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Finding and Working With an Agent In the early years of teaching writing and working with clients I came up with a fairly simple method of placing your book with an agent. This has worked well for both clients and students. Here are the steps.  1. Put together a good proposal and a sample chapter or two. Essentially this is your sales brochure. This is the critical step. The proposal must be well written and professional so take some time and do this well. See our website for tips. www.dnewcomb.bizland.com/Writing 2. Write a one page letter of inquiry describing your book briefly and ask if you can send your proposal and sample chapters. 3.Make yourself a list of agents you feel might be interested in your book. You will find a list at the Association of Author’s Agents Box 272201 Ansonia Station New York NY 10003 www.publishersweekly.com/aar.  You will also find a list of agents and the kind of books they are looking for in the Writer’s Guide to Book Editors Publishers and Literary Agents. From this book make up a list of agents who say they take books similar to yours. Do this carefully. 4. Send your letter of inquiry to all the agents on your list.  Many agents don’t want to look at material you’ve sent to other agents. I prefer however to get the job done as quickly as possible.  Submit only to agents who say they welcome submissions. 5. Before agreeing to let an agent represent you investigate him or her.  Ask for a list of clients and talk to a few if possible. Ask if the agent is open to phone calls. Agent relationships can be good or bad you need to feel comfortable before signing an agreement. 6.Insist on a written agreement but sign a contract or a letter of agreement for one book at a time with a time limit of not more than one year to sell the book. Don’ t let an agent send out your proposal without a written contract. 7.Ask the agent to keep you informed of all the correspondence they get from a publisher. Some authors have this written into the contract. If your agent does not do this get out of the agreement as soon as legally possible. Most agents charge 15 percent for domestic sales. Agents charge a 20 to 25 percent commission on foreign sales. 20 percent is usually standard.  8. When you find an agent you can work well with. Give that agent everything you do.

Northern California Literary Agents     Andree Abecassis, AAR Ann Elmo Agency P.O.Box 7283, Berkeley, CA 94707 510 526-5099 aalitagent@aol.com Primarily nonfiction: politics, biography, careers, health, parenting, self-help, psychology, medical, memoirs, gardening, meteorology.   Kimberley Cameron, AAR Reese-Halsey 98 Main Street #704, Tiburon, CA 94920 bookgirl2@comcast.net Nonfiction: culture, history, biography, self-help, spirituality. Mainstream & literary fiction, sci-fi.   Catherine Fowler Redwood Agency 618 Douglas Drive, Mill Valley, CA 94941 fowlerc@mindspring.com Nonfiction: health, self-help, pop culture, food, gift books, women's, narrative, memoirs, current affairs. Lilly Ghahremani Full Circle Literary Agency Glilly@fullcircleliterary.com www.fullcircleliterary.com General fiction and non-fiction   Charlotte Gusay The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency 10532 Blythe Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90064 310/559-0831 gusay2@aol.com mediastudio.com/gusay Fiction:  Mainstream and Literary Fiction. Nonfiction. Narrative nonfiction/ Memoir, Political/Social subjects, Business, Film/Television, Fashion,  Biography, Humor, Cookbooks and others.    Jonothan Harris Lit West Agency 831 457-9466 jonoharris@hotmail.com 417 Broadway Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Nonfiction of all kinds. Elsa Hurley Candice Fuhrman Agency 60 Greenwood Way, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-383-6081 Elsa100@pacbell.net Literary & YA fiction. Narrative non-fiction.       Andrea Hurst & Associates Literary Agency P O Box 19010 Sacramento, CA 95819-0010 916-736-3745 Ahawrite@aol.com Nonfiction: personal growth, self-help, memoirs spirituality, parenting, business, cookbooks, holistic health, narrative, true crime. Fiction: commercial, women's, mystery, thriller   Michael Larsen, AAR Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents 1029 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94l09 415 673-0939 Larsenpoma@aol.com www.larsenpomada.com Nonfiction: how-to, self-help, business, humor, spirituality, technology. Author How to Write a Book Proposal, Literary Agents, Guerrilla Marketing for Writers.   Stephanie Lee, AAR Manus & Associates 425 Sherman Ave. #200, Palo Alto, CA 94306 650 470-5151 slee@manuslit.com Fiction: multicultural, literary & women's fiction, young voices. Nonfiction: prescriptive & narrative nonfiction, GenX/GenY issues, popular science. Donna Levin Manus & Associates 425 Sherman Ave., #200, Palo Alto, CA 94306 650 470-5151 DonnaLevin@aol.com Fiction: commercial & literary, Mysteries. Nonfiction: memoirs. Author of Get That Novel Started.   Randi Glass Murray Randi Murray Literary Agency 804 Vista Road, Hillsborough, CA 94010 650 347-8121 murrayr@aol.com Literary & commercial fiction, myteries, historical, chick lit. Nonfiction: prescriptive/narrative, memoirs, humor, science, politics/current affairs, business, sport Jandy Nelson Manus & Associates 425 Sherman Ave. #200, Palo Alto, CA 94306 650 470-5151 jandy@manuslit.com Literary and commerical fiction and nonfiction.   Elizabeth Pomada, AAR Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents 1029 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 415 673-0939 larsenpoma@aol.com www.larsenpomada.com Literary & commercial fiction, romance, historical, mysteries, thrillers. Nonfiction: women's interest, travel, narrative, memoir, biography and new voices.   Elsie Proux, Agent  Frederick Hill, Bonnie Nadell, 1842 Union St San Francisco, CA 94123, 415-921-2910 phone, 415-921-2802 fax, eproulx100@earthlink.com     Robert Preskill, Attorney at Law Legal & Literary Representation 301 Howard Street St. #830 S.F., CA 94l05 415 377-3919 www.Preskilllaw.com Commercial men's fiction, mysteries and thrillers. Nonfiction of all kinds.   Laura Rennert, Senior Agent Andrea Brown Agency 1076 Eagle Drive, Salinas, CA 93905 650 853-1976 ljrennert@earthlink.net All categories of children's books. Nonfiction: history, thrillers with female angle, narrative & popular, memoirs. Fiction: historical, literary & thrillers. Robert Shepard Robert Shepard Literary Agency 1608 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94703 510 849-3999 Query@Shepardagency.com www.shepardagency.com Memoirs, spirituality, history, current affairs, pop culture, business, science, Judaica, and gay/lesbian.   Francesca & John Vrattos Vrattos Literary Agency 708 Gravenstein Highway North, Suite. 185 Sebastopol, CA 95472 707/570-2720 VrattosLitAgency@aol.com www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/VrattosLitAgency/ Represents 40% fiction, 60% nonfiction. They are interested in all nonfiction projects, mysteries, thrillers and women's fiction.   Additional information can be found at TED WEINSTEIN LITERARY MANAGEMENT 35 Stillman Street, Suite 203 San Francisco, CA 94107 www.twliterary.com Nonfiction: serious, narrative nonfiction, current affairs and politics, biography, history, business, science, technology, pop culture, health/medicine.

Southwest Agents Arizona, New Mexico and Texas   DHS Literary Agency Inc. 2528 Elm Street, Suite 350 Dallas, TX 75226 214-363-4422   fax 214-363-4423 e-mail: submissions@dhsliterary.com   Agents: David Hale Smith, Seth Robertson   Areas of Interest:  Mainstream fiction, suspense, mystery, thrillers, Business, hisorical fiction, Pop culture, music, film, technology.true crime, travel/adventure, humor, music. As of June 1 2003, we are no longer accepting unsolicited queries or submissions. We accept new material by referral only. Unless specifically requested, we will not be able to read or respond to your submission Amicus Literary Agency 3202 East Greenway, Suite 1307-182. Phoenix, AZ 85032 602-569-2481  fax: 602-569-2265 e-mail: bookwoman@qwest.net   Manuscripts wanted: Mainstream, literary fiction, mysteries/thrillers, current events and non fiction   Contact: Fiction: query letter and the first 50 pages or first 3 chapters.  Nonfiction: query letter with SASE Jim Donovan Literary 4515 Prentice, Suite 109 Dallas, TX 75206 214-696-9411   Jim Donovan Literary Query by mail with SASE   Wants: Books with something fresh to say.   Farris Literary Agency Inc. PO Box 570069, Dallas, TX 75357-0069 972-203-8804 www.farrisliterary.com  e-mail: farris1@airmail.net   Agent: Michael D. Farris, Susan Morgan Farris   FICTION:  thrillers, suspense, mysteries, romance, mainstream, horror, action/adventure, literary, Christian, westerns NON-FICTION:  how-to, self-help, law, true crime, current affairs, popular culture, women's issues, -biography, history, travel, sports, politics, entertainment, spiritual and inspirational   We accept queries by e-mail or snail mail, but, please, no attachments to e-mail – we will not open attachments.   The Fogelman Literary Agency 7515 Greenville Avenue, Suite 712, Dallax,TX 75231 214-361-9956   fax 214-361, 9553 www: Fogelman.com   e-mail: foglit@aol.com   Agents: Evan Fogelman, Linda Kruger, Helen Brown   Romatic suspence, romance thrillers, business, memoir, biographies, literary, other non-fiction Hornfischer Literary Management, Inc. PO Box 50067 Austin, TX 78763   512-472-0077 Agent: Jim Hornfischer   biography/autobiography, current events, U.S. history, military history, political and cultural subjects, science, medicine/health, business, more.   Submission: Nonfiction-full proposal, fiction, one-page synopsis and the first 30-35 pages of the manuscript. We are no longer accepting unsolicited fiction queries via the mails. If you have a novel to present to us, please send an e-mail query via the link below. Owing to the volume of e-mail received, we will be unable to reply to you personally unless we decide to pursue the project. Thank you for your understanding and your patience.   E-mail Your Queries   Irene Krass Agency Irene Krass 256 Rancho Alegre, Santa Fe, NM 87508   Ashley Krass 507 NW 22nd Ave, suite 104 Portland, OR 97210 503-721-7442   Irene Krass: Psychological thrillers, medical thrillers, mysteries, literary fiction   Ashley Krass: Romance, women's fiction, historical finction, non-fiction   Send a short cover letter and the first 50 pages on a completed manuscript. No query letters.   Lindsey's Literary Services 7502 Greenville Avenue, Suite 500 Dallas, Texas 75231   e-mail: bonedges001@aol.com   Agents: Emily Armenta, Bonnie James   Nonfiction: New age, metaphysics, self-help, psychology, women's issues, memoir, true crime,  Fiction: Mystery/suspense, thriller, horror, literary, mainstream romance.   Query or e-mail

Pacific Northwest Agents   Natasha Kern Literary Agency PO Box 2908 Portland, OR 97208   www.natashakern.com   503-297-6190 Agent Natasha Kern   Literary, mainstream, women’s, romances, historicals, thrillers, suspense, mysteries and inspirational fiction  Non fiction: health, science, women’s issues, parenting, spirituality, psychology, business, self-help, gardening, current issues, animals and nature   One page query letter with SASE     Wales Literary Agency PO Box 9428, Seattle, WA 98109 206-284-7114 waleslit@aol.com   Agent: Elizabeth Wales   Non-fiction that has a progressive cultural or political impact.  Fiction, mainstream story tellers.   Query letter, publishing history, writing sample from project with SASE     McHugh Literary Agency 1033 Lyons Rd Moscow, ID 83843 elisabetmuch@tubonet.com     animals, anthropology, biographies, parenting, cooking/nutrition, education, gardening, military, finance, recreation, alternative medicine, others.   Query by e-mail.     Lynda Tolls Literary Agency PO Box 1785 Bend, Or 97709 541-388-3510 blswarts@juno.com Agent: Lynda Tolls     Biography, education, cultural interests, health/medicine, history, travel, current affairs, others. Fiction, multicultural, history, literary, suspense, mystery, romance   Non fiction: query with SASE, fiction. Query with synopsis.   Irene Krass Agency Irene Krass 256 Rancho Alegre, Santa Fe, NM 87508   Ashley Krass 507 NW 22nd Ave, suite 104 Portland, OR 97210 503-721-7442   Irene Krass: Psychological thrillers, medical thrillers, mysteries, literary fiction   Ashley Krass: Romance, women's fiction, historical finction, non-fiction   Send a short cover letter and the first 50 pages on a completed manuscript. No query letters.

Southern California Literary Agencies     Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises PO Box 27788, Los Angeles, CA. 90027-0788 323-662-1987   Agent: Betsy Amster   Social issues, history, adventure, travel, psycghology, self health, women's issues, parenting, popular culture. Literary fiction.       Pema Browne LTD 22284 Avenue San Luis Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-340-4302   Fiction and non-fiction, most generes       Castiglia Literary Agency 1155 Camino Del Mar Suite 510, Del Mar, CA 92014 858-755-8761   Agents: Julie Castiglia, Winifred Golden   Literary, mainstream, ethnic fiction. health, science, biography, women's issues, pop culture, true crime   Ruth Cohen Inc ruthinc@san.it.com   Agent: Ruth Cohen   Selective women's fiction, mysteries, juvenile literature, young adult novels.   Please query via e-mail ONLY. Emails MUST include the word query in the subject box.   E-mail address:ruthinc@IT.com     Linit query to one page. Do not send attachments. PLEASE NOTICE THAT DUE TO THE HEAVY VOLUME OF QUERIES RECEIVED, YOU MAY NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM US UNLESS WE DECIDE TO PURSUE YOUR PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING    Sanda Dijkstra Literary Agency PMB 515, 1155 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014 858-735-3115 ext. 18   Fax: 858-792-1494   Agent: Sandra Dijkstra   Commercial and literary fiction, health, history, business, self-help, psychology, children's literature       Forth Write Literary Agency 23852 West Pacific Coast Highway # 701 Malibu, CA 90265 fax: 310-456-6589 E-mail: query@kellermedia.com   www.kellermedia.com   Agent: Wendy Keller   Business, pop psych, health/alternative health, metaphysical, business       Ashley Grayson Literary Agency 1342 18th Street San Pedro, CA 90732 310-548-4672   Agents: Ashley Grayson, Carolyn Grayson, Dan Hooker   General fiction Mystery Romance Fantasy/science fiction Juvenile fiction Computers/technology Business/investing/finance History Mind/body/spirit Health Lifestyle Science Submission     Send by regular post the best-written query letter of which you are capable plus the first three pages of the manuscript or overview of the non-fiction proposal. No email queries, please. Don't forget to include your phone number or an email address by which we can contact you. Please be assured we do read all queries, but due to the volume of queries received, if you are not previously published, we regret we may no longer answer queries about books that are not for us. If we like what we read, we'll contact you. If you haven't heard from us in two months about your query, you may safely assume your book is not for us. We will answer, of course, all requested submissions; for submissions, please allow up to 4 months for reading.   The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency 19532 Blythe Avenut Los Angeles, CA 90064 310-559-0931 www.mediastudio.com/gusay   gussay1@aol.com  for queries only     Some Areas of Interest: Adventure, Contemporary Fiction, Feminist Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream Fiction, Military/War Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Mystery, Regional Fiction, Suspense, Agriculture/Horticulture, Alternative Lifestyles, Anthropology/Archaelogy, Art/Architecture, Biography, Communications, Cooking/Foods/Nutrition, Ethnic, Feminism, Film/Cinema/Stage, Gardening, Gay/Lesbian Nonfiction, General Nonfiction, Gift Book, Government/Politics, Health/Medicine, History, House and Home, Humanities, Humorous Nonfiction, Language and Literature, Literary Criticism, Multicultural Nonfiction, Music and Dance, Nature and Environment, Philosophy, Popular Science, Psychology, Reference, Regional Nonfiction, Religion, Sports, Travel and Script.   To initiate contact: You may E-Mail a query to Agency E-Address as below. No more than a paragraph or two. No downloads please. After which, you will receive specific instructions should we specifically request to see your material: Comply with the guidelines when you receive them. For example: If fiction, send approximately first 50 pages and a one-page synopsis. For nonfiction, send a proposal consisting of an overview, chapter outline, author biography, first three sample chapters and survey of the competition. (Note: Material will not be returned without a Self Addressed Stamped Envelop - SASE) We discourage Reece Halsey Agency 8733 Sunset Blvd, Suite 101 Los Angeles, CA 90069 phone: 310-652-2409 fax: 310-652-7593   literary fiction Harris Literary Agency PO Box 6023 San Diego, CA 92116 fax 619-697-0610 www.harrisliterary.com e-mail: hlit@adnc.com   Agent: Barbara Harris   Areas if interest: thriller, mystery, humor, young adult, mainstream fiction. self-help, medical historical, adventure.   Contact: Query letter with SASE, E-mail 300 word description, Paul S. Levine Literary 1054 Syperba Ave. Venice, CA 90291 310-450-6711 fax: 310-4500-180   Agent: Paul S. Levine Areas of interest: Adult non-fiction, commercial fiction   Contact: Query by mail, e-mail or fax. Jodie Rhodes Literary Agency 8840 Villa LaJolla Drive, suite 315 La Jolla, CA 92037 8580625-0544 e-mail:jrhodes1@san.rr.com   Agent: Jodie Rhodes   Areas: general   Contact: Query by mail--no e-mail Margaret McBride Literary Agency 7744 Fay Avenue Suite 201 La Jolla, CA 92037 858-454-1550 fax 858-454-2156 www.mcbrideliterary.com e-mailL staff@mcbridelit.com   Agent: Margaret McBride   Areas:  Business, health, self-help, commercian fiction, non-fiction   Contact: Query letter include SASE The Angela Rinaldi Literary Agency PO Box 7877 Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310-842-7665 fax 310-837-8143 e-mail: amr@rindilaterary.com   Agent: Angela Rinaldi   Area: self-help, business, medicine/health, commercial fiction, literary fiction   Contact: fiction: three chapters with synopsis...non-fiction query or send proposal.         B.J. Robbins Literary Agency 5130 Bellaire Avenue North Hollywood, CA 91607 fax: 818-760-6616 e-mail: Robbinsliterary@aol.com   Agent: B.J.. Robbins   Areas: fiction-non-fiction  wants fresh, original approach   Contact: Cover letter: first 3 chapters, fiction-proposal, non-fiction     Full Circle Literary, LLC Lilly Ghahremani 7676 Hazard Center Drive, Ste. 500 San Diego, CA 92108 (858) 824-9269 www.FULLCIRCLELITERARY.com lilly@fullcircleliterary.com   Seeking a broad range of nonfiction including business (particularly women/business), pop culture, crafts, relationships, how-to, and anything else authord by top experts in their field.  For fiction I'd prefer projects with a multicultural viewpoint of setting, and these can range from YA through adult.

Agents For Beginning Authors First time authors frequently complain that agents dont get back to them take too long to get back to them or tell them one thing and do another. The complaints are as long as your arm. Here are 10 agents we'd like you to try. Get back to us and let us know your experience. One word of caution: Do not send a manuscript. Send a query letter first and describe your project. If you get a "go" send the proposal. Make sure your proposal is the best you can make it. Check our website for the format.  Castiglia Literary Agency 1155 Camino Del Mar Suite 510 Del Mar CA 92014 619-755-8761 619-755-7063 Julia Castiglia Winferd Golden Nonfiction psychology science and health biography women’s issues niche books contemporary issues  First Books Inc. P.O. Box 578147 Chicago IL 60657 www. firstbooks.com Jerry Solomon Agent Takes adult fiction and non fiction Harris Literary Agency PO Box 6023 San Diego CA 92166619-697-0600 fax: 619-697-0610 www.harrisliterary.comemail: hlit@adnc.com Barbara HarrisTakes nonfiction: true story how-to-books adventure historical medical self help 300 word e-mail queries The Knight Agency P.O. Box 550648 Atlanta GA 30335 404-816-9620 Fax: 404 2373439 e-mail: deidremk@aol.com Deidre Knight most areas of non-fiction Otitis Media Literary Agency 1926 Dupont Avenue South Inneapolis MN55403 612-337-4918 fax: 612-377-3046 e-mail: brbotm19@skypoint.com B.R. Boylan Hannibal Harris takes e-mail queries  Interested in: historymusic biography satire anthropology/archaeology true crime. James Peter Associates Inc. Bert Holtje agent P.O. Box 772 Tenafly NJ 07670 201-568-o760 fax: 201-568-2959 e-mail: bertholtje@compuserve.com no electronic submissions Takes all non-fiction topics. The Snyder Literary Agency 7123 East Jan Avenue Mesa AZ 85208 602-985-9400 Dawn Snyder agent Nonfiction. Charges a reading fee. Stadler Literary Agency 3202 East Greenway Suite 1307-182 Phoenix AZ 85032 602-569-2481 fax: 602-569-2265 e-mail: All nonfiction. Especially interested in: history politics currrent affairs pop culture health general reference business science biography bookwoma@USWest.net  Wales Literary Agency Inc. Elizabeth Wales Agent 108 Hayes Street Seattle WA 98109 206-284-7114 fax: 206-284-019 e-mail: waleslit@aol.com

Marketing Without an Agent   Writers wanting to submit to a major publisher often run into the following or similar wording: "Publishers in the AOL Time Warner Book Group are not able to consider unsolicited manuscript submissions and unsolicited queries… Unfamiliar packages and letters mailed to our offices will be returned to sender unopened…we recommend that you first enlist the services of an established literary agent.  Many publishers websites carry this message.    Does this mean you cant submit your non-fiction book manuscript to the publisher?  Absolutely not! Even if the publisher has a no unagented manuscript policy Individual editors will read a one page query letter if it is addressed specifically to them.   Before you send that query there are things you need to do.   1. Find publishers that publish books in the same category as your book. It doesnt do any good to send a pop-psych book or a popular business book to a publisher that never publishers that type of thing. There are several places you can find this out.