[Agency] Sassafras Book

stargazer11 said:

Hello everyone,

I am just curious if anyone has any knowledge of this agent: Michael Suswal and Donna Morris from Sassafras Book. They come up on www.agentquery.com as a new agent. According to their profile, they have limited experience as an agent, and according to their website, they talk indepth about the digital market and how they act as your publisher in the digital realm. Has anyone know or heard of Sassafras Book? Their submission guidelines seems odd... they request a query letter with the full manuscript as a Pdf-file. I never heard of an agent who goes straight for the full manuscript off-the-bat.

What I gathered from their site is that they have 3 clients but no sales to go with it. As a writer, I would like to have an agent with some sort of sales record. I included a link straight to their website, if anyone wants to check it out. Would anyone here feel comfortable sending their manuscript to them? Just curious...

http://sites.google.com/a/sassafrasbook.com/sassafrasbook/

Thanks...

Click to expand...

Sassafras works in both the print and digital space. When going to print, it is important to bring the author’s book in front of the right editor. Publishers work with particular genres, but they also each have their own personality that needs to considered before approaching one of their editors. Sassafras has the relationships to instinctually know which manuscripts work for which publishers.

Additionally, we have experience organizing the correct format of the “pitch” to each editor’s preferences. In the digital space, Sassafras acts as your publisher. Anyone with the knowledge of the digital market share and how to convert files can self-publish, but to have a successful book run is much harder. Four of the top ten books sold on Amazon in 2011 were self-published, but they were expertly marketed. Strong, consistent, and constant marketing are absolutely necessary to make money in the digital space. After all, marketing and distribution are the main jobs of a print publisher, so why not of a digital publisher too?

Click to expand...

Sassafras isn't as interested in the kind of book as much as the quality of book. We also look for authors who are willing to stand on their proverbial soapbox to promote their book.
http://agentquery.com/agent.aspx?agentid=1189

Click to expand...

Serial entrepreneur and Literary Agent; Michael has been working in the publishing industry for three years. He has acquired in depth knowledge of all digital platforms and technologies and has contacts with dozens of acquisition editors at dozens of publishers in the book publishing world as well as contacts with magazines, comics, and audio books. He has been to the 3 largest book fairs in the last few years. He has been to London Book Fair, Book Expo America (NY), and Frankfurt Book fair, and has closed digital publishing deals at all of them. He has done marketing for various successful projects in publishing and other industries.
https://sites.google.com/a/sassafrasbook.com/sassafrasbook/our-company

Click to expand...

Business Development Manager (Commissioned)
Language World Digital
March 2012 – February 2013 (1 year)Seoul, Korea
Language World Digital is the leading company in Korea bringing English language books to the market. Delivering great books to schools, libraries, and straight to the consumer.
Michael works with publishers to help them get their content into a blossoming market.

Business Licensing
SmartEbook.com
July 2010 – December 2011 (1 year 6 months)New York, NY
Working with the world's largest publishing companies to license and distribute their books, magazines, comics, movies, audiobooks, etc. through a digitial platform. Opening new channels for sales, maintain relationships, manage development of applications, and consult on marketing strategies.
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-suswal/21/454/51b

Click to expand...

Others
Sassafras works with several others on an as needed basis, such as editors and media outlets, and can therefore provide authors with a high level of service and advice.
https://sites.google.com/a/sassafrasbook.com/sassafrasbook/our-company

Click to expand...