Mark A. Gottlieb

 Mark Gottlieb has proven to be an amazing agent. Within a month of signing with him we had an offer on the table and an acceptance! I've been in the business of writing for many years and I understand how tough the publishing market has become, especially for new authors. Even in a marketplace flooded with thousands of manuscripts Mark's reputation as a respected and trusted agent opened the doors to success! He negotiated on my behalf and very much cared about me, my book and my future success. He was always quick to respond to calls and e-mails and made the entire process seamless. I consider myself very fortunate to have him represent me.

 What Makes a Great Literary Agent? A writer friend asked me what he should look for in his search for a great literary agent. For me, the answer was an easy one: Look for a Mark Gottlieb. Among the many qualities an agent must possess that are important in a business as tough as the publishing industry, three stand out. 1. CREDENTIALS: Mark is a top agent in a leading New York agency (Trident Media Group), who represents both established A-List authors as well as new authors. 2. EFFECTIVENESS / PROFESSIONALISM: Mark is a tireless and consummate professional who returned my call at 10:00 PM from a writer’s conference he was attending in Mexico, he agreed to read my manuscript, we made a deal, and less than two weeks later he came back to me with a publishing contract I gladly accepted. He is highly respected by the major publishing houses and a long list of indie publishers, all who want to close deals with him. 3. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS: On the personal side, Mark is always responsive and has the best interest of his clients at heart. Doing business with Mark is like doing business with a trusted friend—it’s the most valued relationship a writer can have. I especially appreciate Mark’s straightforward and honest approach when he offers advice he knows you may not want to hear. That’s integrity. By every measure, Mark Gottlieb is the gold standard by which we should measure all literary agents. I give Mark my highest recommendation on all counts. —DB Jackson, author of Small Moving Parts, Turner Publishing

 Mark is a consummate professional. He is well-versed and well-connected in the industry, and knows how to get the very best for his clients. Just as important, however, he maintains an approachability that is both comforting and calming. He is incredibly responsive and, despite having a long list of successful clients, has always been there to answer any questions I might have. As a debut author, the number of things I didn't know about the publishing process was daunting, but Mark has continually taken the time to walk me through everything and ensure I'm comfortable with each step. Mark brings to the table a tremendous amount of expertise as an agent, but also a real and tangible passion for his clients' projects. In our first phone conversation, Mark was describing my manuscript as if he'd been studying it for months, yet he'd only had it for two days. He gets it. He cares. I can tell he truly takes pride in finding the best home for his authors and their books. Mark's level of service, coupled with Trident Media's unmatched resources, has made this experience as seamless as possible.

 From my first telephone conversation with Mark I was impressed with his low-pressure, professional manner. He held my hand through the angst of the submission process and he negotiated a wonderful, two-book deal for me. He is always courteous and prompt to respond to questions and takes the time to explain things thoroughly. I've been very pleased with the results of my partnership with Mark and Trident Media.

 February 14, 2016 was not just Valentine's Day for me, it was the day that I pitched literary agent, Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group at the San Francisco Writers' Conference. I had already begun to query agents, regarding my epic fantasy series for adults. I'd had positive responses and requests for synopses and partials. But then I met Mark Gottlieb at SFWC and I changed my perspective on who would be the right fit for me. After pitching my book to him, he requested a full manuscript. His response was what any author hopes for, enthusiastic with an offer of representation. My review of Mark's track record, along with that of the larger agency, confirmed what I already intuitively knew, this was the right fit for me. Within three months of signing, Mark had sold not just my first book, but my trilogy. With the third book in the series in the works, I can say that Mark has been my greatest advocate throughout the publishing process. The learning curve for a debut author is long and steep, but knowing that I can rely on Mark has made it possible for me to not work to complete this series, but consider what might come next.