Literary Representation
Nunn Communications, Inc. launched the literary agency division in 1998 by representing first-time authors with passionate messages, targeted audiences, and growing platforms. Publishers liked the authors we brought to them and the subsequent sales the titles produced. As a result those once emerging authors now are working on their second, third, or fourth+ books for publication. We are extremely proud of them and their messages.
Today the agency division works primarily with established authors. While our clients write on a variety of topics, each writes from a Christian point of view.
Agent Services
 The Author/Agent Process
We believe it’s of tremendous value to an author to establish a relationship with a trusted agent in navigating the publishing arena. Almost exclusively now, publishers work through literary agents, rather than directly with authors. Agents serve as an experience and knowledge resource of the publishing process.
Having served in various capacities in the publishing industry for 19 years, we have worked with colleagues and friends who serve as publishers, editors, marketing VPs, publicity directors, and marketing managers of many publishing companies across the country. This broad contact base means we know which publishers may be interested in an author’s project. Before the author signs a contract, we know which questions to ask and when/where to influence the process. Once the author and publisher sign a contract, we know how to impact the editorial and marketing programs. We understand licensing. Often, the greatest agent efforts take place “after” the deal is signed and moving toward the marketing planning, release, and promotional implementation of a book. We work for our authors.
When we commit to work with an author, we agree to:
- Help the author find and work with a writer, if needed.
- Work with the author to develop a project strategy, including feedback on the commercial viability of each project under consideration, potential publishers to query, and unit sale and advance payment projections.
- Meet with publishers’ editors and marketing teams (if necessary), and negotiate terms of agreement between the author and a publisher, subject to final approval from the author.
- Inform the author monthly of the status of our efforts on the author’s behalf.
- Provide the author with names and addresses of all publishers who have been sent manuscripts and copies of their responses to any submittals (both letters expressing interest and rejections).
- Inform the author about all offers, and not accept any specific terms or conditions without the author’s consent. No deals will be binding on the author without the author’s written consent.
- Work with the publisher on its marketing strategies for the book(s) and follow up throughout the launch and rollout of the Work(s).
- Review all royalty payments and statements.
- Provide liaison for the author with the publisher and be the author’s advocate during any dispute or potential dispute.
In a literary representation agreement we contract with an author to abide by these commitments. Likewise, the author agrees to:
- Appoint the agent as the author’s sole representative throughout the world for the purpose of exploitation of the Work(s)—knowing that the agent will use his or her best efforts to promote the author’s Work(s) to any entity the agent deems appropriate for the purpose of producing royalties, including but not limited to a publisher acceptable to the author, and subsidiary rights.
- Empower the agent to contact any entity and provide copies of the Work(s) for the purposes of exploitation of the Work(s) and to negotiate the contract or license terms on the author’s behalf.
- Acknowledge that the agent represents other authors or clients and the agent’s representation of the author shall not be the agent’s sole endeavor.
While we may offer guidance and recommendations in these areas, we do not serve as editors, publicists, a speakers bureau, or a management company.
Compensation
Nunn Communications, Inc. receives the standard 15% agency commission on projects sold to publishers. Typically agents receive all monies from the publisher, hold them in an escrow account, and disburse the 85% to the author. We write into author publishing contracts that the publisher pays both author royalties and agency commissions directly to the author and agent. This provides for quicker payment to the author on advances and subsequent royalties, ease of accounting, and no possibility for any delay or potential misuse of author funds. |
Proposal Submission
It is not an easy task for an author to write a book—or for that matter a proposal—build a speaking platform, and manage a company or organization. Neither is it light work for an agent to introduce authors to appropriate publishing partners, negotiate contracts, provide marketing expertise, and manage the author/publisher relationship.
In the current publishing landscape at a rapid pace, large publishing houses are acquiring smaller, privately held companies. There’s considerable consolidation on many fronts. Publishers recognize that 80% of their sales come from 20% of their titles, so they are publishing fewer and fewer titles, often trimming their lists by up to 20%. They are focusing on branded authors with an existing platform, exposure, media coverage, and targeted message.
To maximize the reach and impact of our services now, we consider proposals from authors who are already commercially published or those who are referred to us by a client or close contact. We take on very few new clients, and only those authors and projects/messages for which we have an instinctive connection and interest.
We are interested in:
- Non-fiction
- Self-Help
- Inspirational
- Women’s Topics
- Relationships/Marriage
- Singles Topics
- Parenting
- Business
- Personal Growth
- Cooking/Entertaining
- Home Decor
- Spiritual Growth
We’d like to hear from successfully published authors looking for an agency that fits their style and goals as well as authors referred by a client or close contact of Nunn Communications. Please e-mail us with a query letter or proposal: info@nunncommunications.com.
Please send the following as an email attachment, for our consideration:
- 2-4 page overview of the project
- A table of contents
- Chapter summaries
- An assessment of the target audience, as well as marketing channels and the marketing plan
- A review of competitive and comparable books
- A short author biography
- The author’s publishing and sales history
- Recent speaking engagements or media appearances
- A sample chapter
Unfortunately, we cannot:
- Review unsolicited proposals by mail.
- Return unsolicited manuscripts. We only consider unsolicited e-mail submissions.
- Respond to unsolicited queries that do not meet our guidelines. We will respond to authors who submit queries by email per our guidelines.
We kindly ask that authors not phone us, please. We agree with agent Jody Rein that if “the book doesn't fly on the page,” we can’t sell it to a publisher.
After submitting a proposal to us for representation consideration, authors may expect a response within 4 weeks.
Helpful Resources
|
