Joy on Paper
A syndicated radio program for writers and those who dream of writing…and for everyone who wants to know the story behind the book.
Literary Agents
Irene Goodman
Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Founder/President
Date: 03-17-2017
Professional Critique
Want to know how a professional literary agent will view your work? Each month Irene Goodman auctions a detailed critique. This is your chance to get professional feedback from an agent who has built many bestselling careers. It is also a perfect gift for any budding writer in your life. All money goes to charity. Click on icon.
Regina Brooks - Serendipity Literary Agency (Founder)
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0-12-2017
Regina Brooks has created a dynamic literary agency, Serendipity Literary Agency, that represents a select list of authors and illustrators. With her generous spirit and her love for helping discover and nourish new talent, Regina created an annual YA Discovery Contest that gives writers an opportunity to submit their work without a query letter.
She has written two great books for writers: You Should Really Write a Book: How to Write, Sell and Market Your Memoir and Writing Great Books for Young Adults: Everything You Need to Know, from Crafting the Idea to Getting Published.
Andrea Brown - Andrea Brown Literary Agency (Founder)
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0-12-2017
Andrea Brown founded her agency in 1981 and is known as a powerhouse in the business. Her agency specializes in children's literature. They represent both authors and illustrators.
Her agency also runs the famous Big Sur Childrens Workshops which are designed to help up-and-coming writers learn how to improve their writing. Workshops are always a great place to make connections and at Big Sur workshops new writers have the opportunity to work with editors from top publishing houses and with successful authors. It is the perfect place to make learn and to make friends. If you are writing for young people, you really should attend one of Angela's workshops.
John Cusick - Folio Jr.
Date: 03-31-2016
John represents a diverse list young adult and middle grade, as well as a select list of author-illustrators. Many of his authors are award winners and NYT bestsellers.
Folio Jr. is devoted exclusively to the representation of today's stellar children's book authors and artists.
Mark Gottlieb - Trident Media Group
Date -03-30
-2017
It was so much fun to talk to Mark, who is ranked #1 among Agents on Publishers Marketplace in Overall Deals. He's so enthusiastic in his goal to find great authors. He enjoys working with authors to manage and build their careers. He represents many NYT bestselling authors and has also negotiated major TV and film deals. Mark is actively seeking submissions in all categories and genres. Make sure you follow his guidelines!
Miriam Kriss - Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Date:
04-26-2016
Miriam is so impressive. She has eclectic tastes and is open to everything from romance to science fictions to thrillers. Her passion for a good story and authors who have found their voice has led to six-figure deals for first time authors.
Donald Maass - Donald Maass Literary Agency (Founder)
Date: 05-06-2016
In 1980 Donald Maass founded his agency, which sells over 150 novels a year to major publishers.
A prolific writer, Donald Maass has written a half dozen books to help writers find their voice. His "Break Out Novelist" Workshops are an excellent way for an author to learn methods for upping the ante in every aspect of your novel writing. How can you capture the eye of an agent? You will enjoy listening to Don -- he is so enthusiastic about helping authors lay the foundation for a long and successful career.
Barbara Poelle - Irene Goodman Literary Agency
Date: 11-15-2016
Barbara is a favorite with listeners on Joy on Paper. Always looking for an author with a unique voice -- whether thrillers, YA or upmarket fiction -- she is always excited to do deals that help a client become an 'instant NYT bestselling' author.
Barbara's advice for writing a great query letter, "Think: The Hook, the Book, the Cook!
Gordon Warnock - Fuse Literary (Founding Partner)
Date: 07-11-2017
Gordon Warnock is a founding partner at Fuse Literary, serving as a literary agent and Editorial Director of Short Fuse Publishing.
He is always looking for projects that will inspire him -- books that are socially-responsible or illuminate common issues in new ways. I love books with strong charity tie-ins and celebrities coming together to promote a good cause on a large scale.
With a zest for fresh, new voices and a deep love of the classics, Gordon actively seeks out both the timely and the timeless. He likes cook books -- with a tasty tie-in to something bigger.
Lane Zachary - Aevita (Senior Partner)
Date: 05-01-2015
Lane is a Senior Partner at Aevita, It was fun to talk her about book auctions and about how she represented the sale of Louisa Mae Alcott's long forgotten book: A Long Fatal Love Chase.
She resents fiction, memoir, biography, women’s issue books, history, race, and current affairs. She is interested in books with stunning prose that have the capacity to change the world.
FOLLOW THE RULES...
Before you PRESS SEND....stop!
You're about to send you QUERY LETTER - but before you press send, stop and think. Have you followed the Rules for Submissions that the agent has given on their website? Have you followed the rules exactly?
Sometimes one likes to think that there is leeway. After all, we are creative people. We like to think that perhaps if we do something different -- something original -- an agent will be impressed. One author who was on Joy on Paper does swear that she wrote a query letter with just one sentence -- and it got her a book deal. (Hmmmm...what could it be? I am your long lost daughter. I will pay you a million dollars. My husband is your boyfriend. The possibilities are intriguing. Oui? )
Unfortunately, it won't really work. There are standards that you MUST follow. Literary agents get hundreds of queries every week. They simply don't have a lot of time. So don't try to be silly or shocking. If an agent wants 5 pages, send 5 pages. If they want 10 pages, send 10 pages. If they want a synopsis, then send one.
Click on the photos of the agents to go to their websites. Good Luck!!!
Still in doubt? Read this advice about how to write a perfect query letter: