The Linda Chester Literary Agency represents a wide variety of adult literary and commercial fiction, as well as an array of non-fiction in the following categories: science, technology, medicine, health, memoir and biography, fine and performing arts, narrative non-fiction, current events, politics, history, popular culture, humor, gift books, psychology, spirituality, and business. We place dramatic rights for our projects and work in tandem with all the major and boutique film agencies.
It is our pleasure to highlight the books we’ve given birth to over the years – an exceptional selection of quality fiction and non-fiction titles that have made us very proud. The last three decades have been quite rewarding; we’ve had the good fortune of representing the number-one hardcover and trade paperback books in America, as well as many other national bestsellers. We’ve also had the joy of seeing our clients’ work sold to Hollywood, to foreign publishers, and to national magazines.
We take great pride in serving our clients. Indeed, we are devoted to our authors who are gifted in the areas of fiction, biography, and memoir, as well as experts in their given fields. For those clients who are specialists, having a book under the wing can bring critical attention and financial support to their visionary ideas and significantly assist them in reaching their goals. For that is the ultimate purpose of our agency: liberating writers to pursue and to fulfill their dreams. Nothing brings us more pleasure than to know the agency is partnering with a writer to assist them in realizing their unique vision.
We have always had the utmost respect and admiration for writers and their ability to move us, persuade us, to rejoice in the human condition, and also to caution us when the culture strays from its highest values. Writers do a tremendous service by bringing us the latest news bulletin from the farthest regions of our hearts and minds. In so doing, they enrich and enlighten us in infinite ways.
We hope you enjoy looking at the many books we’ve brought into the world. Developing informative, inspiring, and entertaining books of global import is a perpetually fulfilling endeavor.
Laurie Fox, Head of Agency
Laurie Fox, who joined the agency in 1989. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz (Creative Writing and Theatre Arts), she is a published author of fiction and poetry, including Sexy Hieroglyphics (Chronicle Books) and two novels, My Sister from the Black Lagoon (starred Publishers Weekly review; San Francisco Chronicle bestseller) and The Lost Girls, both published by Simon & Schuster. The movie of The Lost Girls starring Vanessa Redgrave, Jolie Richardson, Iain Glen, and Louis Partridge, was released in 2022. She represents books in the areas of literary and quality fiction, thrillers and speculative fiction, memoir/biography, cultural history, popular culture, quirky humor, narrative nonfiction, history and current events, art and artists, and science and technology.
Darlene Chan, Senior Agent
Photo: Gary Leonard
Senior Agent Darlene Chan joined the agency in 2020. A veteran of the film industry, she served as an executive for Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures (both times under Jeffrey Katzenberg), Davis Entertainment, and as an independent producer. Among the titles she has been associated with are Grumpy Old Men, Beverly Hills Cop, A Thing Called Love and Shattered. In 2009, Darlene established Darlene Chan PR, which specializes in web PR and social media for authors. Among her PR clients are Live Talks Los Angeles, Daniel H. Wilson, Joe Ide, Elizabeth Brundage, Tara Ison, and Denise Hamilton. Darlene is interested in stories by and about BIPOC, women’s fiction, literary fiction, chick lit/rom-com, crime fiction, pop culture, narrative non-fiction and non-fiction books on film and the entertainment industry. She’s not seeking: sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction, family saga, children’s/YA or screenplays that have been turned into novels. If you'd like Darlene to consider your project, please paste your short synopsis and the first two chapters (or 50 pages) into the body of your query email. Attachments will not be opened.
D. Patrick Miller, Agent
D. Patrick Miller has been associated with the Linda Chester Literary Agency since 1989 as an author, editor, and publishing consultant. Laurie Fox represented six of his titles during the 1990s, with five of those projects being placed with publishers while the sixth became the first title under Patrick's own press, Fearless Books, founded in 1997. Since that time, Patrick has continued to assist an impressive number of writers in various fields, and in 2015 he began agenting part-time. He joined the Chester Agency as an Associate Agent in 2023. His fields of interest include spirituality, human potential, health and wellness, creativity, and the arts. He continues to independently provide editing, manuscript assessments, and Assisted Publishing services to new and working writers under his long-established company Fearless Literary Services.
CoCo Freeman, Associate Agent
CoCo Freeman recently joined the agency. She is a graduate of Bard College with a B.A. in Written Arts. Before joining Linda Chester, CoCo worked for Tom Yoon Productions developing projects and editing existing material. She is looking for smart adult commercial fiction, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, young adult, middle grade and select picture books.
Michelle Conway, Executive Manager
Michelle Conway has spent many years in the non-profit sector. As a member of Las Patronas she has been involved with raising millions of dollars for charitable organizations in San Diego. Most recently, she has utilized those skills working with a prominent venture capitalist. Prior to her contribution to a family vineyard and winery along the Central Coast of California, Michelle graduated with highest honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara and brings with her a wide range of research and management knowledge. Her literary interests include health, wellness, inspirational, and historical fiction. Please note that Michelle is not reviewing submissions.
Mary Bisbee-Beek
Mary Bisbee-Beek has worked in book publishing for the greater part of 40 years, with added experience as a photo archivist at The Oakland Museum, and the director of The Cartoon Art Museum in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a book publicist, her clients include literary novelists, creative non-fiction authors, poets, and social documentary photographers. Mary consults our authors on publicity, helping to de-mystify the publicity process. This includes helping authors make the most of the publicity and marketing programs that are being designed and implemented by the publisher, and being available to work as an adjunct publicist – filling in the cracks or missing mortar of the publisher’s bricks – for clients who want to increase their profile over the first months of publication. Her work can start as early as advising on the Author Questionnaire and as late as post-publication to help keep a publicity plan moving when the publishing team has to devote time to their forthcoming list. She continues to maintain her private practice as an independent publicist, but our LCLA authors are first in line for her services.
Linda Chester, Founder and President (1989-2022)
Linda Chester began her publishing career at Doubleday. After earning a Masters in Communications, she established The Linda Chester Literary Agency in La Jolla, California in 1989. In 1992 Linda opened a new headquarters in New York City. In 2020, she moved the company back to California. Linda represented a wide range of genres: from Wally Lamb’s best-selling classic She’s Come Undone to Pamela Keogh’s love letter to Audrey Hepburn, AudreyStyle to Winston S. Churchill’s collection of his grandfather’s inspirational speeches, Never Give In! She loved storytellers and represented such novelists as Jennifer Weiner, Amy Poeppel, and Elizabeth Brundage, as well as authors dedicated to our psychological and spiritual well-being such as Thich Nhat Hanh and Richard Carlson. She had a lifelong passion for the fine and performing arts, and was delighted to represent such entertainers as Rosemary Clooney and Michael Feinstein. Linda served on the board of directors for the Salk Institute, The National Center for Families Learning (formerly The National Center for Family Literacy), The La Jolla Music Society, and The La Jolla Playhouse. She passed away peacefully in her home in La Jolla on December 9th, 2022, and will be missed by all whose lives — and books — she touched.