Agents

Yes, it does appear to be MediaBistro day around here. This is the result of leaving tabs open in a browser for days on end. We knew it would end like this: a profile of The Graybill & English Literary Agency. With five agents — Nina Graybill, Elaine English, Jeff Kleinman, Kristen Auclair, and Lynn Whitaker — the agency covers a wide range of fiction and non-fiction styles. This might be a good time to note that Graybill’s website details the likes and dislikes of each agent. Do not rely on outdated listings. Take advantage of an agency that actually […]

Most authors would be happy to get their agents on the phone. We know one person who’d be happy to get an email response that makes sense. Having your agent take on the government? Heck, that’s like a dream come true. This may be why so many people want The Strothman Agency behind them. Wendy Strothman and Dan O’Connell combine editorial experience with marketing expertise. Though their agency has a strong background in academic work, they’re also seeking work that has staying power. They represent a wide range of works and are highly selective about the fiction they represent. Quality

Very few literary agencies receive the Booksquare Seal of Approval. Setting our rigorous screening criteria aside, we have been bogged down in the Seal’s design process forever. Who knew that drawing stick figures was so hard? However, when the seal is done, we will seriously consider The Knight Agency for the honor. Deidre Knight, Pamela Harty, Nephele Tempest are doing great things for their clients; so much so that we didn’t need to read MediaBistro’s profile to know the scoop. Heck, they didn’t even mention Deidre’s blog, part of the newest trend to catch our fancy: Literary Agents Who Blog.

Danielle Egan-Miller, sole agent at Browne & Miller Literary Associates (the associates being staff who vet submissions and answer the all-important email queries), is looking for women’s fiction and eclectic non-fiction. Egan-Miller represents bestsellers such as Dee Henderson but makes it a point to note that she reprsents secular writers as well. Vitals: Browne & Miller Literary Associates, Inc., 410 S Michigan Ave, Ste 460, Chicago, Il 60605, mail@browneandmiller.com (review website before sending an email query). Pitching an Agent: Browne & Miller Literary Associates – A Chicago-based agency with a fondness for eclectic nonfiction and women’s fiction of all types

We appreciate it when an agency makes things easy. For example, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates handle just about everything under the sun. Except young adult and diet books. Why those exceptions, we cannot say. The five agents — Matt Bialer, Faith Hamlin, Heide Lange, Dan Mandel, and Peter McGuigan — each have their specialties (yes, you must read the article) and favorites. A word of warning: if you query Lange with the next Da Vinci Code, you’d better be right. She sold the first one. Vitals: Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, Inc., 55 Fifth Ave, 15th Fl, New York, NY, 10003,

Ellen Geiger has left Curtis Brown (New York) for the Frances Goldin Literary Agency. We presume she will contribute to her new firm’s proud tradition of quality literary fiction and serious, sometimes controversial non-fiction. Though this probably isn’t relevant, we are happy to note that Geiger is moving from a website-less agency to one with a fine and functioning site. Vitals: Frances Goldin Literary Agency, 57 E. 11th St, Ste 5B, NY, NY 10003, (212) 777-0047, (212) 228-1660 (fax) (Via Publisher’s Lunch) Frances Goldin Literary Agency

Because we can’t bring ourselves to even think about the Jane Fonda media blitz (what is it about people named Jane and the need to confess all in an attempt to reach readers/viewers? Even though we know the drill, the whole thing smacks of horrible desperation), we have made the executive decision to cover an entirely different celebrity story. The Booksquare Board so enjoys the meetings where these topics are debated. Yes, dear readers, we are returning to the Alicia Keys/Noah Lukeman story that occupied our imagination for a good five minutes a very long time ago. While we weren’t

Gail Fortune has left Berkley to join John Talbot in what will now be known as the Talbot Fortune Agency. We are straining our nice gene to avoid making any of the obvious comments; instead we’ll note that if you have something on Gail Fortune’s desk at Berkley, you might want to ask questions. If you’re seeking The Talbot Fortune Agency, you’ll be happy to know they actually have a website. As always, we applaud this sort of modernity. Our intensive research reveals a bent toward commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction. Also seeking edgy voices and domestic realism. You’ll have

How many times have you heard that the only good agent is a New York agent? Probably as often as you’ve heard you must have 25 lines per page, Courier, 12 point. Also, one inch margins. No exceptions to the rule. Agent Sandra Dijkstra scoffs at the notion that one must be Back East to be effective. Oh sure, she rubs it in. . .extolling the bliss that is California. But being the focused sorts, she immediately returns to business and the benefits of living in the Pacific Standard (soon to be Daylight) Time zone: Our days are blissfully lunch-free,