About Us

Books have the power to spark intellectual inquiry and elevate leadership. They have the transformative tools of inclusion, justice and humanity. As an agency we look for books which celebrate our understanding of the world and make us see our world differently. We want to inspire readers through the power of story and find books that illuminate the human experience and add to the human tapestry of our times. We seek writers with both intelligence and acute care to celebrate our understanding of the world.

Karen Gantz Literary Management is a literary agency with a particular interest in books on current affairs and history, memoirs, and the works of professors who are performing cutting-edge research, narrative nonfiction across a broad range of topics.  We are drawn to engaging points of view and a strong, clear narrative voice. 

The agency is involved in all stages of a book's development including the collaboration agreement with the writer, advice regarding the book proposal, presentations to the publisher, negotiations including the legal work for the publishing agreement and other rights to be negotiated, and public relations to ensure the best possible media coverage. Karen meets with editors weekly, identifying those who are hands-on and are the most passionate advocates for her authors. We oversee the disposition of audio, foreign language translations and television and film rights. Our agency works for three purposes: as lawyers to negotiate publishing agreements, option agreements and other entertainment deals, as literary agents to help in all aspects of the publishing field.

About Karen Gantz

Karen Gantz is a literary property lawyer/literary agent and the president of Karen Gantz Literary Management.  She represents such luminaries as Alec Baldwin, Floyd Abrams, Alan Dershowitz, Kathleen Turner, Arthur Benjamin, Daniel Weiss. She has penned two cook books, Taste of New York (Addison-Wesley 1993) and Superchefs (John Wiley & Sons 1996). She served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property under President Clinton, at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Karen practices law in the field of intellectual property and her specialty is negotiating contracts both as a lawyer and literary agent. She is a member of the First Amendment Salon, sponsored by the Abrams Institute on Free Speech at Yale University and is a member of the Entertainment, Media, Technology and Sports Committee at the Harvard Club of New York. She has a particular interest in free speech issues on college campuses.  

Karen has been Chairman of the Literary and Media Committee and Chairman of the Great Books Program at the Harmonie Club of New York for the past 20 years. She has secured speakers such as Walter Isaacson, Richard Haas, and Ken Auletta.  Karen is currently on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Nominating Committee of  New York Humanities, (the New York branch of the NEH), the National Foundation of Jewish Culture and the Chairman's Council.

Karen hosts literary salons around the city with professors their literary insights. She also sponsors an annual seminar for writers at the Brearley School.

Her philanthropic work is focused to education and children at risk through board membership on ELEM/Youth in Distress in Israel, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, ITS Brookdale Center, Israel’s leading center for applied research on social policy and services, where she sponsors an annual seminar for children at risk. Since 1989, she had been a member of the Board of Trustees of the, where she served primarily on the Israel committee and the Archives committee.

Karen attended Vassar College and graduated with her BA from University of Pennsylvania (1972), received her MPA from New York University (1975) and her JD from Cardozo Law School (1980) where she was a member of the law review and is admitted to the N.Y. State bar. 

About Joyce Starr

Dr. Joyce Starr is an author coach, book editor and book proposal writer. A former White House official, think tank expert and author of over 20 books in diverse fields, she helps shepherd Karen Gantz Literary Management  book projects to success. Keenly aware of what publishers require, Dr. Starr's insightful comments, proposals and submission letters often shorten the distance to contract offers. Appreciating the hopes and dreams of writers, feedback includes:

“Dr. Joyce Starr added her unique and special touch to every chapter. She was a Godsend throughout this journey.” – Mike Turpen, former Attorney General of Oklahoma, Turpen Time

“Dr. Joyce Starr did a superb job of weaving my text into a persuasive and succinct photography book that was accepted by a leading house. – Dr. Cathy Greenblat, photographer, Love, Loss & Laughter: Seeing Alzheimer’s Differently

“Joyce, This book is only possible because of your superb coaching and guidance.” – Barb Dehn, Hot Guide to a Cool, Sexy Menopause 
 

“Dr. Starr did an excellent job in restructuring and editing the proposal and sample chapters.” – Admiral William Owens, former Vice Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

About Lexie von Zedlitz

Lexie is the assistant to president Karen Gantz. She recently graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, where she double majored in English and Psychology. Fascinated by stories, people and characters alike, Lexie entered the book publishing industry following her graduation. Before joining Karen Gantz Literary Management, Lexie previously interned at Writers House, where she specialized in literary fiction, memoir, and upmarket book club fiction.

About Hester Malin

Hester is an assistant literary agent in Karen Gantz Literary Agency. Having graduated from Trinity College Dublin she has been Arts and Culture Editor of Misc. Magazine, (previously been edited with contributions by Samuel Beckett), Copy Editor for Frontier Magazine and an avid writer for various college magazines.