Maxwell P. Sinsheimer

Maxwell P. Sinsheimer – Editor

Nonfiction lit agent spanning food, science, history, memoir, social issues, and more. Former Oxford UP editor. 3x James Beard Award winner.

Overview

I founded a boutique literary agency in Washington, DC, representing adult nonfiction, with a particular interest in food, popular science, history, memoir, and social issues. I love narrative nonfiction, and have sold everything from a sake travelogue to a maritime adventure memoir. I've also sold cookbooks, advice books, and other forms of prescriptive nonfiction. Many of my books have a policy or advocacy angle.


Prior to founding my agency I was an editor at Oxford University Press managing their trade reference list. In that role I oversaw OUP's influential food and drink Companion series (The Oxford Companion to Beer, The Oxford Companion to Cheese, etc.), which has won or been nominated for James Beard, IACP, Gourmand, and other food writing awards. I love working with academics to help them translate their scholarship for general readerships.


Given my strong and wide-ranging track record as a literary agent, and my background as an editor at the world's top university press, I am well qualified to help you create an irresistible query letter and proposal for your smart nonfiction book, or to perform copyediting and developmental editing on your sample chapters or complete manuscript.


**Please note that I am a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), and pursuant to their updated Canon of Ethics there is a firewall between my freelance editing work and my agency work. I will not consider representing any book that I receive payment for editing or assessing. This is also not the right place to pitch me on representation; please see my agency website for submission guidelines.**

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Health & Wellbeing History Political Science & Current Affairs Technology Travel True Crime
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • James Beard Award for Writing & Literature
  • James Beard Award for Reference & Scholarship
  • James Beard Award for Beverage Without Recipes
Certifications
  • BA
  • MA

Work experience

Self-employed

Sep, 2016 — Present
Founded a boutique literary agency representing adult nonfiction.

Oxford University Press

May, 2012 — Jul, 2016 (about 4 years)
As a member of the acquisitions editorial team, I shaped departmental publishing priorities; conceived, commissioned, and developed four food and drink reference works averaging 250-350 contributors each; and served as the lead editor for the Encyclopedia of Social Work. Published works (selected): James Beard Award-winning Oxford Companion to Cheese (2016), edited by Catherine Donnelly; James Beard Award-nominated Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets (2015), edited by Darra Goldstein; Savoring Gotham (2015), edited by Andrew F. Smith; James Beard Award-winning Soda Politics (2015), by Marion Nestle; and Garner’s Modern English Usage (2016), by Bryan Garner.

Oxford University Press

Nov, 2010 — May, 2012 (over 1 year)
As an Associate Editor I wrote approved proposals for seven Oxford Research Encyclopedias, with $1m+ in funding; served as the lead U.S. editor tasked with re-designing Oxford Reference, OUP’s largest content platform (2m+ A-Z entries); and managed the trade reference program, including a publishing partnership with the Country Music Hall of Fame. Published works (selected): The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (2012), edited by Joyce Carol Oates; James Beard Award-nominated Oxford Companion to Beer (2011), edited by Garrett Oliver (more than 65k copies sold); The Encyclopedia of Country Music (2012), edited by the Country Music Hall of Fame; Sharp’s Dictionary of Power and Struggle (2011), by Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Gene Sharp; and the Atlas of the World (annual editions).

Oxford University Press

Oct, 2009 — Nov, 2010 (about 1 year)
I provided administrative support to the reference department and wrote a curriculum review that won approval for the A History of US textbook series to be taught in Virginia classrooms.

Portfolio

The Shadows of Socrates: The Heresy, War, and Treachery Behind the Trial of Socrates

Gatton, Matt

Formidable: American Women and the Fight for Equality: 1920-2020

Griffith, Elisabeth

The Oldest Cure in the World: Adventures in the Art and Science of Fasting

Hendricks, Steve

Disposable City: Miami's Future on the Shores of Climate Catastrophe

Ariza, Mario Alejandro

Second Generation: Hungarian and Jewish Classics Reimagined for the Modern Table

Salamon, Jeremy

Children of Darkness and Light: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell and the Story of a Murderous Faith

Hellis, Lori

The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Dangerous Spirit

Rail, Evan

Imbibing for Introverts: A Guide to Social Drinking for the Anti-Social

Cioletti, Jeff

Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food

Prakash, Sheela

Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth

Matsumoto, Nancy

The No-Nonsense Guide to Divorce: Getting Through and Starting Over

Hellis, Lori

Soda Politics: Taking on Big Soda (And Winning)

Dr. Marion Nestle

If I Don't Make It, I Love You: Survivors in the Aftermath of School Shootings

Archer, Amye

Latin Superfoods: 100 Simple, Delicious, and Energizing Recipes for Total Health

Moreinos Schwartz, Leticia

Ending the War on Artisan Cheese: The Inside Story of Government Overreach and the Struggle to Save Traditional Raw Milk Cheesemakers

Donnelly, Doctor Catherine

Shooting War: 18 Profiles of Conflict Photographers

Feinstein, Anthony

Let's Ask Marion: What You Need to Know about the Politics of Food, Nutrition, and Health (Volume 74) (California Studies in Food and Culture)

Nestle, Marion

Salt Wars: The Battle Over the Biggest Killer in the American Diet

Jacobson, Michael

Legends of the Common Stream

Mitchell, John Hanson

Behind the Mormon Curtain: Selling Sex in America’s Holy City

Cuno, Steve

New England Soups from the Sea: Recipes for Chowders, Bisques, Boils, Stews, and Classic Seafood Medleys

Fear, Craig

Drink Like a Geek: Cocktails, Brews, and Spirits for the Nerd in All of Us (Geek Cookbook, 21st Birthday Idea, Nerd Cocktail Book, and Cocktail Companion)

Cioletti, Jeff

Dirty Works: Obscenity on Trial in America’s First Sexual Revolution

Gary, Brett

A Fire in the Wilderness: The First Battle Between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee

Reeves, John

Porto: Stories from Portugal’s Historic Bolhão Market

Opaz, Gabriella

Relationships 5.0: How AI, VR, and Robots Will Reshape Our Emotional Lives

Kislev, Elyakim

The Anti-Inflammatory Family Cookbook: The Kid-Friendly, Pediatrician-Approved Way to Transform Your Family's Health

Patinella, Stefania

Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley’s Mission to Change What We Eat

Zimberoff, Larissa

Unsavory Truth: How Food Companies Skew the Science of What We Eat

Nestle, Marion

Maxwell P. has 20 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Candy P.

Candy P.

Apr, 2024

Pinned
Hiring Maxwell P. was the best decision, so much so that I rehired him for a second editing job. This was the first time I sought help from Reedsy’s editing services and have shared my positive experience with other writers. Initially, Max conducted an extensive edit on my memoir’s query letter ...
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Maxwell P. S.
I'm really touched by this thoughtful and kind review you left me. It was above and beyond! Your story is extremely powerful, and your writing voice was already well developed. So, while I think we...
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Suzanne S.

Suzanne S.

Mar, 2024

Pinned
If I could give 10 stars, I would. Max not only performed the work I requested -- to offer an overall critique of the project -- but he made line edits, and thoughtful comments throughout the proposal. And he did this in days. His work was so thorough and clear that I was able to quickly rewrite ...
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Maxwell P. S.
Aw, thank you so much for the lovely review, Suzanne! Yours was a particularly fun project to work on -- exceptionally well written, propulsive narrative, and very clearly ready to shop to publishe...
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Valerie W.

Valerie W.

May, 2023

Pinned
Max was wonderful to work with! I found his feedback incredibly useful, and I really believe it will help to take my book proposal and sample chapters to the next level. Max was professional, punctual, and easy to communicate with. He went above and beyond by offering me a Zoom call for further c...
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Maxwell P. S.
Thank you Valerie! You were a pleasure to work with, and you asked some great questions on our follow-up call this morning. Good luck with your querying!
Robbert C.

Robbert C.

Apr, 2025

Max did an excellent job copy-editing a 100,000-word manuscript. He was instrumental in improving the text for clarity and ensuring compliance with the Chicago Manual of Style. Additionally, his thoughtful clarifications greatly enhanced my understanding and helped me improve my writing skills as...
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Maxwell P. S.
Thank you for your kind words, Robbert! I learned so much from working on your book about the cultural and historical significance of surnames, and hope to work with you again at some point in the ...
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lawrie C.

lawrie C.

Mar, 2025

I was pleased with Max's thoroughness. I found him considerate and responsive, and delightfully, showed a sense of humour (though he might want to edit my review). He was flexible as we worked through what I needed.

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