2013 Guide to Literary Agents – Book Agents Guide

2013 Guide to Literary Agents – a former NY Times bestselling book agent shares the pros and cons of this popular directory (print and online). Although this directory is one of the best sources of literary agency information, it shouldn’t be the only directory that you use.

Scroll below to learn more and see a sample listing from the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents. This article is part of a 9-part series to help you find the best Best Directory of Literary Agents for You and Your Book.

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2013 Guide to Literary Agents – What Is It?

The 2013 Guide to Literary Agents was designed to be the essential author resource for finding a literary agent, whether an author is writing fiction, nonfiction, or children’s books.

In addition to listings for most literary agents, the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents includes craft and business advice from more than 35 literary agents on topics like query letters, children’s books, synopses and proposals, memoir writing, first chapters, conferences, platform, and more.

The 2013 Guide to Literary Agents also features twelve “Breaking In” success stories from debut writers, “New Agent Spotlights” or profiles on author representatives actively building their client list right now.

Praise for the The 2013 Guide to Literary Agents:

“The Guide to Literary Agents was an indispensable tool for me when I was querying agents. I highly recommend it for any aspiring author–in addition to a comprehensive listing of literary agents, it contains valuable information about the query and submission process.”
– Darien Gee, author of Friendship Bread: A Novel

“I just signed with literary agent Chip MacGregor, and I came upon him through
the Guide to Literary Agents. If not for GLA, I’d probably still be looking.”
– Les Edgerton, author of Hooked as well as several novels

Read our pros/cons of the 2013 Guide to Book Agents 
below and see a sample literary agency listing…

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2013 Guide to Literary Agents

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Pros – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents

The 2013 Guide to Book Agents is one of the most comprehensive literary agent directories in the marketplace. Many years ago I had the opportunity to get to know the editor, and was invited to write a feature article that was published in the directory. I also had an interview included in the directory, sharing my perspective on what makes an irresistible query letter.

So here’s what I love about the 2013 Guide to Book Agents. Unlike the Jeff Herman’s Guide to Agents, the 2013 Guide to Book Agents includes:

• A great index that makes it easy to find literary agencies interested in your genre or category
• AAR membership status
• The year each literary agency was established
• Number of clients represented
• Percentage of nonfiction/fiction/juvenile clients
• Response time for queries and full manuscript requests
• How the literary agency finds new clients
• Writers’ conferences that the literary agency is part of

But don’t think for a moment that the 2013 Guide to Book Agents is the ultimate literary agent directory. After viewing the sample literary agency listing below, continue reading to see the disadvantages of the 2013 Guide to Book Agents.

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Cons – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents

Although the 2013 Guide to Book Agents is a good resource, it does have flaws. Virtually every literary agency in the United States is listed in the 2013 Guide to Book Agents. In other words, there is no filtering or vetting process… preventing unethical literary agencies from being included.

That means you’ll find book agents that charge reading fees, and engage in other unscrupulous behavior, in the 2013 Guide to Book Agents.

The 2013 Guide to Book Agents is also like dry toast. By that I mean it’s extremely boring. The only thing you’ll find inside the 2013 Guide to Book Agents is the bottom line. You’ll learn who does what, but you won’t get any sense of a literary agent’s personality.

So, don’t let the 2013 Guide to Book Agents be your primary go-to resource when researching literary agencies.

Don’t let it be your only resource, either.

Now, scroll below to see a sample literary agency listing
from the 2013 Guide to Book Agents…

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Sample Listing – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents

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New Brand Agency Group, LLC

[divider_line]2013 Guide to Literary Agents General Information[/divider_line]

2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Ste E4-277, Boulder, CO 80302. Email: submissions@literary-agents.com. Website: www.literary-agents.com. Estab. 1994. Contact: Mark Malatesta. Member of AAR. Represents 80 clients. 70% of clients are new/unpublished authors. Currently handles: 50% nonfiction books; 30% novels; 20% juvenile books.

Member Agents – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents 
Mark Malatesta (formerly Mark Ryan)

Represents – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents 
Nonfiction books; novels; juvenile books. Considers these nonfiction areas: Animals/Pets; Autobiography; Beauty/Fashion/Style; Biography; Business; Celebrity; Christian; Cooking/Cookbook; Crafts; Cultural/Social Issues; Current Events/Affairs; Dating/Relationship/Sex; Diet/Nutrition; Education; Film/Entertainment; Environment; Family; Fitness; Food/Drinks; Gardening; Gay/Lesbian; General Nonfiction; Gift/Novelty; Health/Wellness; History; How-To; Humor; Inspiration; Investigative; Journalism; Juvenile; Law; Lifestyle; Medical/Medicine; Memoir; Middle Grade; Military/War; Mind/Body/Spirit; Money/Finance; Multicultural; Music; Narrative; Nature; New Age; Parenting/Child Guidance; Philosophy; Photography; Politics; Pop Culture; Practical; Prescriptive; Psychology; Reference; Religion; Science; Self-Help/Personal Development; Spirituality; Sports; Technology; Travel; True Adventure; True Crime; 20- and 30-Somethings; Upmarket; Women’s Issues; Young Adult. Considers these fiction areas: Action/Adventure; Chick Lit; Children’s Fiction; Christian Fiction; Commercial; Contemporary; Crime/Detective/Police; Erotica; Ethnic Fiction; Espionage/Military; Family Saga; Fantasy; Gay/Lesbian Fiction; General Fiction; Glitz; Graphic Novel; Historical; Horror; Humor Fiction; Inspirational Fiction; Juvenile Fiction; Literary; Magical Realism; Mainstream; Middle Grade Fiction; Multicultural Fiction; Mystery; Paranormal; Picture Book; Religious; Romance; Satire; Science Fiction; Short Story Collection; Sports Fiction; Suspense; Thriller; Upmarket Fiction; Western; Women’s Fiction; Young Adult Fiction.

Key to Success – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents
“We only represent books with bestseller or high commercial potential (national/international appeal likely to sell at least 100,000 copies). And we only represent authors that we’re passionate about on three levels: The financial promise of the work and its ability to to entertain, educate, and inspire; the personality and character of the author; and the potential career of the author (future books and willingness/ability to promote). We don’t represent books we wouldn’t buy ourselves and pull all-nighters to read. Actively seeking the stories and voices that no one else can share but you. Genuine. Authentic. Genre-bending okay.”

How to Contact – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents
Email queries only. Responds in 24-48 hours to queries when interested. 2 weeks to mss. Obtains most new clients through solicitations, 25% from referrals and conferences.

Recent Sales – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents
24/7 and The Hill by Jim Brown (Ballantine), The Marriage Plan by Aggie Jordan, Ph.D. (Broadway); The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci (Harcourt-Brace/Paramount); The Finnegan Zwake Mystery Series by Michael Dahl (Pocket); The Misfits, Inc. Mystery Series by Mark Delaney (Peachtree); The Crisis Counselor by Jeff Caponigro (Contemporary); Eat Or Be Eaten by Phil Porter (Prentice-Hall); Father To Son by Harry Harrison (Workman); The Women’s Guide to Legal Issues by Nancy Jones (Renaissance); The Husband Book by Harry Harrison (Andrews McMeel); The Scooter Spy Mystery Series by Michael Dahl (Pocket); Various mysteries by Rae Foley (Simon & Schuster); Various young adult novels by Susan Rottman (Peachtree/Penguin).

Terms – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents 
Agent receives 15% commission on domestic sales; 20% commission on foreign sales. Offers written contract, binding for 1 year; 30 days notice must be given to terminate contract.

Writers’ Conferences – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents 
Santa Barbara Writers’ Conference; Missouri Writers’ Conference; Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Conference; First Novel Fest Conference; Writing the Region Conference; Florida First Coast Festival; Pike’s Peak Writers’ Conference; Authors Venue; Surrey Writers’ Conference* Gardenia Press Conference; Willamette Writers’ Conference; Sleuth Fest; Amarillo Writers Conference; Marjorie Kinnans Rawlings Workshop; Wild Acres Writers’ Conference and Retreat ; Wrangling With Writing; Southwest Florida Writers’ Conference; Panama City Storytellers; Golden Triangle Writers’ Conference; Detroit Writers’ Guild Annual Conference; Columbus Writers’ Conference; Georgia Writers’ Conference; Houston Writers’ Conference; Space Coast Writers’ Conference; Intl Symposium on Religion & Art; Utah Writers’ Conference; Minneapolis Writers’ Workshop; Eugene Writers’ Group; National Writers’ Assoc. South Florida Writers’ Conference.

Tips – 2013 Guide to Literary Agents Agents 
Many writers don’t understand (or forget) that veteran agents have seen and heard tens of thousands of pitches (email, letter, phone, and person-to-person at writers’ conferences). Be prepared. Imagine us sitting in front of close to one thousand submissions (the total number we receive each month), with a goal of finding two new authors we want to work with. Take the competition seriously and do all you can to be the best. Read books on craft and marketing. Study your market and target your submissions. Write, edit, repeat. Build your promotional platform. Network. Treat your publishing career like a business by investing financially and hiring a book publishing consultant and or professional editor. Then find an agent who believes in you—with the knowledge, connections, and energy to make things happen.

Click here to buy the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents on Amazon. Just make sure you purchase the print edition of the 2013 Guide to Book Agents. It’s a lengthy reference book that you won’t want to try and navigate on your ebook reader. Plus we’ve found that the online version of the 2013 Guide to Book Agents has lots of mistakes.

Just make sure you also…

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Get FREE Access Now –
To Our Directory of Literary Agents

Our Directory of Literary Agents is the most comprehensive (and accurate) list of literary agents in the world… plus it’s the easiest to use. Simply click here to See Our Directory of Literary Agents and get instant access to:

• US and intl literary agents (1,000+ agents)
• Search by book genre/category (116 of them)
• Full-length agent biographies and photos
• AAR membership status
• Query letter method (email, online form, post)
• Links to agent websites and maps to their offices
• Personal email and postal addresses

If you liked this article about the 2013 Guide to Literary Agents
click here to read the next article in this 9-part series and
learn about Jeff Herman’s Directory of Agents.