enjoys well-written novels with unique plots and settings, and/or stories that take place off the beaten path. She is also looking for YA novels.  As to nonfiction, Maura is seeking narrative works (memoirs/adventure/true crime); titles rooted in family issues and parenting; self-help; pop culture, and humor. And as a self-proclaimed "foodie" she would consider any food-related projects. No agency website.

 
Byrd Leavell, Waxman Literary Agency

Byrd's goal as a literary agent is to work with authors to create books that establish a new bar. Rather then chasing after what is currently hot, "I like to work with clients that have a book idea or novel that can stand solely on its own. I particularly enjoy working with writers that have demonstrated the ability to utilize the remarkable tools available today on the Internet to generate a devoted fan base. Most of all I love writing that makes an impact and the work I represent covers a broad spectrum, from Pete Sampras' upcoming MIND OF A CHAMPION, to podcasting extraordinaire Scott Sigler's upcoming novel INFECTED, to books that make you laugh like Bob Power's brilliant HAPPY CRUELTY DAY and Tucker Max's I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL." A graduate of the University of Virginia and the Radcliffe Publishing Program, Byrd began his career at Carlisle & Co. and then served as an agent at InkWell Management and Venture Literary. His clients include Clay Travis, David Fleming, Matt Marinovich, Curt Sampson, Claire Zulkey, Thomas Kohnstamm, Scott Sigler, Mark Frauenfelder, and David Wellington. www.waxmanagency.com  

 
Donald Maass, Donald Maass Agency

President of the New York agency he founded in 1980, Donald represents more than 100 fiction writers and sells more than 100 novels per year to top publishers in America and overseas. He is the author of fourteen pseudonymous novels and of the books THE CAREER NOVELIST (Heineman, 1996), WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL (Writers Digest Press, 2001) and WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL WORKBOOK (Writers Digest Press, 2004). He is a past president of AAR. www.maassagency.com   

 

Jim McCarthy, Dystel and Goderich Literary Management

Jim interned for the agency while studying urban design at New York University. Upon graduating, Jim realized he would much rather continue working with books than make the jump (as he had originally intended) to the field of city planning. As an avid fiction reader, his interests encompass both literary and commercial works. He is particularly interested in literary women's fiction, underrepresented voices, mysteries, romance, paranormal fiction, and anything unusual or unexpected. In addition to fiction he is also interested in narrative nonfiction, humor, memoir, paranormal nonfiction, and anything related to architecture, planning, or real estate. Jim was raised just outside of NYC and currently lives in Brooklyn. www.dystel.com  

 
Peter Miller, PMA Literary & Film Management

Known as "The Literary Lion," Peter has been an extraordinarily active literary and film manager for more than thirty years. He is president of PMA Literary and Film Management and Millennium Lion; and he and his company have successfully managed more than 1,000 books worldwide, as well as dozens of motion picture and television properties. These works include eleven New York Times bestsellers, and eleven produced films that Miller has managed or executive produced. Three of those films have been nominated for Emmy Awards: Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July (The Disney Channel, with four nominations); A Gift of Love (Showtime, two nominations); and Helter Skelter (CBS, one nomination). In addition, Miller has a number of film and television projects currently in active development, with some nearing production, in association with Warner Bros. Features, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. Television, DreamWorks, and many other producers and production companies.

Peter spends most of his time in New York or Los Angeles, but he also frequently tours the country to speak at writers' conferences and workshops. He regularly attends publishing gatherings such as ThrillerFest, BEA and the Frankfurt Book Fair, as well as various film festivals including those at Cannes, East Hampton and Sundance. www.pmalitfilm.com

 
Scott Miller, Trident Media Group

Scott is an agent and vice president at Trident. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Temple University School of Law, and is a member of the New York State bar. Since beginning his publishing career in the mailroom of the William Morris Agency as an agent trainee, he has worked with an array of diverse authors, including Tom Clancy, Bill Cosby, Janet Evanovich, and Dean Koontz. After working as an assistant for Robert Gottlieb, Scott became a literary agent.  His clients include New York Times bestselling authors W. Bruce Cameron, Harold Coyle, Ronald Kessler, Chris Kuzneski, Cesar Millan (the "Dog Whisperer"), Melissa Jo Peltier, Sean Naylor, Ralph Peters, and Joel C. Rosenberg.  Other award-winning and bestselling clients include Daniel Judson, Marcus Sakey, Harry Shearer, Patricia Smiley and Jeanne C. Stein. His interests are diverse and include commercial fiction (thrillers, crime and mysteries, young adult), commercial nonfiction (narrative non fiction, memoir, current events, military), literary fiction, graphic novels, and books dealing with pop culture (music, film, etc.). www.tridentmediagroup.com

 
Mel Parker, Mel Parker Books

Mel has worked in virtually every aspect of trade book publishing, from mass-market and trade paperback to hardcover and book clubs. Before launching Mel Parker Books, he was senior vice president and editorial director of Bookspan, the book club partnership between Time Warner and Bertelsmann AG, where he directed the editorial acquisitions programs for all of Bookspan's general interest, lifestyle and specialty book clubs, including Book of the Month Club, Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, Mystery Guild, Quality Paperback Book Club, History Book Club, and One Spirit. At Bookspan, Mel played a key role in consolidating the book club businesses of Book of the Month Club and Doubleday Direct into Bookspan, launching a number of successful new book clubs such as Mosaico, the Latino book club, and leading Bookspan's highly profitable original publishing program for book club members.

Mel came to the book clubs from Time Warner Trade Publishing, where he was senior vice president of Warner Books and publisher of its paperback division. During more than eleven years at Warner, Mel acquired and edited his own hardcover list of bestselling fiction by Dean Koontz, David Morrell and Larry Bond, as well as hardcover bestsellers in a variety of nonfiction categories, from narrative nonfiction and biography to business books, health, inspiration and pop culture. Some notable hardcover nonfiction bestsellers include SELLING THE INVISIBLE by Harry Beckwith; FIRST YOU HAVE TO ROW A LITTLE BOAT by Richard Bode; SUNDAY NIGHTS AT SEVEN by Jack Benny and Joan Benny; THE GRATEFUL DEAD FAMILY ALBUM by Jerilyn Brandelius; FLIGHT OF THE BUFFALO by James Belasco; The I LOVE LUCY BOOK by Michael McClay; GOOD NEWS FOR BAD DAYS by Paul Keenan; and WAYLON by Waylon Jennings and Lenny Kaye.

In addition to acquiring and developing his own list of hardcover books, Mel was responsible for Warner's mass-market paperback publishing program, which included major bestselling authors such as Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Scott Turow, James Patterson, P.D. James, Carl Hiaasen, Brad Meltzer, Sidney Sheldon and Sandra Brown. And he was also responsible for Warner's trade paperback list, featuring critically acclaimed authors such as Jeffrey Eugenides, Rick Moody, Alan Lightman, James Ellroy, Lorrie Moore, E.O. Wilson, Edna O'Brien, Robert Hughes, and Sherman Alexie.

Prior to joining Warner, Mel was editor-in-chief of the Berkley Publishing Group, where he was instrumental in helping build the company into a major paperback publisher featuring ten continuing New York Times bestselling authors, among them W.E.B. Griffin, Robin Cook, and Lillian Jackson Braun. He also personally acquired a number of major bestsellers, most notably THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER by Tom Clancy, which set the stage for his bestselling career at Putnam and Berkley.

Mel served as chairman of the executive trade committee of the Association of American Publishers, where he launched the industry group's national "Get Caught Reading" campaign, which secured millions of dollars of free print advertising to promote books and reading. Mel also lectured on publishing at the Stanford Publishing Course for two years, and his essay on paperback publishing appears in EDITORS ON EDITING (Grove Atlantic). www.melparkerbooks.com 

 
Barbara Poelle, Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Originally from the West Coast, Barbara worked for a Bay Area publisher before accepting the offer to join Irene Goodman's team. A voracious reader and award-winning debater, Barbara is not only able to devour manuscripts, but fight for them as well . . . and her very brief stint as a stand-up comic comes in handy for those particularly raucous debates--both in the office and at home. With her strong background in editing and copywriting, Barbara has no qualms about helping writers turn a "maybe" into a "yes," and values client communication above all else. Barbara is passionate about mysteries, memoirs, nonfiction relating to social issues and family relationships, and romances, but will be a proud promoter of any writer with a strong, unique voice. www.irenegoodman.com

 
Holly Root, Waxman Literary Agency

Holly began her publishing career as an editor in Nashville before coming to New York and joining the William Morris Agency's agent trainee program. She then moved to Trident Media Group, where she sold audio rights for the agency's clients, before joining Waxman Literary Agency to represent her own list of authors. She has always been drawn to a fresh, vibrant voice, and enjoys the process of partnering with authors to guide their work to publication, from that very first moment when an idea comes alive to the moment the finished book hits the shelves and beyond. www.waxmanagency.com  

Susan Ann Protter, Susan Ann Protter Agency

Susan Ann Protter, a native New Yorker, has worked in the publishing industry for three decades. After a brief stint as a French teacher, she began her career at Harper & Row (now HarperCollins) as associate director of subsidiary rights. In 1970 she became a consultant to Addison-Wesley in Massachusettes. In the course of travelling back and forth to Boston, she met several authors who asked her to represent them. And so her literary agency was born. She is a member of AAR, where she serves on the program committee. She is also an agent member of the Author's Guild. Her agency deals with all publishers and maintains an office in Manhattan. www.SusanAnnProtter.com  

 

Peter Rubie, FinePrint Literary Management

Peter specializes in a broad range of high-quality fiction and nonfiction. He is a "sucker" for outstanding writing. In fiction he represents literate thrillers, crime fiction, science fiction and fantasy, military fiction and literary fiction. In nonfiction he specializes in narrative non-fiction, popular science, spirituality, history, biography, pop culture, business and technology, parenting, health, self help, music, and food. Rubie is a former BBC Radio and Fleet Street journalist and for several years was the director of the publishing section of the New York University Summer Publishing Institute.

He is a member of the NYU faculty, and teaches the only university-level course in the country on how to become a literary agent. Prior to becoming an agent he was a publishing house editor for nearly six years, whose authors won prizes and critical acclaim. He has also been the editor-in-chief of a Manhattan local newspaper, and a freelance editor and book doctor for major publishers. He was a regular reviewer for Publishers Weekly, and is a published author of both fiction and non-fiction. He is a member of AAR, and regularly lectures and writes on publishing and the craft of writing, and was once a professional jazz musician. www.fineprintlit.com

 
Victoria Skurnick, Levine Greenberg Literary Agency

Victoria, now an agent at Levine Greenberg, began her publishing career at Avon Books, where she worked in the advertising department. After a stint at Pocket Books as assistant director of advertising and promotion, she went to Holt, Rinehart & Winston, where she was director of the promotion and advertising department. In 1980, she became a senior editor at Pocket Books, then went on to be a senior editor at St. Martin's Press. Beginning in 1989, she became a reader, then executive editor, and eventually editor-in-chief of the Book of the Month Club.

In 1989, she began her career as a writer, co-authoring seven novels published under the name Cynthia Victor.  In 2007, she joined Levine Greenberg. Her clients include Joe Garden, Anita Serwacki, Janet Ginsburg, Scott Sherman and Chris Pauls, who, as "Rex" and "Sparky" are the authors of THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR DOGS, which published in October, 2007. She also represents Robert Rotenberg, author of OLD CITY HALL AND COLLEGE PARK, to be published by Sarah Crichton at Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Her nonfiction clients include former U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, who has written a treatise on health care; Gary Jansen, who has written EXERCISING YOUR SOUL; Danielle Svetcov, author of THE 'REGULAR' GOURMET EVERYDAY: Gourmet Recipes for the Gastro-Intestinally Challenged; plus several novelists and historians. Victoria is searching for the perfect literary novel, the perfect thriller or mystery, the original political or historical work of nonfiction, or, frankly, any other book that strikes her fancy. www.levinegreenberg.com

 
Alice Tasman, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency

Alice is a senior literary agent at Jean Naggar, where she has worked for twelve years. Her list focuses primarily on literary and upmarket commercial fiction as well as strong narrative nonfiction. Recent fiction titles include: NIGHT NAVIGATION by Ginnah Howard (Harcourt); THE LIAR'S DIARY by Patry Francis  (Dutton/Penguin); UP HIGH IN THE TREES by Kiara Brinkman (Grove); GENEALOGY by Maud Casey (HarperCollins); YOU MUST BE THIS HAPPY TO ENTER, ALL THIS HEAVENLY GLORY and WHEN THE MESSENGER IS HOT by Elizabeth Crane (Akashic/Punk Planet & Little Brown);  DEVILS IN THE SUGAR SHOP and THE SINGING AND DANCING DAUGHTERS OF GOD by Timothy Schaffert (Unbridled Books); and the Olivia Kidney series and PISH POSH by Ellen Potter (Philomel/Penguin). Recent nonfiction titles include BECOMING FAULKNER: A Biography of William Faulkner, by Dr. Philip Weinstein (Oxford University Press); and AN ENTIRELY SYNTHETIC FISH: A Biography of Rainbow Trout, by Anders Halverson (Yale University Press). www.jvlna.com  

 
Lisa Erbach Vance, Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency

Lisa has been with the Aaron Priest Literary Agency since 1993. Her clients include Harlan Coben, G.M. Ford, Gregg Hurwitz, Gayle Lynds, Matt Beynon Rees, Bill Fitzhugh, Aaron Elkins, Sindiwe Magona and Ann Howard Creel. Her publishing career began at Random House, where she was selected as one of the first participants in their new management trainee program, after which she became an associate in the foreign rights department at Crown Publishers, before moving to Aaron Priest. Lisa was born and raised outside of Chicago, and she has a BA in English literature from Northwestern University. She is currently most interested in thrillers, historical fiction, upmarket women's fiction, international fiction and narrative non-fiction. www.aaronpriest.com

 
Jennifer Weltz, Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency

Jennifer, a partner at Jean Naggar, has sold books domestically, internationally and for film for fourteen years.  She has worked with bestselling authors such as Phillip Margolin.  For a winning thriller, she looks for a page-turner with strong original plot. www.jvlna.com