A large part of success comes with a proper attitude. The most successful authors I know enjoy the process of learning and got into the business from the pleasure and challenge of writing. Impatience, mistrustfulness, and competitiveness with other writers can be very damaging to a career. Focus on your own content, find your own best voice, and enjoy the ride. This can be a wonderful business. --John Talbot

Submission Guidelines

The agency represents authors of narrative nonfiction, romance, women's fiction, suspense, and literary fiction. We do not handle children's books, westerns, science fiction, fantasy, poetry, or screenplays.

PLEASE QUERY VIA EMAIL ONLY using the email address on the bottom of this page. Be sure to include the word "query" in the subject line, and specify whether the query is addressed to John Talbot or Gail Fortune. The query letter should be one page only, with no attachments. An email with links, photos, attachments, or in any way not identifiable as a query letter will be deleted unread. If you have been referred by someone please note this by including the word "referral" in the subject line of your email. Please remember to include your daytime phone number and return email address as well as your physical mailing address. Also remember to include the title of your book and the approximate word count. Note any previous publications you have had, plus any relevant writing experience.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE HEAVY VOLUME OF QUERIES RECEIVED, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM US UNLESS WE DECIDE TO PURSUE YOUR PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

IF WE REQUEST YOUR MATERIAL:

Please send proposals or partial manuscripts as email file attachments in Microsoft Word. For complete manuscripts, please send hard copies via regular or express mail, with SASE for return of material should that be necessary, to the address specified in our response.

Thank you and good luck. Happy writing!

The Talbot Fortune Agency, LLC E-Mail queries@talbotfortuneagency.com