Laney Katz Becker

I spent more than two decades preparing for the job of literary agent; I just didn't know it!

After graduating from Northwestern University I came to New York and started my career as a copywriter in the advertising/marketing/publicity arena. I continue to use that knowledge and expertise to make contributions to Folio's Marketing and Publicity Department.

I've also worked as a journalist. My articles and essays have appeared in more than 50 newspapers and magazines including Self, Health, Seventeen, Yahoo! Internet Life, First for Women, and American Health.

And finally, I am also an author. My novel Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend was a Literary Guild, Alternate Selection; chosen by Redbook as the Editors' Favorite Pick; Recommended by Library Journal; and was the recipient of several awards.

Why, you may wonder, have I worn so many hats? The short answer is kids. As mine continued to grow, I altered my schedule to better mesh with theirs. That led to shifts in my career and in my objectives. Throughout the years however, there was one constant: I always remained an active participant in the worlds of writing, publishing and reading. (Isn't every writer a voracious reader?) Well, now the kiddos are older and I'm in a position to use my experiences and skills in yet another way... that's really the same way. Or at least it makes use of the same skills. Because it's true what they say: Publishing is a business. And authors and their books are the products.

My decades of experience in advertising, marketing, and writing are invaluable when it comes to working together (you and me) to make sure your manuscript or proposal is top-notch. And once we agree that your submission is phenomenal, (I wouldn't take it on unless it could be, and I won't send it out until it is!), then, and only then, is the product (you and your work) ready to be sold.

Yup. The agent cap fits well. However, please don't send me work that's less than stellar because you think I'll use my skills to do your job; I won't. But once you're thrilled with your project, write to me about it. A one-page query letter. If I want to see more, I'll ask for 50 pages, or so, plus a SASE. If I request a project and it doesn't work for me I'll tell you why (assuming you followed directions and included the SASE). I've always hated form letter rejections, and I'll go out on a limb and assume you hate them, too. So I won't send you one. I won't write a dissertation, but I'll try to be helpful, even if that help consists of, "Before sending this out to another agent, fix the grammatical error on your title page: It should say Bring Your Own Blanket, not Bring You're Own Blanket." (Yup, it's true!)

What I'm looking for

Fiction: Literary, commercial, mainstream, thrillers, Jewish-themed fiction... I love it all. I especially love anything that leaves me wanting so desperately to talk about what I've just read that I have a momentary impulse to restart my book group (which I'm tempted to do, but I just don't have the time!) I also love fiction that teaches me something new, but not in a preachy way. Fiction that makes me cry because it's so well written is always appreciated. Character-driven novels and novels with a great voice are also likely to get my attention. Fiction that touches on women/family issues is also a fave. I've also been known to fall hard for chick-lit, mommy-lit, and YA but it doesn't happen often, so you may want to think twice about sending it my way.

Nonfiction: I'm crazy about memoirs, especially if they're set in a different country or expose me to a different culture. I also really (really) like narrative nonfiction, including adventure stories or anything having to do with space exploration. I'm also interested in seeing non-fiction proposals that deal with parenting, family, relationships, pets and any issue that affects women.

What I'm not looking for

Fiction: I am not looking for: Fantasy, science fiction, horror, romance, genre mysteries, Westerns

Non-Fiction: I am not looking for: Poetry, short stories, Christianity, children's, cooking, gardening, pop-culture.

Sales

Will Lavender's OBEDIENCE (Harmony / Shaye Areheart Books), a really smart psychological thriller set on a college campus. Fiction and reality blur in this taut debut.

Eve Brown-Waite's FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MALARIA: How a Peace Corps poster boy won my heart and a Third World adventure changed my life (Broadway Books), a wildly funny, fish-out-of-water memoir about a pampered young woman who decides to save the world. Also a debut.

Jim Beaver's LIFE'S THAT WAY (Putnam / Amy Einhorn Books), an exquisitely rendered memoir about love, loss and learning to live again, after the death of the actor's wife. (Jim is best known for his role as Ellsworth on HBO's Deadwood.)

Naseem Rakha’s RESTING PLACE (Broadway Books), a debut novel about a woman’s journey from hatred towards forgiveness, when the man on death row who killed her 14 year old son is slated for execution.

How To Contact Me

Query by email: (Preferred) If it's fiction, you may want to include the first few pages, but please cut and paste them into the body of the email. If it's non-fiction, cut and paste the proposal into the body of the email. Please don't send attachments. My email address is lkbecker(@)foliolit.com.

Query by snail-mail: If it's fiction and you want to send along the first 20-30 pages, that's fine. If it's non-fiction, you may send the complete proposal. Either way, don't forget the SASE and double space everything!

Folio Literary Management
505 8th Avenue, Suite 603
New York, NY 10018

My response time

I usually reply to email queries in a couple days. I sometimes reply within the hour, which, strangely, has caused some authors to think I didn't read their query. I do. I read them all. Promise!

I typically respond to snail mail queries within a couple weeks, but again, often times I reply sooner.

If you've sent me a query and I haven't responded, please resend it, using the same means that you initially made contact. Include a copy of your original query.

If I've requested material from you, I typically respond within a couple of weeks for partials or non-fiction proposals, and 3-5 weeks for full manuscripts. If you haven't heard from me within the expected timeframe, please shoot me off an email and we'll sort out things.