Mark Gottlieb
New York, NY | (212) 333-1506 | mgottlieb@tridentmediagroup.com
Professional summary
I am a vice president and literary agent at book publishing’s leading literary agency, Trident Media Group (TMG) in New York City. I have represented #1 New York Times bestselling authors and major award-winning authors, in addition to selling books for film/TV adaptation. I currently lead TMG in number of deals and have led the publishing industry in overall deals. I ran TMG’s Audio Book department—where I more than doubled the department’s sales revenue and number of audiobook publications. I worked under TMG’s director of foreign rights by getting books into translation, worked under TMG’s chairman and worked in production at Penguin Books. While at Emerson College, I majored in Writing, Literature & Publishing and was a founding member & president of the college’s Undergraduate Students for Publishing Club. I also founded Emerson College’s Wilde Press, an imprint of the Publishing Club and home of the Book Project. I have lectured on writing and publishing at the Yale Writers’ Workshop, Cambridge University’s MSt in Creative Writing program, Columbia Publishing Course, Emerson College’s WLP program, Sarah Lawrence College’s Writing Institute, and elsewhere. In my free time, I tutor free English language classes to adults from low-income immigrant families via the Literacy Volunteers program at Family Centers, a nonprofit organization offering education, health & human services. I am also the founder & president of the Stamford Literature, Arts & Culture Salon. I am extremely knowledgeable about writing, literature and the publishing industry—particularly the various processes behind getting a book published in a highly successful manner.
Education
BA Writing, Literature & Publishing | Emerson College | Dean’s List | Class of 2009
Minor in Photography | Emerson College | Class of 2009
Work experience
Vice President and Literary Agent | December 2022-Current
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• Represent authors by negotiating prime book deals and contracts with publishers and other media companies
• Perform foreign rights and audio book deals in addition to book-to-film/TV and merchandising deals
• Oversee and manage the general book publishing process to ensure quality book publications
• Facilitate editing, accounting, contract review, info tracking, book marketing & publicity
• Maintaining company social media and online presence
Literary Agent | April 2015-December 2022
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• Represented authors by negotiating prime book deals and contracts with publishers
• Performed foreign rights and audio book deals in addition to book-to-film/TV deals
• Oversaw and managed general book publishing process to assure quality book publications
• Facilitate editing, accounting, contract review, info tracking, book marketing and publicity
Literary & Audio Rights Agent | November 2013-April 2015
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• More than doubled the revenue of audio book deals performed while in this role
• Became a leading literary agent in overall volume of book deals performed
• Oversaw the entire workings of the Audio Book Department
• Performed audio book narration deals and booked audio narrators into studios
Audio Rights Agent | December 2012-November 2013
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• Oversaw the entire workings of the Audio Book Department
• Facilitated audio book publications to ensure quality of the audio book publishing experience
• Performed audio book narration deals and booked audio narrators into studios
• Created the agency's first audio book sales catalog to pitch audio publishers and editors
Executive Assistant to Chairman | July 2011-December 2012
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• Reviewed query letters, manuscripts and searched for new and talented authors
• Generated financial reports, tracked the status of contracts and foreign tax filings
• Facilitated calls, organized meetings, made travel arrangements and oversaw all correspondence
• Built and updated company website, social media pages and general online presence
Foreign Rights Assistant | December 2010-August 2011
Trident Media Group | New York, NY
• Maintained Foreign Rights sales catalog for department and agency
• Routed foreign contracts, payments and oversaw foreign tax database
• Formulated submissions to foreign publishers while organizing meetings with them
• Participated in weekly Foreign Rights Contracts Meetings to track contracts and payments
Production Assistant to VP of Production | August 2009-December 2010
Penguin Books | New York, NY
• Created and executed reports to complete book deliveries and purchase orders
• Maintained department's libraries and existing vendor reports in company database
• Participated in weekly Production Meetings with Managing Editors and Operations
• Supported archivists and designers with file ordering/fulfillment on Pearson Asset Library
Skills
Word, Excel, WordPress, Squarespace/Wix, Photoshop, Deal/Contract Negotiation, Copyediting/Proofreading, Substantive Editing, Book Salesmanship, Publishing Accounting/Information Tracking, Book-to-Film/TV Deal/Contract Negotiation, Digital Media/Marketing/Publishing, Foreign Rights, Audiobook Rights, Elementary French/Korean/Japanese, Publishing Industry Trends and Future Projections.
Personal interests
Kendo/iaido (Japanese fencing), fine art photography, travel, fine dining, bespoke menswear, skiing/hiking, reading, writing, museums/art galleries, fishing, biking, automobiles, craft beer/bourbon and cooking.
Community service
Literacy Volunteer Tutor | Family Centers | 2020-Current | Stamford, CT
Volunteer | Young to Publishing Group | 2009-2020 | New York, NY
Charitable Donor | Words Without Borders | 2019 | New York, NY
Volunteer Reader | PEN America | 2012 | New York, NY
Builder | Habitat for Humanity | 2005-2009 | Boston, MA
Volunteer | Scarsdale Woman’s Exchange | 2000-2004 | Scarsdale, NY
Volunteer | Scarsdale Teen Center | 2000-2004 | Scarsdale, NY
Accomplishments
Founding Member and President, Emerson College’s Undergraduate Students for Publishing
Founder of Emerson College’s Wilde Press and home of The Book Project
Founder and President, Stamford Literature, Arts & Culture Salon
Publications
Publishers Weekly, Mark Gottlieb and various authors | 2022 | Chapter 10: “Getting Published: Literary Agents in Book Publishing by Mark Gottlieb” | Publishers Weekly Book Publishing Almanac 2022: A Master Class in the Art of Bringing Books to Readers (Skyhorse Publishing)
Marc Berley, Mark Gottlieb | 2021 | “Publishing in the Pandemic” | LitMag, Issue no. 4
Mark Gottlieb | 2019 | “From Beyond the Grave: Interviews with Dead Authors” | The Millions literary magazine
Philip Jones, Mark Gottlieb | 2019 | “The Battle for B&N” | The Bookseller magazine
Dakota Shane, Mark Gottlieb | 2019 | “Ever Thought About Pursuing a Book Deal?” | Inc. Magazine
Mark Gottlieb | 2019 | “Ask the Lit Agent” | Independent Publisher Magazine
Mark Gottlieb | 2019 | “On the Fireside Lives of Bestselling Authors” | Bookstr
Mark Gottlieb | 2017 | “Why Debut Authors are Attractive to Publishers and Agents” | Author Learning Center
Mark Gottlieb | 2017 | “How to Write a Book Proposal” | The Write Life
Mark Gottlieb | 2017 | “Publishing Terms Every Writer Should Know” | The Write Life
Mark Gottlieb | 2017 | “Trident Literary Agent Gives Advice on Getting Signed” | BookTrib
Meredith Quinn, Mark Gottlieb | 2016 | “Do You Know What Attracts Literary Agents?” | The Writer Magazine
Mark Gottlieb | 2008-2009 | Contributing Writer & Photographer, various publications | Junk Media
Awards and honors
Mystery Writers of America Sleuthfest Award, 2017
Emerson Recognition & Achievement Award of Distinction, 2009
Emerson Recognition & Achievement Award of Distinction, 2008