Kelly Mortimer started Mortimer Literary Agency with one thought in mind: There were too many great writers who couldn’t get their foot in the door. She’s only 5’4”, but she wears a size 8-1/2 shoe, so she thought she could help. And she did: selling manuscripts for her first two clients in the same week, after only a month of representation. [Ah, for the good old days....]
In her agency’s first full year of business, the American Christian Fiction Writers nominated Kelly for their “Agent of the Year” award. [Don't tell anyone, but she came in second by 2 points.] Kelly finished as #10 on the Publisher’s Marketplace list of “Top 100 Dealmakers, 2008” – Romance Category, with only a fraction of the clients the others in the top-ten had. [Boo-Yah!]
The following year, Kelly won the American Christian Fiction Writers “Agent of the Year” award. [Don't tell anyone, but the following year, ACFW's Advisory Board kicked her out. --No one told Kelly she wasn't supposed to win.] Kelly finished as #5 on the Publisher’s Marketplace list of “Top 100 Dealmakers, 2009” – Romance Category, with only a fraction of the clients the others in the top-five had. [Don't tell anyone, but Kelly refused to renew her membership with Romance Writers of America due to their policy resulting in a lack of rights for agents, and their 'J. Edgar Hoover' files.]
Kelly’s been interviewed on many blogs, as she has a quick wit. Among others,The Huffington Post, and print magazines, Inside Rose-Rich, and the Italian Vogue for writers, Writer’s Digest Magazine. She’s also known for energizing small conferences, which she loves to attend.
Kelly has a background in business [she's always giving everyone the business] and has a secret government clearance [really], so your dirty laundry is safe with her.
She has a degree in contract law and has many character witnesses [at least 100 people will attest to the fact she's a character]. Being Italian, she loves to chat with editors, booksellers, and writers, unless, of course, her hands are full.
Kelly knows the literary business and will use her maniacal type-A personality to work her heart out [yes, some agents DO have hearts] for her select family of clients. In order to be accessible to her authors, her client list will remain short. As more clients need less of her time [sniffle, sniffle], she’ll be open to adding more writers.
She wants to ferret out those unpublished authors whose manuscripts are great as is, but no one’ll give them a chance, or those whose manuscripts are close, but need a sliver of work to “catch” an editor’s eye. [Kelly provides every client with a mitt.]
Kelly’s personal service includes:
- Returning her clients’ calls and e-mails within 24 hours (on weekdays) unless she didn’t receive the message, or she’s dead. [In which case, clients have her permission to seek other representation.]
- As Kelly says, “It’s your mother’s job to lie to you about your writing. It’s my job to get you published.” She’ll give you her best advice on your career. Warning: She’s disgustingly honest [but not mean on purpose], and loves heckling. [C'mon, she’s gotta have SOME fun.] She’ll continue to give her advice until the client is published, and gets an editor who’ll be disgustingly honest in her stead.
- She’ll send submittable manuscripts to pre-selected editors in a timely manner. Usually [gasp] in a few days.
- Kelly sends her clients a monthly report so they know who has what, where.
- She’ll believe in you and give you pep-talks as needed, or slap you around–her choice.
Kelly can’t promise you’ll get published if you quit on her. Kelly thinks it’s not “if,” it’s “when.” She’ll travel far-and-wide, search every newsletter, read every blog, scour every avenue [including Boardwalk and Park Place], to find the editor who wants to buy your manuscript.
Having a big-name agent from a large agency might be great [although if they can't sell your manuscript in 3 months, they'll drop you faster than Kanye West can grab someone else's microphone], Kelly feels: “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” [Well said....]