Updated September 16, 2011
| Wales Literary Agency
Wales Literary is interested in works of narrative nonfiction (creative nonfiction or literary journalism), especially if the work espouses a progressive cultural or political point of view, projects a new voice, or, simply shares an important, compelling story. Wales Literary also supports writers of quality fiction. Fiction or nonfiction, the agency is looking for talented storytellers—with a special interest in writers from the Northwest, Alaska, the West Coast, and what have become known as the Pacific Rim countries. Founded in 1990, Wales Literary (formerly Levant & Wales) currently represents more than 60 clients and several independent presses. Agency titles have appeared on the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and other national bestseller lists. Agency titles have received excellent reviews and national media attention. The Agency is represented in international rights markets by the list of foreign agencies listed in the rights section of this Website; the Agency subcontracts with individual TV and film agents for television and film representation. Agency clients have won PEN Awards, American Book Awards, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Literary Award, Lambda Literary Awards, Pushcart Prizes, the Anisfeld-Wolf Book Award, Pacific Northwest Book Awards, Washington State Book Awards, Western States Art Awards, the AWP award, the Polk award, the Harvard Goldsmith Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Congress, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and a Julia Child Literary Food Writing Award. Clients have been recognized with NEA Fellowships, Rockefeller Grants, Guggenheim Awards, Lannan Awards, and numerous other awards, fellowships, and grants.
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We represent: We represent quality narrative nonfiction and fiction.We are drawn to any compelling story or storyteller. Although our authors live all across the country and overseas, we are especially interested in writers from the Pacific Northwest, the West, Alaska, and the Pacific Rim. We “minor” in quirky and challenging projects. We take on very few genre projects but represent the occasional psychological thriller, mystery, or dystopian SF. |
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We do not represent: We do not represent self-help, children’s or YA fiction, or specifically religious books. |
Submission Guidelines |
Query First:Query first. Please send a letter by US Mail (with SASE) or a one page e-mail query (no attachments, please). Tell us who you are, what your book is about, and why you are asking us to review it. E-mail queries should be sent to waleslit@waleslit.com. Snail mail to Wales Literary Agency, PO Box 9426, Seattle, WA 98109. For Requested Nonfiction and Fiction:Nonfiction: Fiction: Again, please be sure to include an SASE providing adequate postage for the return of your materials, should you wish them returned (no metered and dated postage please, they are not accepted by the US Post Office). Response Time for Queries:We try to respond to queries within 3 weeks on the outside, depending on vacations and other office issues. Response Time for Materials or Solicited Writing:After a query, if we have asked for and received more material (a proposal, chapters or a full manuscript) we try to respond to you as soon as possible, and within two months, usually. However, it can take a while longer before we have time to review the writing. A month after you have sent requested or solicited materials, please send us an e-mail or call about your work if you haven’t heard from us already. A note about returns.Please do not expect that we (or any agent) can (or should) provide detailed comments in letters of rejection. When we are very sure of what an author might consider in terms of revision, we might briefly state suggestions. However, it is this Agency’s view that, at a certain level of writing, picking up a new writer is a highly subjective decision. We recognize that our decisions often reflect more about us and our reading biases (as well as our agency’s business needs) than anything about the author and his or her work. For example, if we have just picked up a writer with a story about floating down the Hudson River in a raft, and another book comes in about a closely related or identical subject, we can’t take up such a book. Where you might get editorial support.We strongly encourage writers to build a small circle of friends who are appreciative and carefully critical readers who don’t have mixed needs, such as an agent or a publisher, who not only must like the writing but see a place for the book and the writer in their respective businesses. Click here for Postal and e-mail addresses to use for inquires.
See Frequently Asked Questions
What is most important to your agency? The writing—how well it draws us in and keeps us interested, often regardless of the subject. Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction? I enjoy both, so we represent both. We prefer narrative—that is, we like most of our titles to be done as stories. There are exceptions: we represent a historian and a couple of photographers…we make these exceptions when something particularly promising, strong, or fun comes along. Do you work with writers editorially? Sometimes, if we have the time and see some promise. Of course, we work hard with authors who are presently on our list of clients. What do you think of book doctors? The skillful ones are usually and understandably quite expensive. Editorial skill is just that—a skill which deserves full professional pay. Carefully research any editorial help you consider. What are your policies on commissions and other business policies? They are pretty standard and in keeping with AAR guidelines and its Canon of Ethics. When we get interested in a writer we share our full client list, and have that potential client review and sign our Memorandum of Understanding, which is our commitment to a writer. Is it a drawback to live and work in Seattle and do most your business with New York? Or, do I need a New York agent? My flippant reply is, what a great set-up I have! I live here in this beautiful region and get to travel to New York regularly for business and speak to New Yorkers every day. Seriously, your best agent is not, we think, a decision of where, but of fit. Does the agent understand your work? Love it and have the sort of track record that suggests this agent would represent your work well? Publishing is a business about who you know, not about where you live. What is distinctive about Wales Literary Agency? We are independent, progressive, and tolerant in a climate that stifles many who ask important questions, or are simply curious and open-minded to the world and what the literary arts can do and say in our world. We are known for good writing and solid representation. May I submit to Wales Agency while also submitting to other agencies? We know this as multiple submissions. Yes, this is fine with us, but please just keep us and any other agent who has your work “in the loop” of communication. Similarly, let us know if we are the only agency with your work. Please review the information on submissions and FAQs before contacting us. Staff:
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