The 2017 Guide to Literary Agents is Out! Here are 57 Reasons to Buy It (and a Giveaway Contest!)

The book is out and available everywhere books or sold — in major bookstores and online (WD Shop, Amazon, Bn.com)!

The new 2017 edition of the Guide to Literary Agents is out, all updated and packed with info. I realize there are other places you can turn to for information on agents, but the Guide to Literary Agents has always prided itself as being the biggest (we list almost every agent) and the most thorough (guidelines, sales, agent by agent breakdowns, etc.). It’s a huge Yellow Pages of agents, with interviews and query examples and profiles of new agents seeking clients now. That’s why it’s been around for 26 years and that’s why it’s sold more than 360,000 copies. It works—and if you keep reading, I’ll prove it to you below with proof from 50 people.

Buy it here at on WritersDigestShop.com a discount. Need more reasons to buy? How about some testimonials below from these very cool people.

THE GIVEAWAY!!! Comment on this post and just say anything nice about any element of Writer’s Digest you enjoy — from a blog post to a class or a book or anything else. In three weeks (deadline October 20, 2016), I will pick 3 winners randomly to win a copy of the book! It’s that easy. And if you optionally tweet news of this giveaway, you will get 2 entries into the contest instead of just 1. Just post the following tweet, and leave your Twitter handle in your comment when you comment below: Giveaway: Writer’s Digest is giving away 3 copies of the new 2017 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS http://tinyurl.com/ via @chucksambuchino.

1. Renee Adhieh, author of the THE WRATH AND THE DAWN (Penguin/Putnam 2015) and 2 more books:

“The first book I ever bought

1. Anise Eden, author of ALL THE BROKEN PLACES (x)

“The Guide to Literary Agents blog has been a wonderful resource for me over the years.”

2. Emily France, author of X

“It was the Guide to Literary Agents that I studied like a textbook and that ultimately helped me land my agent. I’ll be forever grateful for your guidance!”

3. Gretchen Kelly, author of SUPERHEROES DON’T EAT VEGGIE BURGERS.

“When I was looking for an agent, I spent hours reading Guide to Literary Agents.”

4. Martha Kelly, author of LILAC GIRLS

“I actually met you briefly at a writers conference in Las Vegas a few years ago, bought your Guide to Literary Agents there, went home, queried five agents listed in it and that led to representation by Alexandra Machinist and then to Lilac Girls being acquired by Ballantine. So thank you!”

5. William Belcher, author of LAY DOWN YOUR WEARY TUNE

“I found my agent with Guide to Literary Agents. Truly, I think your advice to look for new agents who are actively building their client list is right on, especially for those writers who fly a little under the radar like myself.”

6. E. Katherine Kottaras, author of THE BEST POSSIBLE ANSWER

“I relied on Guide to Literary Agents while I was in the drafting and querying stage. I recommend you to my creative writing students all the time!”

7. Deborah Wolf, author of THE DRAGON’S LEGACY

“I have been an avid reader of Writer’s Digest for as long as I can remember, and an aspiring author even longer than that. I found my agent (Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media) through a Guide to Literary Agents new agent spotlight.

 

1. Renee Adhieh, author of the THE WRATH AND THE DAWN (Penguin/Putnam 2015) and 2 more books:

“The first book I ever bought when I began my publishing journey was the Guide to Literary Agents. And it’s one of the first things I recommend to any aspiring writer.”

2. Andria Williams, author of the debut novel THE LONGEST NIGHT (Random House):

“I actually owe you a debt of gratitude.I was writing a novel on my own, no real literary-world connections. But when I had a polished draft of the novel, I went to the bookstore and got your Guide to Literary Agents. Wrote a bunch of ‘cold’ query letters, found my agent, and she got my book published for me. It felt like a fairy tale! I owe it in large part to your book!”

3. Robert Glinski, author of the debut novel THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS

“I know the Guide to Literary Agents quite well! I pored it over [when I was trying to get published].”

4. Camille Griep, author of the debut novel LETTERS TO ZELL

“Thanks so much for reaching out. Your timing is a wonderful coincidence — just yesterday I recommended the GLA to a couple of friends who are starting the process of agent hunting. It’s the best resource out there for authors wanting to keep a pulse on the who, where, and how of agenting.”

 

5. Lee Kelly, author of the debut novel CITY OF SAVAGES (Saga Press), which she sold in a two-book deal:

“The Guide to Literary Agents has been on my nightstand for years and I swear by it. GLA is an invaluable guide to navigating the publishing world. I used it on my road to finding my agent, and would recommend it to any writer at the beginning of her own journey.”

6. Lindsay Cummings, author of the YA thriller THE MURDER COMPLEX (Greenwillow) and several other novels:

“I got my agent, Louise Fury of The Bent Agency by using Guide to Literary Agents.”

7. Caroline Carlson, author of THE VERY NEARLY HONORABLE LEAGUE OF PIRATES: MAGIC MARKS THE SPOT (HarperCollins) and its sequels:

“I used the Guide to Literary Agents in my agent search!”

8. Annie England Noblin, represented by Lotus Lane Literary:

“Anytime anyone asks me where to find a list of agents, I always direct them to the Guide to Literary Agents. It has been an invaluable resource. Thank you so much.”

9. Kim Baker, author of the middle grade debut, PICKLE: THE (FORMERLY) ANONYMOUS PRANK CLUB OF FOUNTAIN POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Roaring Brook)

“I read the Guide to Literary Agents religiously when I was planning submissions”

10. Kate Maddison, author of debut THE INCREDIBLE CHARLOTTE SYCAMORE (Holiday House)

“The Guide to Literary Agents was the very first book I bought on the business of writing, several years ago. I remember the bookstore, the time of day, and what the young cashier looked like who sold it to me because she struck up a conversation, as she too hoped to get published one day. I read that thing from cover to cover!”

11. Jeri Westerson, author of the fantasy BLOOD LANCE: A MEDIEVAL NOIR and several other novels

“The whole writing industry is so confusing. Where to start? I started with the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents, where I not only created my list of agents and game plan, I received all sorts of excellent information in crafting my winning query letter. I recommend it to anyone starting out. And yes, I did get an agent through the Guide.”

12. Gennifer Albin, author of young adult novels CREWEL and ALTERED (FSG)

“I’m a big fan of the Guide to Literary Agents. I got a lot of mileage out of mine, when I was looking for an agent, and I frequently recommend it.”

13. Sharon Gilchrest O’Neill, author of A Short Guide to a Happy Marriage: The Essentials For Long-lasting Togetherness (Cider Mill Press)

“For some time I had been working on queries to publishers that would accept manuscripts directly from authors, with moments of hope, but no contract. I read the Guide to Literary Agents and thought, maybe it’s time to consider an agent! I immediately sent out several queries and later that same day my manuscript was requested by Jackie Meyer of Whimsy Literary Agency in New York. The following day Jackie asked for my okay to send the manuscript on to a publisher she had in mind, and within 24 hours she had sold my book!”

14. Lynne Raimondo, author of the mystery debut, DANTE’S WOOD (Seventh Street Books)

“The Guide to Literary Agents is how I found my agent [Brooks Sherman of FinePrint Literary].”

           

15. Marisha Chamberlain, author of the literary fiction novel The Rose Variations (Soho):

“Guide to Literary Agents oriented me, the lowly first-time novelist, embarking on an agent search. The articles and the listings gave insight into the world of literary agents that allowed me to comport myself professionally and to persist. And I did find a terrific agent [Stephany Evans of FinePrint Literary].”

16. Eugenia Kim, author of the literary novel The Calligrapher’s Daughter (Holt)

“After so many years working on the novel, the relative speed of creating the query package prodded the impetus to send it out. As a fail-safe measure, I bought the Guide to Literary Agents and checked who might be a good fit for my novel…”

17. Eve Brown-Waite, author of the humorous memoir First Comes Love, Then Comes Malaria (Broadway)

“I bought the Guide To Literary Agents… and came across Laney Katz Becker. So I sent off a very funny query. On March 15, 2007, Laney called. ‘I love your book,’ she said. ‘I’d like to represent you.’ Three and a half months (and several proposal revisions) later, Laney sold my book—at auction—in a six-figure deal.

18. Mara Purnhagen, author of the young adult novel Tagged (Harlequin Teen)

“I trusted the Guide to Literary Agents to provide solid, up-to-date information to help me with the process. I now have a wonderful agent [Tina Wexler of ICM] and a four-book deal.”

19. Richard Harvell, author of the mainstream fiction novel The Bells (Crown)

“Guide to Literary Agents contains a wealth of information and good advice, and was crucial in my successful search for an agent. I found a great agent [Daniel Lazar of Writers House] and my book has now sold in 11 territories and counting.”

20. Patrick Lee, The Breach (Harper)

“The Guide to Literary Agents has all the info you need for narrowing down a list of agencies to query.”

21. Karen Dionne, author of the thrillers Freezing Point and Boiling Point (Jove)

“I’m smiling as I type this, because I actually got my agent via the Guide to Literary Agents. I certainly never dreamed that I’d tell my [success] story in the same publication!”

22. Heather Newton, author of the literary fiction novel Under the Mercy Trees (Harper Paperbacks)

“I’d definitely be interested in guest posting—especially since I found my literary agent through the Guide to Literary Agents!”

23. Michael Wiley, author of the crime/noir novels The Last Striptease and The Bad Kitty Lounge (Minotaur)

“The Guide to Literary Agents was very useful to me when I was getting started. I always recommend GLA to writers.”

   

24. Les Edgerton, Hooked and 9 more books

“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.”

25. Jennifer Cervantes, author of the book for kids, Tortilla Sun (Chronicle)

“Within 10 days of initial submission, I found an energetic and amazing agent—and it’s all thanks to GLA.”

26. Carson Morton, author of the literary novel Stealing Mona Lisa (St. Martin’s / Minotaur)

“I wanted to thank you for the Guide to Literary Agents. After contacting 16 literary agencies, number 17 requested the full manuscript of my historical novel. Within a few weeks, they offered to represent me. Hard work, perseverance, and good, solid, accurate information makes all the difference. Thanks again.”

27. Darien Gee, author of Friendship Bread: A Novel (April 2011; Ballantine Books)

“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.”

28. Stephanie Barden, author of the middle grade novel Cinderella Smith (April 2011; HarperCollins)

“When I felt my middle grade chapter book was finally ready for eyes other than mine to see it, I got some terrific advice: Go buy the Guide to Literary Agents. By the time I was through with it, it looked like it had gone to battle – it was battered and dog eared and highlighted and Post-It Noted. But it was victorious; I had an agent. Huge thanks, GLA – I couldn’t have done it without you!”

29. Lexi George, author of the paranormal romance Demon Hunting in Dixie (April 2011; Brava)

“I positively haunted GLA on the road to publication. The Guide to Literary Agents is an invaluable resource for writers, whether you’re published or unpublished.”

          

30. Bill Peschel, author of the nonfiction book Writers Gone Wild: The Feuds, Frolics, and Follies of Literature’s Great Adventurers, Drunkards, Lovers, Iconoclasts, and Misanthropes (Perigee)

“The Guide to Literary Agents gave me everything I needed to sell Writers Gone Wild. It was the personal assistant who found me the right agents to pitch, the publicist who suggested conferences to attend, and the trusted adviser who helped me negotiate the path to publication.”

31. Laura Griffin, author of Unforgivable and eight other romantic suspense novels.

“Writing the book is only the first step. Then it’s time to find a home for it. The Guide to Literary Agents is filled with practical advice about how to contact literary agents who can help you market your work.”

32. Derek Taylor Kent (a.k.a. Derek the Ghost), author of the novel for kids, Scary School

“The Guide to Literary Agents was absolutely instrumental to my getting an agent and subsequent three-book deal with HarperCollins.”

       

33. Tamora Pierce, best-selling author of dozens of novels for teens

“The best guide to literary agents is the Guide to Literary Agents, published by Writer’s Market Books … These listings will tell you the names and addresses of the agencies; if an agency is made up of more than one agent, they will list the different agents and what kinds of book they represent; they will include whether or not the agent will accept simultaneous submissions (submitting a manuscript to more agent than one).”

34. Wade Rouse, author of many books, including It’s All Relative: Two Families, Three Dogs, 34 Holidays, and 50 Boxes of Wine (A Memoir)

“And when you think you’re done writing your book? Write some more. And when you think you’re finished? Set it aside for a while, go back, redraft, edit, rewrite and redraft … Then pick up the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents.”

35. Brent Hartinger, author of several novels, including Geography Club

“Get an agent. Having a reputable agent means you will be taken much more seriously by busy editors who are eager to find any reason to reject your book (and if you’re agented, editors will offer you more money, more than canceling out the cost of the agent’s commission!). There are hundreds of good agents out there, with all kinds of different tastes (check The Guide to Literary Agents for a complete list).”

”       

36. Jessica Brody, author of several novels (women’s fiction, YA), including The Karma Club

“To put it in perspective: It took me two years to finally find an agent to represent The Fidelity Files [my first novel] and once I did, she sold the manuscript in 10 days. That’s the difference an agent makes. I would recommend purchasing a membership for an online agent directory like WritersMarket.com. You can also use an agent directory in book form like the Guide to Literary Agents.”

37. Dianna Dorisi Winget, author of the middle grade novel A Smidgen of Sky (Harcourt, 2012)

“Guide to Literary Agents is simply the best writing reference book out there. I don’t think I would have landed an agent without it.”

38. Adam Brownlee, author of Building a Small Business That Warren Buffett Would Love (John Wiley and Sons, 2012)

“The Guide to Literary Agents was invaluable for me in many ways. Specifically, the sections on ‘Write a Killer Query Letter’ and ‘Nonfiction Book Proposals’ enabled me to put together a package that led to the publication of my book.”

   

39. Carole Brody Fleet, author of the self-help book Happily Even After: A Guide to Getting Through (and Beyond!) the Grief of Widowhood (Viva Editions)

“I am not overstating it when I say that Guide to Literary Agents was absolutely instrumental in my landing an agent. Moreover, I wound up with numerous agents from which to choose—how often does THAT happen to an unknown and unpublished author? Thank you again for this book. It not only changed my life forever, but it led to our being able to serve the widowed community around the world.”

40. Guinevere Durham, author of Teaching Test-Taking Skills: Proven Techniques to Boost Your Student’s Scores (R&L Education).

“I was looking for an agent for my book. I had been trying for 7 years to find a publisher. I have enough rejection letters to wallpaper my office. Finally, I researched the Guide to Literary Agents. Three months later I had a contract with Rowman & Littlefield Educational Publishers. My agency is Educational Design Services, Inc.”

41. Kelly Fiore, author of the young adult debut Taste Test (2013, Walker Books for Young Readers)

“There are many web resources for writers – resources about agents, about editors, about craft, and so on. What I love most about the Guide to Literary Agents is that it’s a comprehensive resource – a place to go for information that spans more than just one topic and that covers everything that today’s writers need to know.”

42. Terri Lynn Merritts, writer

“I love the Guide to Literary Agents. I am admin of the Vegetarian page (over 239,000 members) at http://ift.tt/1Qnf2IX and I used the GLA to find a literary agent to represent the vegan cookbook I am working on. The very first agent I approached loved it and now we are working together. The articles in the Guide to Literary Agents showed me how to research the perfect agent and approach her. The listings gave me all the information I needed to find that perfect agent on my very first try. I owe all of this to the help I got from the Guide To Literary Agents and the priceless information it contains. This book really works for writers who need and want to find an agent.”

43. Chana Stiefel, writer

“I am a huge fan of the Guide to Literary Agents. I queried agents for a new humor book and just signed with Laurie Fox at Linda Chester and Associates.”

44. Nicole Steinhaus, writer

“Let’s just say this: when I first jumped into the query process, I was clueless. I bought the Guide to Literary Agents, and scoured for hours through the pages. Two weeks after sending [agent Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary] my full manuscript, I received an email saying she wanted to offer representation.”

45. John A. (Buddy) Howard, writer

“As a first time author, I found the Guide to Literary Agents invaluable, particularly with the ability to screen for agents and publishers by area of specialty. I signed with Whimsy Literary Agency. Getting an agent would not have been possible without your invaluable website, book and support. Keep up your great work and thanks for your past and ongoing help to me and so many other authors out there.”

46. Frank Giampaolo, author of multiple nonfiction sports guides, including CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

“I followed the formatting and submitting advice given by Chuck and the Guide to Literary Agents. Within a month I was signed to the Quicksilver Books Literary Agency. My agent, Bob Silverstein, negotiated a wonderful publishing deal for me. My second book, Championship Tennis, is scheduled for release worldwide with hard copies, e-books and phone apps in April 2013. The Guide to Literary Agents is a must have resource!”

47. Emily Saso, writer

“Chuck’s is the reason I landed my thoughtful, supportive agent, Linda Epstein of The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency. I didn’t just discover Linda through the Guide to Literary Agents, his blog also taught me how to write a quality query that would catch her eye. Thanks, Chuck! Keep up the great work!”

48. Tim Bullard, author of the nonfiction book Haunted Watauga County (History Press of Charleston, 2011)

“Buying the Guide to Literary Agents paid off last year with publication of my book. Fighting the urge to quit and admit total failure, I pressed on until all the advice I had received through your books stuck. Now I am about to publish my second book. God bless you!”

49. Noelle Sterne, author of TRUST YOUR LIFE: FORGIVE YOURSELF AND GO AFTER YOUR DREAMS

“Your Guide to Literary Agents and the features from authors on the often-hard lessons learned from the dream of publishing have helped me immensely to keep my feet on the ground, butt in the chair, and fingers on the keyboard. Thank you, Chuck, for taking all the time and effort and for caring!”

50. Jessica Lidh, author of the YA debut THE NUMBER 7 (Merit Press, 2014):

“I found Dee Mura Literary in the Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents. Kimiko Nakamura is my agent. She’s honestly an endless supply of support, encouragement, and hard work. I was so lucky to find her. The GLA was the best $25 investment I ever made.”

THE GIVEAWAY!!! Comment on this post and just say anything nice about any element of Writer’s Digest you enjoy — from a blog post to a class or a book or anything else. In three weeks (deadline October 20, 2016), I will pick 3 winners randomly to win a copy of the book! It’s that easy. And if you optionally tweet news of this giveaway, you will get 2 entries into the contest instead of just 1. Just post the following tweet, and leave your Twitter handle in your comment when you comment below: Giveaway: Writer’s Digest is giving away 3 copies of the new 2017 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS http://tinyurl.com/ via @chucksambuchino.

Buy the 2017 Guide to Literary Agents here!

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