Literary Agents
There's no doubt about it. Being a successful writer requires more of you than simply stringing words together. Even the greatest of writers have to do more than write. Unless you can persuade someone to publish the words you slave over, your writing will remain unknown and unread and your writing efforts will drain, rather than fill, your bank account. That's where a Literary Agent comes in. Your literary agent is the book-marketing expert who can sell your crafted words to the most jaded of publishing professionals. He or she can turn a manuscript gathering dust in your desk drawer into a published book paying the bills (and isn't that the goal of every writer in the world?). A reputable agent will go to work for you to make sure that your writing pays what it should. An agent does many things for the 15% he collects from sales of your work. Among them is getting your writing before an editor in the first place. More and more often, publishers are adopting a policy of reading "only agent-represented authors." An agent gives your work a much better chance of escaping the slush piles that threaten to overwelm the office space of all successful publishers. Your job, which isn't easy, is to produce writing that an agent can believe in and can sell. The following are some literary agents that have listings in various places. Some are actively seeking new clients; others are buried beneath work and can't take on anyone else. Before signing with a new agent, make sure you investigate that agent fully and have all details of your relationship spelled out in a written contract or agreement. In the Spotlight The Gislason Agency, 219 Main St.
SE, Suite 506, Minneapolis MN 55414-2160, (612)331-8033, fax (612)332-8115. E-Mail: gislasonbj@aol.com. Contact: Barbara J.
Gislason. Seeking new and established writers. Ms. Gislason became an attorney
in 1980, and continues to practice Art & Entertainment Law. She has been
nationally recognized as a Leading American Attorney and a SuperLawyer. Established:
1992. Member of Minnesota State Bar Association, Art & Entertainment Law Section
(former chair), Internet Committee, Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association
Copyright Committee (former chair). Seeking non-fiction Animals
(behavior/communications); health/medicine (alternative); New Age/metaphysics; psychology
(popular); science/technology; self-help/personal improvement; sociology;
spirituality. Also considers fiction fantasy; mystery/suspense; romance; science
fiction; thriller (legal). Query fiction with synopsis, first 3 chapters, and SASE.
Query non-fiction with proposal and sample chapters. Published authors may
submit complete ms. Responds in 1 month to queries. Responds in 3 months on manuscripts.
Obtains new clients through recommendations from others, writer's conferences, Guide to
Literary Agents, Literary Market Place and other reference books. No
personal memoirs, poetry or children's books. TIPS: "Cover letter should
be well written and include a detailed synopsis (if fiction) or proposal (if nonfiction),
the first three chapters and author bio. Appropriate SASE required. We are looking for a
great writer with a poetic, lyrical or quirky writing style who can create intriguing
ambiguities. We expect a well-researched, imaginative and fresh plot that reflects a
familiarity with the applicable genre. If submitting nonfiction work, explain how the
submission differs from and adds to previously published works in the field. Scenes with
sex and violence must be intrinsic to the plot. Remember to proofread, proofread,
proofread. If the work was written with a specific publisher in mind, this should be
communicated. In addition to owning an agency, Ms. Gislason practices law in the area of
Art and Entertainment and has a broad spectrum of entertainment industry contacts." Agency Listings Since most literary agencies are filled to capacity with clients or--at best--have room for a very limited new number of authors to take under wing, it's wise to e-mail the agents you're interested in, asking if they are presently accepting new clients. Include a brief synopsis of your literary experience, published works, and whether or not you have been agency-represented in the past. As we receive new agency listings, we'll post them here. New listings for November 2001: layton@prontomail.com,American Literary Agents hhlagroup@sscg.net,The HHLA Group Aimee@eBooks2Go.com,eBooks 2 Go larbre@sccoast.net,B. Bailey Literary Agency pacificliterary@yahoo.com,Pacific NW Literary
Associates brbotm19@skypoint.com,Otitis Media Literary Agency tripwithj5@aol.com,National Writers Literary Agency angelof7@home.com,FLA Finesse Literary Agency angel@mvp.net,Finesse Literary Agency literary@powerup.com.au,Strictly Literary authorandbook@authorandbook.com,Author
and Book review@magnum-one.com,The Magnum Group sedgeband@aol.com,Sedgeband Literary Associates steverett1@netscape.net,SE Literary Properties eribooks@netcrafters.net,Erica Books Literary
Agency midwestlit@aol.com,The Midwest Literary and
Entertainment Mgmt. Group
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If you would like to suggest a literary agency to include
in this list, or if you are a literary agent
who would like to be included, type in the agency name and e-mail address and click
"Submit."
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