Interview with Diana Murphey, a NYC LIterary Agent

In order to be published in either the fiction or non fiction world, an agent is essential. Publishers rarely accept unsolicited manuscripts for review, which means that you require a professional who has contacts in the industry. Literary agents, or Authors’ Representatives, are the medium through which an aspiring writer can be published.

Most agents’ desks are flooded with submissions, and until you are accepted, you will have very little understanding of the review process. Since they receive so many manuscripts each week (average is around 400), they have little time to answer questions until they are sure they want to represent you.

A friend of mine from college, Diana Murphey, is a literary agent for Maxwell Literary Agency in New York City. She is formerly an editor for Berkley Books, and now she spends her time discovering new talent in the U.S. and abroad. She agreed to this phone interview, and I think you will be surprised at what she had to say.