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Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency

Dark Sim

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Does anyone have any information on the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency? I'm trying to find out about their list of published authors as well as whether they are a reputable agency. Has anyone ever sent any submissions to them and if so, how did they respond?

It gives a list of the types of fiction they look at in the Writer's Handbook 2006 but there isn't a website with their authors and just different bits of information around on the web which isn't concentrated in one place.

Anyone able to help?

Thanks
 

aadams73

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She's top notch. Amy Tan is one of her most popular authors.
 

HapiSofi

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Legit agent, good Hollywood connections, dislike her personally. Your mileage may vary.
 

Carlene

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I know she's the one who represented Amy Tan's "Joy Luck Club." She's a very good agent and very choosy about who she signs - aren't they all?

Carlene
 

sportscribe

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agent

From what I hear, she's the hottest-selling agent on the West Coast. B.J Robbins and Mike Hamilburg are also thriving Hollywood agents.
 

HapiSofi

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And where did you hear that? I'm just curious.
 

klxr250

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What about their children's titles?

Does anyone have any idea about how well Sandra Dijkstra agency does for children's titles?

I have heard the agent for the children's titles will not be Sandra herself. Most likely Kelly Sonnack.

Anyone has any idea on the agency's portfolio for children's books and Kelly's portfolio for that?

Does this agency have a website at all?
 

nygirl

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A friend of mine, who wrote a non-fiction book, worked with her. He was very happy with her, and surprised by how involved she was in the editing process. And I know some magazine (Publishers Weekly maybe?) named her the most powerful book editor in the West Coast.
A woman named Debra Ginsberg, who used to be her assistant, just published Blind Submission, a "novel" about a powerful agent who's also a bitch.
It seems she's abrasive and can rub people the wrong way. But she obviously gets results, and I think that's the most important thing. You are looking for an advocate for your writing, not a best friend.
 

klxr250

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Kelly Sonnack

I'm sorry. Am a tad confused. I thought Amy Tan's agent was Taryn, and Sandra has been quoted as the most powerful agent on the West.

For the kind answers thus far, are we discussing about the same agent - Kelly Sonnack working in the same agency as Sandra and Taryn?
 

klxr250

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Thx! Just to be sure, we are talking about Kelly Sonnack?
 

klxr250

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Anyone knows the agency's portfolio/ Kelly Sonnack's portfolio for children's titles? What titles have they put out for children's genre? I know they are very strong for novels.
 

klxr250

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Children's Genre for Sandra Dijkstra Agency

Hi anyone knows anything about Sandra Dijkstra's agency for children's books? Anyone knows their portfolio for that, and the agent Kelly Sonnack?
 

birdfeeder

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Kelly Sonnack

Found this on a conference brochure:

Kelly Sonnack is an agent with the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency, known for establishing and guiding the careers of many fiction and nonfiction authors, including Amy Tan, Janell Cannon, Lisa See, Diane Mott Davidson, Kevin Starr, Mike Davis, and many others. The Los Angeles Times dubbed the Dijkstra Agency "the most powerful literary agency on the West Coast" and, in its 20 plus years, the agency has developed a reputation for discovering new talent and representing quality work with great commercial potential. She began her career in publishing with the publishing giant Elsevier, under the Academic Press imprint as an acquisitions editor. At the Dijkstra Agency, she manages the submission cycle and works actively with foreign rights, contracts, accounting, and public relations. She is actively building her list and is especially interested in children's literature, young adult, and international women's fiction.
 

AussieBilly

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This may no longer be of interest ... info on the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency ... but I ran across an interesting site this morning, www.algonkianconferences.com, that included an interview with an agent from that agency ... and liked what I read enough to add them to my query list. Give it a look ....
 

Will Lavender

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A friend of mine, who wrote a non-fiction book, worked with her. He was very happy with her, and surprised by how involved she was in the editing process. And I know some magazine (Publishers Weekly maybe?) named her the most powerful book editor in the West Coast.
A woman named Debra Ginsberg, who used to be her assistant, just published Blind Submission, a "novel" about a powerful agent who's also a bitch.
It seems she's abrasive and can rub people the wrong way. But she obviously gets results, and I think that's the most important thing. You are looking for an advocate for your writing, not a best friend.

Interesting. Ginsberg and I share the same publisher and editor. (Blind Submission is a pretty fine book, BTW.) I had no idea she was basing it on a real experience.

I pretty much agree with your last sentence: you want a hard-nosed agent who will work for your product. BUT it helps if you can get along with your agent personally. You're going to spend a lot of time speaking to him or her, obviously, so it can become a slog (I'd imagine; my agent is great) if the agent is unpleasant.
 

JAG4584

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Jill Marsal with Sandra Dijkstra...

Hi,

I wanted to add that I queried this agent in late August by mail and I received a reply within 10 days requesting my full proposal and ms pages. I was impressed by their timeliness and by their clarity. I have signed with an agent already but I would keep this in my back ups for sure. I did not know of them until late in my game. If someone would like to share their experiences with Jill that would be great info to have here.
 

clara bow

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Agent at Sandra Dijkstra seeking SF, paranormal, spec fiction

FYI, a blog post on 11/14/07 at Guide to literary agents feature an interview with Taryn Fagerness of the Sandra Dijkstra Agency. She specifies she's looking for high concept ideas, and is looking to rep more SF, paranormal, and spec fiction.

Query away!