Agents

James Fitzgerald and Anne Garrett believe in the awesome power of the Internet. So much so that their agency utilizes things like the web and email to do business. It’s almost enough to bring a tear of joy to our jaded eye. The agents like email, they like brief, action-packed pitches, and they like the modern world, so much so, that, uh, Fitzgerald has developed an interest in the Old West. What interests us, however, was the way the agency works: The Internet also aids Fitzgerald in finding writers. About 50 percent of his projects start with Fitzgerald’s own ideas, […]

Top heavy sounds good, you know, when it’s someone else’s problem. When it’s yours? Well, you apparently pretend it’s a bad thing, while secretly thinking “nyah, nyah, nyah.” Or other thoughts inappropriate for this blog. Thus is the problem at the Aaron M Priest Literary Agency. Agents Aaron Priest, Molly Friedrich, Lucy Childs, Lisa Erbach Vance, and Paul Cirone tend to carry a list a tilts about 90 degrees toward fiction — and, sure, they’re trying to fix the problem by courting the non-fiction authors, but it’s also a pretty darn good list, so why mess with success? As for

It appears that someone out there is impersonating agent Deidre Knight by sending letters to authors, assuring publication and a low agency commission. Let us assure you that The Knight Agency doesn’t need to drum up additional business — this is a scam, and someone is trading on Knight’s sterling reputation. Do not fall for this. While it is possible that a reputable agent might contact you, offering representation, this is not the norm. And no reputable agent is going to guarantee publication. We’ve had many dealings with Deidre Knight over the years, and she is always helpful and professional.

There is, if you can believe it, a debate that rages long and loud: to New York agent or not to New York agent. The crowd on the left believes proximity makes for good agenting. The crowd on the rights notes new technologies like airplanes, telephones, and even something we hear is called “electronic mail.” Someone mentioned something called a “fax machine”, but we have been unable to track down any further details. As agent Rick Broadhead says, Prospective clients with caller ID may be confused by Broadhead’s 416 area code, but the Canadian dismisses the idea that an agent

Here’s one we missed — an agency looking for a wide range of projects, including (yes, kids, it’s true) children’s and young adult fiction. Jennifer DeChiara and Stephen Fraser are incredibly picky, but if they like your work, expect lots of loving care from the agency. Vitals: The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency, 254 Park Avenue South, Ste 2L New York, NY, 10010, (212) 777-2706. Traditional queries (snail mail, SASE) suggested. Pitching an Agent: The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency — These agents aren’t concerned with a writer’s age or previous publishing experience—but if you don’t have the writing chops to back

There were lots of words we didn’t understand in MediaBistro’s profile of Larry Weissman Literary LLC. Media landscape, cultural taste-trackers, that sort of thing. What we did understand that there’s an agent out there eager to represent bold young journalists who specialize in literary narrative nonfiction (something, we presume, you know when you see it). Also, popping out was this interesting gem: He tends toward literary fiction, but he’s not averse to the more commercial stuff. Authors with a YA novel up their sleeve can address those manuscripts to Weissman’s wife, Sascha Alper. Vitals: Larry Weissman Literary LLC, Brooklyn, New

The Author’s Guild is asking members who were clients of Nancy Ellis (Bell), formerly of Litwest Group to contact them regarding the agent’s possible withholding of monies due. Ellis recently settled a suit with one her clients; since then, others have filed suit against her or alleged withholding. While we’re add it, now seems to be a dandy time to remind authors that it’s okay to ask for split checks. As a rule of thumb, agents are as honest as the day is long (that is to say, there’s always going to be a shortest day of the year), but

Without reading a word, we can guarantee there’s at least one author out there who’s probably not going to be published. Unless he or she finds a real angent. For the record, if your agent is contacting bloggers (even really smart bloggers like Sarah Weinman) for advice, your agent doesn’t have the necessary contacts or, well, brains to do the job. Because we are mean, mean, mean, we truly wish Sarah hadn’t politely blocked out the agency name. Now I know how Lee Goldberg feels