This past February, in collaboration with Columbia Fiction Foundry, I hosted a panel discussion with agents from DeFiore & Company. This was an exciting opportunity to learn from industry experts Brian DeFiore, Miriam Altshuler, Caryn Karmatz Rudy, and Reiko Davis. They generously offered their time to share insider knowledge and offer insights on how to navigate the crucial step of getting a novel published.

Topics ranged from how to write a query letter, the pros and cons of independent vs. traditional publishing, and why an agent is an important asset for an author. They also discussed changes in the publishing industry, a day in the life of a literary agent, and more.

It was a fun evening, and I learned a lot from the conversation. I was especially impressed by how open and honest our panel was.

DeFiore and Company is a dynamic, midsized literary agency located in New York’s Union Square area. The agency was started in 1999, and since then has sold hundreds of book projects to every major US publisher, in virtually all international publishing markets and for feature film and television adaptations. With a total of fourteen on staff, with diverse backgrounds in both large publishing houses and major literary agencies, as agents, editors, publishers, and rights executives, with decades of shared experience in making bestsellers for all markets, the agency’s breadth of experience and range of interests serves all aspects of its clients’ careers.

Take a listen here.