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Pitching an Agent: The Robert E. Shepard Agency

This Berkeley-based solo operation specializes in narrative nonfiction and has a great track record with interesting, unexpected books.

Number of agents: One
Number of clients: About 50
Notable clients: Stefan Fatsis, the Wall Street Journal reporter and NPR commentator who wrote Word Freak, about the world of competitive Scrabble; and Anthony Shadid, the recent Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter. Money magazine columnist and Today correspondent Jean Chatzky also has two books on Shepard's list.
Percentage of unsolicited material accepted: Less than one percent.
Fiction vs. nonfiction: Nonfiction only.

Background: Robert Shepard has been in the publishing business, in one form or another, for 20 years. He worked in both editorial and sales at the trade division of Addison-...

The How to Pitch series is worth its weight in gold. In just the first month I'd already benefited enough to consider the cost of joining well worth it. -- Gaen Murphree