Liza Dawson Associates

What Liza Dawson Associates does

Liza Dawson Associates is a private, owner-operated literary agency founded in 1996 by Liza Dawson and headquartered in New York City, with a secondary office in Los Angeles. The agency represents authors and illustrators across multiple genres — adult literary and commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction, science fiction and fantasy, young adult, middle grade and children's literature, and comic artists — through a roster of seven genre-specialized agents (Liza Dawson, Caitlin Blasdell, Hannah Bowman, Tom Miller, Rachel Beck, Lauren Bajek, and Anna Ange) supported by an operational team including a CFO/foreign rights manager, foreign rights manager, and payments manager. Total headcount is approximately 9–10 staff.

The agency's core product is literary representation: agents review unsolicited author queries (approximately 100 per week), select roughly 1–2 new clients, then submit manuscripts to editors at major publishing houses and negotiate deal terms. Beyond domestic publishing deals, the agency actively sells subsidiary rights — foreign translation rights (through a network of 15+ international co-agents covering essentially every major publishing market), audio rights, film/TV rights (via four major Hollywood talent agencies: CAA, WME, UTA, and APA), and permissions/licensing.

The business model is transaction-based commission revenue. Industry-standard rates apply — typically 15% on domestic sales and higher percentages on foreign and subsidiary rights — with no upfront fees charged to authors. Revenue scales directly with the volume and value of book deals closed in any given year, which is inherently tied to client publishing cycles and the release timing of individual titles. The agency's client roster includes multiple #1 New York Times bestselling authors (R.F. Kuang, Pierce Brown, Robyn Carr, Victoria Christopher Murray, Marie Bostwick, Annie Barrows) and Hugo Award winners (Charles Stross), with several titles adapted into films and Netflix series. The firm is family-operated, with Havis Dawson (likely a family member, given the shared surname) serving as CFO, and has no institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent company.

Name

Liza Dawson Associates

Legal name

Liza Dawson Associates

Website

https://lizadawsonassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Liza Dawson Associates is a private literary agency founded in 1996 that represents authors and illustrators across adult fiction, nonfiction, SFF, YA, and children's genres. The New York-based firm earns commission on domestic and international rights deals through a global co-agent network and major Hollywood partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Agency Services

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Literary agency services
• Author representation
• Book deal negotiation
• Subsidiary rights sales
• Foreign rights licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Author representation and commission: Liza Dawson Associates earns revenue by representing authors in the sale of their books to publishers. The agency takes a commission on deals it negotiates, typically 15% on domestic sales and higher percentages on foreign and subsidiary rights (film, audio, etc.). Revenue is transaction-based, generated when an agent sells a manuscript to a publisher or negotiates a subsidiary rights deal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Liza Dawson Associates is a literary agency that represents authors and illustrators across adult fiction, nonfiction, science fiction & fantasy, young adult, middle grade/children's, and graphic novels/comics. The agency acquires clients through an unsolicited email query process and earns commissions on manuscript sales to publishers and subsidiary rights deals (foreign translation, film/TV, audio, and permissions/licensing). Rights are monetized through a global network of 15+ international co-agents and four major Hollywood agencies (CAA, APA, WME, UTA).

Product overview

Liza Dawson Associates is a literary agency founded in 1996 that operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform with separate modules. The agency provides comprehensive literary representation services including author/illustrator representation across multiple genres, subsidiary rights sales (foreign, film/TV, audio, and permissions), and manuscript submission management. The core offering centers on representing authors and helping them navigate the publishing industry through career development, deal-making, and rights management. The agency has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and subagents worldwide, representing a range from big commercial fiction to literary fiction, with some award winners and New York Times bestsellers among their clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Literary Representation Services Full-service literary agency representation for authors and illustrators across adult fiction, nonfiction, science fiction/fantasy, young adult, middle grade/children's, and graphic novels/comics; includes manuscript acquisition, submission to publishers, deal negotiation, and career management.
• Foreign Rights Sales Actively sells translation rights for client titles through a network of 15+ co-agents globally, placing books with major foreign publishers in various languages and territories (37 languages for Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society; 35+ publishers for Red Rising).
• Film and TV Rights Representation Represents dramatic/film/TV rights of clients' books through relationships with major Hollywood agencies including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), APA, William Morris Endeavor (WME), and United Talent Agency (UTA); resulted in adaptations such as IVY AND BEAN (Netflix), VIRGIN RIVER (Netflix), GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY (Netflix), and Christmas Everlasting (Hallmark).
• Audio Rights Management Handles audio rights sales and licensing for authors' works, with audio publishers acquiring rights aggressively for audiobook production.
• Permissions and Licensing Licenses photographs, excerpts, or merchandising rights to authors' work through a simple one-page form process managed via the agency's Rights contact channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY published in 37 languages/territories and adapted into a Netflix film in 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACER Agencia Literaria (Spain & Portugal)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Spanish and Portuguese language markets. Part of the agency's global network of 15+ co-agents for selling translation rights. Represented by Elizabeth Atkins.
• Akcali Copyright Agency (Turkey)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Turkish language market. Part of the agency's network of co-agents for translation rights sales. Represented by Atilla Izgi Turgut.
• Alexander Korzhenevski Agency (Russia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Russian language market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Alexander Korzhenevski.
• Bears Factor (Arabic language)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Arabic language markets. Part of LDA's international network for translation rights. Represented by Bassem El Kheshen.
• Danny Hong Agency (Korea)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Korean language market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Danny Hong.
• Deborah Harris Agency (Israel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Israeli market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Geula Geurts.
• Eliane Benisti Agency (France)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for French language market. Part of LDA's international network. Represented by Nome Rollet.
• Graal Literary Agency (Central/Eastern Europe)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency covering Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Lukasz Wrobel.
• Grayhawk Agency (China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Asian language markets including China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Part of LDA's international network. Represented by Gray Tan.
• International Editors' Co. (Brazil)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Brazilian Portuguese market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Flavia Sala and Cristina Puchio.
• Kristin Olson Literary Agency (Czech Republic)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Czech and Slovak language markets. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Kristin Olson.
• Piergiorgio Nicollazzini Agency (Italy)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Italian language market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Represented by Maura Solinas.
• Sebes & Bisseling (Netherlands & Scandinavia)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Dutch and Scandinavian language markets. Part of LDA's international network. Represented by Jeanine Langenberg and Rik Kleuver.
• Thomas Schlück GmbH (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for German language market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Germany is a consistently #1 bestseller market for LDA titles. Represented by Bastian Schlück.
• Tuttle-Mori Agency (Japan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency for Japanese language market. Part of LDA's international co-agent network. Misa Morikawa handles fiction; Manami Tamaoki handles non-fiction.
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Hollywood talent agency with which LDA works to pitch dramatic/fiction rights of LDA clients' books to producers and film companies. One of four major agencies used for film/TV rights sales.
• William Morris Endeavor (WME)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Hollywood talent agency engaged to pitch dramatic rights of LDA clients' books to producers. One of four major agencies used for film/TV rights representation.
• United Talent Agency (UTA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Hollywood talent agency engaged to pitch dramatic rights of LDA clients' books to producers and film companies. One of four major agencies used for film/TV rights.
• APA (Agency for the Performing Arts)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHollywood talent agency engaged to pitch dramatic/fiction rights of LDA clients' books to producers and film companies. One of four major agencies used for film/TV rights representation.
• Penguin Random HouseminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor publishing house; LDA fraud alert references a scam impersonating both LDA agents and Penguin Random House's acquisitions team. LDA and PRH are separate entities: LDA represents authors, while PRH acquires and publishes books. No formal partnership implied.
• HarperCollinsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor publishing house that is a fraud-alert reference. LDA explicitly states their agents do not work for HarperCollins. LDA represents authors who are published by HarperCollins imprints.
• Simon & SchusterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor publishing house referenced in LDA's fraud alert. LDA represents authors published by Simon & Schuster imprints.
• Hachette Book GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor publishing house referenced in LDA's fraud alert. LDA represents authors published by Hachette imprints.
• Author's GuildminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthor's Guild is listed by LDA as a resource for authors to report fraud. LDA encourages authors to report scams to the Author's Guild as part of their anti-fraud efforts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Writers House: Established US literary agency representing children's, YA, and adult authors. Comparable to LDA's middle-grade/children's and YA segments and its broader adult representation, providing a closely matched full-service competitor across genres.
• Foundry Literary + Media: Boutique literary agency representing bestselling and award-winning authors across literary and commercial genres. Directly comparable to LDA as a similarly sized New York-based full-service agency selling foreign, film/TV, and audio rights.
• Folio Literary Management: Full-service New York literary agency representing authors in fiction and nonfiction with active subsidiary rights sales. Comparable to LDA as a similar boutique agency handling domestic and foreign rights sales for a diverse author roster.
• Nancy Coffey Literary & Media: Boutique literary agency representing authors in fiction and nonfiction with attention to subsidiary rights. Comparable to LDA as a similar small-to-mid-sized New York-based agency offering full-service representation for authors across genres.
• BookEnds Literary Agency: Boutique literary agency representing authors across fiction and nonfiction genres with subsidiary rights sales. Comparable to LDA as a similarly structured multi-agent agency competing for the same pool of mid-list and bestselling authors.
• Curtis Brown: Major literary agency founded in 1899 with offices in New York and London representing literary and commercial authors globally. Comparable to LDA in providing full-service author representation with subsidiary rights capabilities, though it has a more international footprint and longer history.
• InkWell Management: New York-based boutique literary agency representing a wide range of fiction and nonfiction authors. Directly comparable to LDA because both compete for the same pool of premium literary and commercial authors and sell all subsidiary rights.
• Sterling Lord Literistic: Long-established US literary agency representing literary and commercial fiction and nonfiction authors. Directly comparable to LDA as a similarly structured agency reliant on senior agents' relationships and representing authors across multiple genres.
• Trident Media Group: One of the larger US literary agencies, representing hundreds of authors in fiction and nonfiction with full subsidiary rights sales. Comparable to LDA in offering comprehensive representation including foreign, film/TV, and audio rights, though at a larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• WME Books: The book division of William Morris Endeavor, one of the largest Hollywood talent agencies; represents bestselling authors and operates at significantly greater scale than LDA. Directly comparable because it provides literary agency services across both publishing and film/TV rights through the same Hollywood talent infrastructure LDA routes to.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LizaDawsonAssoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/liza-dawson-assoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Liza Dawson Associates