Agent Books

If you've ever wished for the opportunity to interview the top literary agents in America, read Making the Perfect Pitch. Katharine Sands compiled a book of essays by as well as interviews with agents. While some essays and interviews are better than others, each one will provide information about the agent helping you decide whether or not to approach the agent for possible representation. Sometimes as I was reading, I could sense that an agent wouldn't be the right one for me just from an attitude, a statement, or a point of view. This isn't a criticism of the agent, I just knew my personality wouldn't mesh with the person. That creates a time savings for a writer looking for an agent. On the other hand, there were many agents whose essay/interview made me take notice. With titles like How Much is a Black Dress?, How I Learned to Sell Sex, Dean and Rock `n' Roll, and In the Singles Bar of the Literary Persuasion, to name a few, these essays are certain to intrigue, inform, and , dare I say, entertain. Making the Perfect Pitch is a valuable read for anyone searching for a literary agent.

The best book I've ever read about the business of writing. A top agent herself, Sands has gathered the wisdom and candor of other agents as well to share what writers need to know. PITCH is as valuable for what it says between the lines. Like with a panel discussion, what you glean and absorb is as helpful as the specific guidance the book provides. Sands accomplishes that with an engaging format and narrative voice that creates that rare, nonfiction page-turner.

It took me three years to find a publisher for my first novel; then I promoted it for several years, to the point of burnout. After my second novel was done, I let it sit for two years, unsure I was willing to work that hard again. I became willing but vowed to work smarter this time. Soon thereafter, I found PITCH, and it gave me what I needed. Even though I've worked in publishing for twenty years and have written seriously for seventeen, I found invaluable insight on nearly every page.

As others have reported, my fortune has greatly improved. I'm grateful to Sands for her important role in that happy result.

Cynthia Lamb,
author of the novel BRIGID'S CHARGE

As a freelance writer, author, and Internet marketing consultant, I am always looking for new insight into the difficult process of attracting an agent or publisher's eye, both for my own writing and for that of my author clients. When this book first came out, I was excited because I know Katharine Sands to be a fine, dedicated professional who cares about her work and about her own clients. She is well connected in the publishing world and I expected that her advice and that of the agents she had gathered together in this volume would be insightful and helpful. My expectations were met and exceeded as I worked my way through the chapters. I have often gone back and reviewed suggestions and important points and been able to apply them to benefit my own work and that of my clients.

I noted the negative comments of "avid reader" in these reviews and feel prompted to respond by saying it sounds like sour grapes to me--this person obviously thinks she/he is being excluded from an exclusive club. She/he is right--but not the club of MFA-holders--avid reader is excluded from the club of those who constantly work to refine and improve their writing skills, and of those able to absorb and put to use solid advice of experienced agents who know this tough industry well. Avid reader should try looking inward rather than pointing outward. There is not a person among us in this industry who can not learn more about how to be a better writer, how to approach the industry more effectively, how to get better results.

Personally, I found inspiration in "Making the Perfect Pitch"--not every single contributor's advice resonated with my own work, of course, but, as Terry Whalin emphasizes, different voices and ideas speak to each of us, you have to take the important kernels of information from those who can help us, heed the call to excellence, and keep on moving forward. This book helped me to do that, to inch forward on my own writing journey.
--Rosemary Carstens, writer, author, and editor of FEAST, the award-winning eZine

Katharine Sands is a New York literary agent. We heard her speak in a workshop some time back. She knows her business and has sage advice for the beginning writer as to how to attract and kept the attention of an agent. This title should sit on any reference shelf to be studied over and over.
Going outside the box seldom works in this vital aspect of an author's career. "Over the transom" submissions to a publishing house are fuel for recycling through a shredder. The last one that may have made it was COLD MOUNTAIN. Publishers state they only consider agent-ed works because they are aware the manuscript has already been through a tough elimination process. Keep this in mind and read MAKING THE PERFECT PITCH.
Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelUnder the Liberty OakNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarGuns Across the Rio: A Texas Ranger in Old Mexico

If you can't write a flawless pitch after reading this book, it's not because you didn't have all the information you could possibly need. Besides essays breaking things down into the proverbial "five easy steps," the book includes Katharine Sands' interviews with fellow literary agents, and the information she coaxes from them is a gold mine of invaluable advice on writing pitches and novels themselves. The subjects it covers include the importance of a twist, a colorful detail, in your query; letting hooks emerge rather than building a book on one; the benefits of underselling yourself rather than playing the salesman; and the importance of approaching an agent as a collaborator. It's impossible to overestimate the practical value of these insights. And it's safe to say that aspiring novelists can't afford not to hear what this book has to say.

This was an interesting read which covered healthy, and unhealthy habits for your brain. It is also a good resource for what supplements are helpful for your brain, and their recommended quantities and uses.
I have used many of the suggestions from this book to add supplements and adopt healthy habits for my brain.

I got 7 of these books. 6 for my Dr.'s office library, one for myself. I was referrd to this title after my son suffered a serious illness. The book has invaluable information.

Dr. Perlmutter is a board-certified neurologist and yet he writes in language we can all understand. If you really follow what he says, it works! And it is not a difficult plan to implement. So get the book, don't let it sit around and get dusty, read it, do it! "Try it, you'll like it!"

Here's one of the few board certified neurologists who will tell you he thinks cell phones and other electromagnetic fields are very likely bad for your brain. Too many others buy into the official pronouncements, and accept that it's OK to keep using your cell phone until the proof of harm is overwhelming.

So glad I came accross this book.
So easy to read and absorb the helpful information this book is full of cover to cover! :)

In the 3rd of the Kanner Lake series, the action and thrills begin with the first pages, and keep right on going to the end. I usually get tired of a 'series' of books, but each one of Brandilyn's is unique, and can be read seperately from the rest of the books in the series without losing anything. However, I would recommend that you read them all...because if you like suspense...you will not regret it! Another great book! I don't know how the author does it, but she has a gift for being a great fiction/suspense writer, and this book is just one more book to prove that point.

Secrets from the past come back to haunt. Lies and deceit follow where ever we go. For Carla Radling, her buried secret just happens to be intertwined with a powerful presidential candidate. The choices she made 16 years ago come rushing back to her when a perspective client turns out to be a well paid hit man. Fleeing for her life, Carla finds herself reliving her past, searching for a way to survive for the future. However, someone else knows her secret and after years of living with the guilt, Tanya Evan's ready to tell the truth, but will she live long enough to do so?

Crimson Eve is a powerful book focused on choices. The decisions we make can have far reaching effects and this book paints those effects in brilliant color. The decisions of Carla Radling, stand as a bold example to all who try to use deceit and lies to gain what they desire. It also stands as a beautiful example of God's forgiveness. At times it's hard to believe that someone would make the choices that Carla made, however, I think we all have our secrets we'd like no one to know. We've all made decisions based on our own best interest, and we've all told a few lies to help our own cause. This book is a great reminder of how lives can be destroyed as a result of one lie that compounds into many. It's also a great reminder of God's knowledge, presence, and forgiveness.

Kanner Lake realtor Carla Radler has a nibble. Possibly a whole bite. She's positively elated about the chance to sell Edna San's estate to a tall, dark, and handsome. But Carla keeps her poise in front of this charming man with rich brown eyes. When she learns that this British gentleman with a cocky James Bond attitude will pay cash if he likes the place, she really gets excited. Who wouldn't?

What Carla soon finds out is that things are not as they seem.

Fast forward to a phone call at Bailey Truitt's coffee shop, Java Joint. Carla's in more trouble than Bailey knows. She can't let Bailey know what's going on. What if the phone lines are tapped?

Carla's run for her life takes a desperate turn. No one can know where she is. No one. Or he'll kill them too.

Brandilyn Collins reveals the secrets of Kanner Lake residents one by one in this series. In Crimson Eve, she again mixes real-life with fiction in her references to a real blog called Scenes and Beans, which is based in a fictional coffee shop called Java Joint.

She has woven another well-paced suspense in Kanner Lake, only this time we leave town.

"Crimson Eve," the third book in Brandilyn Collins' Kanner Lake Series, is, simply and truly, a great book... terrific suspense, an underlying tribute to faith, and well-crafted characters, about whom a reader cares (or, in some cases, hates). Having read and enjoyed all of Ms. Collins' novels, this is her very best. To use a cliché, 'a real page-turner!' My wife and I highly recommend "Crimson Eve," and we eagerly await the fourth and final installment of the Kanner Lake Series.
--Ron Howe (a.k.a., Toby Martin II) Erskine, Minnesota.

I loved this book. It grabbed me and I started running and couldn't stop until I was finished with the story. This is fast constant action and I enjoyed it very much. Brandilyn writes with good description and you are right there pushing her characters, trying to help them stay out of trouble.

Paulette L. Harris Author/Speaker

Every few years I re-read this book as my music career grows and I find new ways to use the expertise she has gathered here. The book is a pleasure to read, with clear writing, fine organization and listings of valuable resources and contacts. Highly recommended!

I originally won a consultation package with Geri Goldstein and only had one phone conference with her. During our meeting, I also ordered a copy of this book. Since I have received this book (two years ago) I have not had to call her due to the extremely vast amount of knowledge already contained in her book!! Every time I have another question that I would think of asking her, I open this book and find the answer and much more. This is the most intricately detailed book on self promotion that I have ever acquired. I still have not covered all the ground this book contains?! I highly recommend this book to aspiring artists, agent and managers.

My friend recommended this book to me a few years ago - it hasn't been far from my office desk ever since. This book is not only filled with clear, good advice and hundreds of helpful quotes and stories from all kinds of people in the business, it's also well-organized and enjoyable to read. The author breaks things down to their essentials, dealing with the big questions about being your own boss, along with the thousands of little details. I haven't seen a book that beats this one for its subject. If you want the real information about how it's really done, get this book.

I really liked how indepth this book is. If you can stand to read it all (it is long), you will have a good understanding on how to approach club owners and others in the music business. I like this book and use it with the Guerrilla Marketing book by Bob Baker and $100,000 in Music by David Hooper to really make my gigs great. Club owners love my group because I come in professional and then go out and bring people in to the show. These three books will help you big time.

This book has everything you need to know about booking yourself. Are you ready to work and make things happen? Get this and "How I Make $100,000/year in the Music Business" by David Hooper and you will have all you need to make a really good living on your own.

So far, this book is such an easy read. I really enjoy the author's honesty and his ability to put the reader into the story, right on the streets of Boston. I would absolutely recommend this book.

While the story chapters in the book are individually interesting, they somehow don't make a whole. The book feels choppy, as if it needed additional narrative to make if flow more smoothly. I expected, based on other reviews, to become immersed in the life of a narcotics officer. Just a average read.

I truly enjoyed this book. Paul Doyle's experiences were something that needed to be put on paper and published for the world to see. Although the names and the places may change, the core root of the drug world remains the same. In reading this book I found that other than the bell bottom pants and silk shirts, the happenings of the underground drug world are in so many ways similar today. The difference being the technology used and the way the intelligence is gained. I bought this book at a fair where the author was present and signed my copy. I spoke to him for a few moments and told him that I worked for a police department in a neighboring town and that my husband was also a police officer. He suggested that I read it and have my husband do the same. This book was a real page turner and I wasn't able to put it down until I was finished. I was truly impressed with his compassion for people which can easily be lost in the investigative and enforcement field. He points out that he actually had to become 'one of them' in order to take some of these criminals down. It was a different day and age. God Bless Paul and the guys that he worked with. It's not a job for the meek and mild.

Read this book at the advice of a friend and it is a must read for every caring American. Opened my eyes to the sacrifice some people are doing on our behalf and opened my eyes to a life most of us cant imagine. These folks do it for us and then in the end the Author takes us on a learning experience about where the drug money goes and who is behind it - the terrorist connection. He also lets you know the solution to cracking the incredible drug problem in this country lies in our families and not in Washington. Read it

Excellent. Didn't want to stop reading until I was finished the book.

I love love love this book and can't put it down. Not only the entertainers but the food, the place, the agents, the managers = the stories. A great picture (small but still great) of David Brenner whom I love to bits! You will be laughing and laughing. The hair, the clothes !

The Frommers are terrific interviewees and their book is a history and an entertainment resource about the Catskills - what else would we expect from oral historians of their rank.

GREAT INSIGHT INTO WHAT THE CATSKILLS WERE ALL ABOUT

wonderful oral history - - -covers a lot of territory

While working at the Nevele Country Club, one of the many legendary Catskill resorts covered in this magnificent document, I briefly met Myrna and Harvey Frommer while doing their research. They probably don't remember me, I was too young at the time to offer the kind of history they were looking for, but the pair's enthusiasm and obvious love for the area's resorts and their unique (now long gone) familial atmosphere was readily apparent. When I finally got to read this book, it provided me with a sense of pride for being a part of its history. There's even an ancient picture of my father playing sax in the old Art Kahn Orchestra! But aside from personal connections, this book stands as a definitive oral history of an era. The people interviewed are true insiders, some of them legends in their own right among Catskill lore. And while the book provides some deep sociological perspective concerning its ethnic background, the authors know how to balance this with charming, amazing and often sidesplitting anecdotes. If you ever spent a weekend at Grossinger's, The Concord, The Nevele or one of the dozens of small bungalow colonies, this book will wash you in warm memories. And if you didn't have the chance, it will make you wish you did.

I don't buy any of it, not for a minute. But, this is a much more enjoyable read than several of the so-called "thrillers" I've read recently. Just suspend your disbelief, dive right in, and be swept away!

Aline, Countess of Romanos has written a spectacular book. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading an autobiography and not a work of fiction. Aline is an agent for the OSS during World War II. She blends into Spanish high society and manages to complete her mission and introduce the reader to the thrills and chills of being an undercover agent. She also gives us a glimpse of Spanish Aristocracy, bull fighting and the inner workings of a nineteen year olds dilemma of befriending people who may be targets of her investigation. I have read all of her books but like this one the best. It is full of action, drama, and even a touch of romance. I have recommended it to all of my friends.

I have purchased 4 books by Aline Romanos. I absolutely love them. The fact that there is truth behind the story and that she really was an upper-class lady as well as a spy excites me. I find myself wishing I lived an adventurous life. She has a talent when it comes to recreating her life and exploits. I could not put it down!

The Spy Wore Red is one of three books written by Aline Griffith Romanos who worked as an undercover spy during WW II. I discovered this book in a used book store in 25 years ago, read it several times, bought her other two books, The Spy Wore Silk and The Spy Went Dancing, gave them to my family to read; then went out and purchased them in again! I have read them more times than I can count over the years, and they are definitely in my top ten list of favorite books. This is not a book that will take you days to read, and, one you will recommend to your friends!

The most respected historian in the field of espionage, Nigel West, studied all of Aline's spy books marketed as nonfiction and concluded "...all four of Aline's books should be regarded as fiction, and nothing more..." Read "Counterfeit Spies, Chapter 3, by Nigel West, 1998.

I'm telling you, these Writer's Digest people really do it right. If you're looking for a literary agent, this is the place to look.

The book starts with articles about getting and working with an agent and interviews with reputable agents and editors. Do you need a New York agent? Should your agent suggest rewrites? Do editors like agents, or is their relationship combative? How can you tell a good agent from a bad agent? Do you even need an agent?

All of these questions and more are answered. You'll even find examples of successful query letters, synopses, and outlines. You'll learn the components of a nonfiction book proposal. All of the basics are covered.

Then comes the actual agent listings, divided into two sections: nonfee-charging literary agents, and script agents (both nonfee and fee-charging). Listings include contact information (including e-mail addresses), professional memberships (like AAR or WGA), what they did prior to becoming agents, number of clients, percentage of new authors, percentage of novels versus nonfiction books, genres they represent, preferred method of contact, recent sales, conferences they attend, terms of representation, and tips. There is also a key to let you know how open the agency is to new writers.

New in this year's edition is a listing of independent production companies and screenwriting contests. And nonfiction authors and novelists may enjoy the listings of publicists.

More than 600 agencies are listed. I've begun querying, and have already found several agents who responded positively to my e-mail queries.

The agents listed in this book are pre-screened and deemed to be legitimate, reputable agents. No more surfing the Internet and trying to guess who's legit and who's a shyster. If you find an agent through these listings, the book can pay for itself a hundredfold. It's a very worthwhile investment in your career.

If you are a writer, or an aspiring one, you NEED this book. 90+% of publishers don't take unagented material. This book will help you to find an agent, and help you to get that manuscript you've worked so hard on published.

I found the information in this guide to be extremely helpful in targeting and securing the right agent. The details that are provided, such as what percent of new authors the agency represents, the types of books the agency represents, and quotes which detail advice from the agents insured I sent my information to those who would be most interested. And it worked!!

You know you need an agent to shop your work, negotiate your contracts and get your manuscript into doors closed to unrepresented authors. Your next step is to add the "2003 Guide to Literary Agents" to your writer's toolbox.

Articles from industry professionals address the most common issues writers face: do you need an agent, how do you find the right agent and how to avoid bad agents. But these articles also walk you through the entire process of getting an agent - from what to do before you begin your search, all the way to knowing your rights before you sign a contract.

The heart of this book lies within the agent listings. Every year contact information, current needs, submission guidelines and contract details are 100 percent updated.

Besides agents who represent fiction and nonfiction work, you'll also find sections on script agents, independent production companies and independent publicists. Most agent listings also specify which writing conferences the agents attend so be sure to look in the writing conferences section to find the details on a variety of writers' conferences in the U.S. and Canada.

Your search for an agent is crippled without this guide in your arsenal. If you're serious about getting an agent to represent your work, the yearly "Guide to Literary Agents" is an absolute must.

If you are a writer, or an aspiring one, you NEED this book. 90+% of publishers don't take unagented material. This book will help you to find an agent, and help you to get that manuscript you've worked so hard on published.

I never knew about this book until recently, when I heard author Gary Magnesen and Melvin Dummar doing an extensive (several hours) radio interview. They both appeared to be very credible guys telling an incredible story. I found myself riveted to the radio until the very end of their appearance, which (I think) was about 2 am! I bought the book later that day.

To my surprise, former FBI Agent Magnesen is a very good writer. Like other readers, I found myself enjoying the book so much, it was hard to put down. Magnesen pieces together a convincing case to support Melvin Dummar's claim about picking up a nearly dead Howard Hughes on a desolate dirt road in the middle of the desert late one winter night. Like the author (and most others), I've always been skeptical about Dummar's dubious story. Magnesen's The Investigation has persuaded me to believe that Dummar's story is most likely true, and that he very possibly saved Howard Hughes' life.

Magnesen also makes a somewhat persuasive, though not compelling, case regarding the authenticity of the so-called "Mormon will". Despite the author's best efforts to authenticate the will, I'm personally not convinced that it was actually written by Howard Hughes. I can certainly understand if other readers come to a different conclusion.

Gary Magnesen does a commendable job uncovering the critical details of this 30 year old cold case. It's a shame that he launched his investigation after so much time had passed, when many of the potential witnesses and nearly all of the physical evidence are lost to history. Still, The Investigation a well written, fascinating story with ample detail to make this a "must read" for anyone interested in the life of Howard Hughes and/or Melvin Dummar. Highly recommended.

This is a fast read, Ive read all the HRH books and this was intresting. I think the author did a fine job. After reading this book I felt that indeed Hughes would have loved the drama that swept the nation, Even in death he is larger then life. The book is a great read and will be surprising....

It took a the span of 24 hours to read this book. Every second I was not working or taking care of a 10 month-old baby I was hiding in a corner with my nose stuck in this book. The author starts as a skeptic, but through brillant research and persistence he uncovers the truth of this long-awaited fiasco. His years of FBI experience really shines through his journey to the untold story. Highly Recomended!

Magnesen is probably a great detective and FBI agent, but he gets a C grade for organization and writing. The book was difficult to follow; as were the characters. One thing that would have helped immensely would have been to put a list of key players and their job/title descriptions at the end so we could refer to the list when the people would be mentioned in later chapters. However, his purpose in writing was not intended as great literature, but to convince readers that Dummar is not a kook. And, he did succeed in doing that because I did put the book down feeling like the "Mormon Will" could be real. Magnesen discovers some very convincing evidence that did not come out in the trial or was not pursued.
If you are intrigued by Howard Hughes, add this book to your list.

The Investigation by Gary Magnesen represents the trifecta of historical research. Magnesen has the rare combination of an FBI career, Nevada residency and a degree in psychology as implements to harvest the truth in regards to the "Mormon Will."

Fragmented by time and lore, the tale of the unlikely Samaritan, Melvin Dummar is cast in the bright white light of a logical and linear review by a skeptic armed with nothing more than his background and compelling logic as arrows in an intellectual quiver.

I followed the suspicion and misgivings associated with the tale of Melvin Dummar associated with the holographic Will penned by the late Aviator, Industrialist and enigma, Howard Hughes. Shadowing Magnesen's process and logic was eased by his descriptive narration of personal doubts and the path required to find a logical end. He was not on a quest, nor does he seem influenced by the story which ultimately led to his involvement. If anything, he was drawn by the mounting inconsistencies and unfinished stories by those directly effected by Mr. Dummar's tale.

I was fascinated by the process which he undertook in this unlikely task to add clarity to a foggy footnote from the past (1976). The mind numbing research of court and county records, with the juxtaposition of interviews including citizens from towns whose glory days have long since passed into modern history added an element of humor, without diminishing the value of those who still reside there.

Each chapter was a building block which reinforced the tale told by Melvin Dummar as more than plausible. In fact, I was totally convinced he was telling the truth.

The teaser associated with this story is the revelations of a pilot employed by Hughes in the sixties. Although his contribution to the book is barely represented by two dozen pages; his story contained the most unanswered questions or inconsistencies of the 263 pages representing Dummar's tale. The following observations are not a condemnation of the man, simply a set of examples which Magnesen held me rapt throughout the story!

1. When Deiro flew into the unpaved, unlighted airport at night, the previous pages referenced a truck illuminating the approach end of the runway. Yet on the night in question the truck was at the far end (in the pilot's eyes) of the runway. Any landing upon a gravel surfaced, unlighted airport at night would be a large risk at best and possibly illegal, at worst.
2. It is written on page 102, "The fact that Daniels (geologist) was having a beer or two in the morning tells us something about him." Yet the pilot (Deiro) having too many Johnny Walker's and needing to take a nap is not questioned in regard to his credibility. Drinking within eight hours prior to a commercial flight is illegal!
3. Upon the pilots return to Las Vegas, since nobody asked; he didn't bother reporting his loss of the passenger he departed with seven hours earlier.


The preceding examples are a reflection of my intrigue and justification for a media (website) to communicate with this author.

This book is at a minimum, a `can't put it down read' combined with intrigue, injustice and surviving principals!

Jennifer hits the Real Estate nail right on the head with this book. If I ever had thoughts of writing a Real Estate book I don't think I'll be able to now as Jennifer has already put everything I've learned to be true about this business in this book. This should be required reading for every Realtor.

Steve Stoddard
Suburban Realty, Inc.
Manchester, NH
www.SteveStoddard.com

I am a new agent and found this book very helpful. It is an easy read, with very down-to-earth advice about how to start your business.

I read many books written on the topic of how to be successful in real estate. This book was by far the most practical, helpful and fun! The style is engaging and easy to read. Many of the other books had a very negative approach to the business and (in my mind) had a creepy air to them. This book was different. I honestly loved Jennifer's approach to the business of real estate. Her approach is positive, client centered and respectful. She defined how you can be successful in RE and still hold your head up high! If you want to have a successful career that focuses on helping people instead of the negative stereotypes associated with the profession of realtor, this is the book for you. I definitely recommend it.

As a green bean real estate agent who just passed her exams, I was going through an "oh no, what am I doing????" phase when I read this book! (Brian Buffini's websites list of top books to read). WOW. SO GLAD I PICKED IT UP! The gut honest input to multiple situations was so appreciated and actually helped restore my excitement and enthusiasm for this next step in my life. I'm a "take the high-road" girl and reading how you provide ethical-do-the-right-thing-always-extraordinary customer service resonated deeply with me. Thanks for sharing the personal ouches as well as the professional ones. I'll read this book again and again--and can't wait to get started in my new career!

As I read the first couple of chapters, I started to wonder if Jennifer had been somehow monitoring my progress in real estate sales! I got into it for the same reasons she did, made most of the same mistakes, and came up with some of the same solutions. Somehow I muddled through my rookie year and became successful. But if I'd read her book then, I would have made fewer mistakes (and wasted less money on just-sold postcards!). Even experienced (and extroverted) agents can benefit from the creative ideas in Jennifer's book. I am glad I found it now, and I heartily recommend it.