Kendall Berdinsky

Kendall Berdinsky – Editor

A devoted agent and query expert, experienced with editorial and with 3+ years of agenting and assisting experience.

Overview

I'm an editorially-based publishing professional, with a degree in Professional Writing and English Literature. Having worked for Simon & Schuster UK and now on the agenting side, my knowledge of the publishing industry is vast. As an at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, I have immense experience with query letters. Genres that I have worked especially close with include romance, psychological thrillers, and contemporary and women's fiction, though I am a reader at heart and open to all kinds of stories and voices.

I have extensive experience in line edits and query letters, as well as plot-based development. I am efficient, resourceful, and constantly craving a warm cup of tea. Thanks for considering me!

Services
Fiction
Cozy Mysteries Historical Fiction Psychological Thriller Women's Fiction Young Adult
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Oct, 2023 — Present
Maintains social media sites and website for the agency; oversees agency digital projects; provides IT and digital support when necessary. Cultivates a list of authors in a wide range of genres (adult, children's, fiction, and nonfiction); handles client and project management; edits manuscripts and proposals; vets contracts and other agreements on behalf of authors.

Dystel, Goderich & Bourret

Aug, 2021 — Oct, 2023 (about 2 years)
Assists president Jane Dystel with administrative tasks; evaluates manuscripts, contracts, and royalty statements; corresponds regularly with authors; hires and manages interns; office manager for the general office; compiles & distributes triannual newsletter of new literary projects; handles periodical rights for the agency (first serial, short stories, articles, essays, etc.,); handles permissions and film/TV inquiries.

Foundry Literary + Media

Sep, 2019 — Mar, 2020 (6 months)
Duties include editing proposals, creating submission lists, project status tracking, drafting deal memos and agency agreements, recording press and coordinating with foreign co-agents, reading and responding to queries, as well as administrative scheduling and management of intern.

Foundry Literary + Media

May, 2019 — Aug, 2019 (3 months)
Assisting two literary agents, managing submissions and reading queries, providing editorial feedback, pitching nonfiction clients, writing manuscript analysis and reader reports, and helping with author contracts.

Brown Books Publishing Group

May, 2018 — Aug, 2018 (3 months)
Read manuscripts, attended author meetings, updated author lists, wrote copy for brochures and website, wrote reviews of manuscripts, and assisted the Director of Brown Books Kids.

Simon & Schuster UK

Jan, 2018 — Apr, 2018 (3 months)
Assisted with reading and discussing manuscripts, helped with market research, worked on page proofs, attended editorial and production meetings, updated metadata, proofread projects in various stages, consulted on book cover design, wrote cover copy, assessed potential illustrators, and helped with book signings and launches.

Portfolio

An Honest Lie

Fisher, Tarryn

Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life

Dr. Nan Wise

Assaulted with opportunities for pleasure everywhere—from sex to food or exotic escapes—our culture is becoming more depressed and anxious. Research has shown that many people are having less sex, and that those who do have a lot enjoy it less. For more than t... read more
Dear Martin

Nic Stone

"Powerful, wrenching.” –JOHN GREEN, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down"Raw and gripping." –JASON REYNOLDS, New York Times bestselling coauthor of All American Boys"A must-read!” –ANGIE THOMAS, #1 New York Times bestselling author ... read more
I Stop Somewhere

TE Carter

Ellie Frias disappeared long before she vanished.Tormented throughout middle school, Ellie begins her freshman year with a new look: she doesn’t need to be popular; she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper.But when the unthinkable happens, Ellie finds her... read more
History Is All You Left Me

Adam Silvera

"This book will make you cry, think, and then cry some more." —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything From the New York Times bestselling author of More Happy Than Not comes an explosive examination of grief, mental illness... read more
Supertato

Sue Hendra

Meet the fabulous new superhero in this picture book from Sue Hendra—bestselling illustrator of Barry the Fish with Fingers and Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell.Meet Supertato! He’s always there for you when the chips are down. He’s the superhero with eyes... read more
Witch for a Week

Kaye Umansky

'A Bewitching tale, charmingly told and is certain to delight any witch in the making' M.G, Leonard, award-winning author of Beetle Boy 'A gorgeous story that bubbles with charm, wit and magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of The Dreamsnatcher 'Bursting with memora... read more
The Year of Living Awkwardly: Sophomore Year (Chloe Snow's Diary Book 2)

Emma Chastain

Bridget Jones’s Diary meets Mean Girls as lovably flawed high school student Chloe Snow chronicles another year in her life while she navigates the highs and lows of family, friendship, school, and love in a diary that sparkles with humor and warmth.It’s Chloe... read more

Kendall has 2 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Sara Lynn B.

Sara Lynn B.

Nov, 2019

Kendall was absolutely fantastic to work with. My query letter is much improved because of her insights!
Larry F.

Larry F.

Nov, 2019

Kendall transformed my messy, vague query letter into clear and compelling prose. More importantly, during our communication she offered numerous insights into the details of my query and the thought processes of literary agents. I received not just an edit but an education.

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