Born and educated in New York City, Michael Larsen worked for Bantam, William Morrow and Pyramid (now part of Berkley). He and his wife Elizabeth Pomada and started Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents in San Francisco in 1972. They are founding members of Association of Authors’ Representatives and have sold books,mostly by new writers, to more than 100 publishers.
Mike is eager to find adult nonfiction of interest to big and midsize houses. Elizabeth handles adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, and books for women. Their colleague, Laurie McLean, represents genre fiction, and middle-grade and young-adult books. Submission information is at www.larsenpomada.com
Mike is the author of the third editions of How to Write a Book Proposal and How to Get a Literary Agent. With Jay Conrad Levinson, Rick Frishman and David Hancock, he is co-author of the second edition of Guerrilla Marketing for Writers: 100 Weapons for Selling Your Work.
He also wrote The Worry Bead Book: A Guide to the World’s Oldest and Simplest Way to Beat Stess, and How to Write with a Collaborator with Hal Zina Bennett. In 1972, Michael and Elizabeth created the media directory California Publicity Outlets.
They also co-authored the six books in the Painted Ladies series:
Painted Ladies: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians
Daughters of Painted Ladies: America’s Resplendent Victorians, which Publihers Weekly chose as one of the best books of 1987
The Painted Ladies Guide to Victorian California
How to Create Your Own Painted Lady: A Comprehensive Guide to beautifying Your Victorian Home
The Painted Ladies Revisited: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians Inside and Out
America’s Painted Ladies: The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians
Mike and Elizabeth give talks on writing, agenting, proposals and publishing for groups and conferences. They also do talks on “3 Ways to Make Yourself Irresistible to Agents and Publishers,” based on the last part of Mike’s book on agents.
Mike also started Larsen Literary Consulting for nonfiction writers. He consult with writers about their books, proposals, and careers. He and Elizabeth are co-directors of the San Francisco Writers Conference which takes place on President’s Day Weekend in February, www.sfwriters.org.
You can reach the agency at www.larsenpomada.com, 415-673-0939 10-4 Monday-Thursday, California time, or at 1029 Jones St., San Francisco, CA 94109.