David Moldawer

A book either solves the reader’s problem or it doesn’t. Most don’t, not because the author lacks expertise, but because the proposal never forced the hard questions: Who exactly is this for? What moment in their life do they need it? Why this book, why this author, why now?

I’ve spent 25 years asking those questions from every seat in the room. As an editor at Portfolio, St. Martin’s Press, and Amazon Publishing, I acquired and edited books that became category-defining bestsellers, including The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman, The Sports Gene by David Epstein, and Idea Man by Paul Allen.

As a collaborator, I helped shape proposals that became cultural phenomena, including Atomic Habits by James Clear and Feel-Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, two of the bestselling nonfiction books of the last decade. Today I’m a senior literary agent at Writers House, representing nonfiction authors with big ideas and powerful voices.

My list focuses on business, personal development, popular science, and narrative nonfiction. Books that challenge assumptions and change the way people think about something that matters. Most people in publishing have sat at one, sometimes two of these seats: editor, collaborator, agent. I’ve sat at all of them. I know what editors are actually looking for when they read a proposal, because I was one. I know what it takes to build a book from a raw idea, because I’ve done it many times. And as an agent at one of the world’s leading literary agencies, I find the right publisher for every book and make sure it gets the deal it deserves. I see this as my primary credential.

Submission Guidelines

NONFICTION ONLY: If you think I’d be interested in your work, e-mail with a query letter including your credentials, an explanation of what makes your book unique, and a synopsis, along with 10 pages, all in the body of the email. No attachments, please. Please include the title and your name in the subject heading. I make every attempt to respond to all queries, generally within six to eight weeks.

All proposals receive careful consideration. This takes time, so please be patient. If I request your manuscript, I prefer that you send it to me on an exclusive basis.

Please do not query two agents at Writers House simultaneously.

Guidelines & Details