Overview
Query reviews are a specialty of mine. I know how difficult it can be to distill your intricate, expansive novel down into a few paragraphs of effective marketing copy. Struggling to summarize your story or personalize your pitch? Are you ready to stop getting rejections and start getting requests? It’s time to kick the clichés, ditch the info dumps, and get ready to dive deeper than a list of dos and don’ts. Writing fiction is intimate, but writing a great query requires a different skillset: an objective eye, a promotional style, and the ability to consider your book as a whole. I can help you showcase both your book and your bio to the best advantage.
ABOUT:
Kelly Van Sant has nearly a decade of experience in the publishing industry. She cut her teeth in New York working at esteemed literary agencies such as Writers House and Harold Ober Associates, where she developed an eye for compelling, emotionally resonant stories, honed her editorial skills, and soon grew adept at contract vetting. She quickly gained expertise in subsidiary rights management, with focuses on audio rights, foreign rights, and permissions.
After relocating to Minnesota, Kelly joined Llewellyn Worldwide as their Contracts Manager across all three imprints and then moved to Quarto Publishing Group USA where she led the contract department. She has worked as a freelance editor with various publishers and is a teaching artist at the Loft Literary Center.
She also blogs about writing and the publishing industry at Pub(lishing) Crawl and co-hosts their weekly
Kelly's career came full circle when she realized that her true passion was advocating on behalf of authors. She is now an agent at Red Sofa Literary and actively building a client list.
Services
Fiction
Languages
Work experience
Red Sofa Literary
I am a literary agent and publishing contracts expert with a decade of industry experience. I have an eye for compelling, emotionally-resonant stories and am able to advise authors on both the big picture and small details that tighten and enrich the plot, making good books even better. After years of drafting contracts in publishing houses I'm a fierce negotiator and believe strongly that all authors deserve equitable contracts that give them creative control of their careers. I work closely with my clients to edit their manuscripts, secure and negotiate offers of publication, and manage their career trajectory.
D4EO Literary Agency
Literary agent and publishing contracts expert with a decade of industry experience. I have an eye for compelling, emotionally-resonant stories and am able to advise authors on both the big picture and small details that tighten and enrich the plot, making good books even better. After years of drafting contracts in publishing houses I'm a fierce negotiator and believe strongly that all authors deserve equitable contracts that give them creative control of their careers.
Quarto Publishing Group USA
• Introduced best practices and standard procedures for contracts and oversaw drafting and negotiation company-wide.
• Worked closely with the accounting department to resolve internal issues and ensure that all documentation was complete and correct.
• Implemented a detailed tracking system for terms and conditions and project milestones.
• Worked both independently and collaboratively on a number of special projects as assigned
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD
• Independently developed and implemented system for drafting, negotiating, tracking, and processing all contracts across three imprints
• Read and analyze manuscripts and advised for revision and creative development of work.
• Participated in weekly meetings regarding the acquisition and development of new projects and discussion of how to best reach target audiences
• Spearheaded tri-annual Sales Conferences, managing the creation, compilation, and distribution of all copy, data, and materials
• Provided general support to the Acquisitions Department
• Transmitted all manuscripts to production
• Managed all invoices and payment requests and coordinated with accounting department to track status of various accounts
• Hired and trained acquisitions interns, including a specific curriculum on understanding and negotiating contracts
• Completed various special projects as assigned
Harold Ober Associates
• Read, analyzed, and edited manuscripts and advised clients for revision and creative development of work.
• Supervised Author Residency Certifications (IRS form preparation, submission, tracking)
• Drafted and processed permissions (including print, stage, and audio) for various foreign markets.
• Assisted Foreign Rights Director in all aspects of business including vetting contracts and managing correspondence with clients, foreign subagents, and publishers. Provided administrative support including generating reports and tracking and shipping materials overseas.
Writers House
• Wrote copy and creative content for submission letters and various press announcements.
• Read, analyzed, and edited manuscripts and advised clients for revision and development of work.
• Managed and submitted Audio rights for entire agency.
• Drafted and processed permissions (reprint, large print, book club) for various clients, including the Estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Assisted both Senior Vice President and Director of Subsidiary Rights in all aspects of business including preparation of agency agreements, vetting contracts, and general administrative support including generating reports, arranging courier services, and managing correspondence with clients and editors.
Portfolio
