[Agency] Don Gastwirth & Associates

He does have a track record, though as you say there's not much information floating around about him, so it's hard to tell how large or prestigious it is.

I've had a couple of reports (not documented) that he charges reading fees.

- Victoria

Don Gastwirth

Don has represented me for two years and sold my first novel, BLOOD ATONEMENT. It is a male mystery series, not the easiest thing to sell in the current environment.

Don suggested I visit New York City with him and we made the rounds of the NY publishers back in 2003. We met with Carolyn Marino, Ed Katzenmeyer, Sara Ann Freed and others. It was a literal who's who on mystery fiction.

Don sold the book to The Lyons Press and it will be released on June 1st.

He is a delightful man to work with. Pleasant, quick witted, well connected and respected.

Jim Tenuto

Wow, awesome!

Jim: Did he charge fees? Anything besides straight commission?

mschannon said:

Anyone have any experience with Don Gastwirth as an agent? He was recommended to me by a published author, but he doesn't have a website & a google on him doesn't bring much up.

Thanks.

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Don't know anything specific about him. However, I have heard that some agents prefer to be under the radar so they don't receive piles of submissions. I guess they figure if they need new clients, they'll go out and get them or somebody will be passed along to them.

So, the fact that you can't find much about him may not be the worst thing.

Gastwirth...does he charge a fee?

Boy, I really suck. I posted this and then slipped into a coma.

Don does not charge reading fees. He will, however, ask you to cover some of his mailing costs.

Jim Tenuto

That's a bit of a red flag for me. It suggests that he's not making enough money on commissions to cover his own mailing costs. I know that some successful agents DO charge costs to their clients, but it's typically at the back end and taken out of the client's advance and/or royalty check.

Since people became more aware that a "reading fee" was a bad thing, some agents aren't calling them "reading fees," but "mailing fees" or "administrative costs" or some such instead. I'd be wary of any agent charging any fees, no matter what they're called.

I saw your book at Amazon Jim!!!!! Congrats!

As far as I know, Don Gastwirth's real.

Publisher's Marketplace lists three non-fiction sales in the past three years for him -- all to imprints of Perseus Books in the UK. I can't find much about the publisher, though.

Perseus seem to handle serious non-fiction/academic books. They have a stand at the London Bookfair this year.

Cathy C said:

Publisher's Marketplace lists three non-fiction sales in the past three years for him -- all to imprints of Perseus Books in the UK. I can't find much about the publisher, though.

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There's no "Perseus Books" listed in the Writer's Handbook for 2006 as a UK publisher. There is a US publisher under this name, which seems to be an academic press.

I've double-checked. There's evidence of Don Gastwirth's legitimate sales all over the place.

I haven't worked with him as an agent, but he was my professor in Entertainment Law in law school (he is a lawyer too). I found him to be of the highest integrity.

Anyone have any new experiences or information to share?
Thanks,
Mark

I know Don Gastwirth very well. He has a very substantial portfolio representing nonfiction and some fiction, e.g. mystery. He has represented national security experts, literature on the entertainment business, some fiction, and a lot of scholarly work (e.g., history, translations of literary classics -- and he is a "Shakepeareophile.")

Don majored in American Civilization at Yale and also is a graduate of Yale Law School, with a special interest in Constitutional Law. He taught entertainment law. And he worked on John Kerry's campaign for President. Don is one of the most deeply read people I know, and one of the most sincere. Recently he agented a complete new translation of Dante's "Comedia" (not out yet) and the bestselling "Sistine Secrets."

http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/peald.htm
Don Gastwirth: $ Believed to be a literary agent.