About Claire...

Claire Gerus has been Editor-in-Chief of two publishing houses, worked for seven major publishers, including Harlequin, Rodale, Random House, Doubleday, John Wiley, Kensington, and Adams Media, written articles for U.S. and Canadian magazines and newspapers, and taught corporate communications to such clients as IBM, Kelloggs, Mutual of Omaha, and Procter & Gamble.

In 1996, she established a thriving business as a New York literary agent, selling publishers books on a variety of subjects: business, history, memoirs, religion, health, spirituality, psychology, politics, pop culture, and women's studies.

She sold a 3-million copy health bestseller and brought film star Esther Williams’ story to Simon & Schuster. It went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

In 1999, she joined Kensington Publishing in New York and founded TwinStreams Books, a complementary healing imprint. Later, as Executive Editor at Citadel Press, she acquired and edited titles on celebrity biography, self-help, relationships, spirituality, new age, diet, Judaica, and health.

From 2001-August, 2002, she was Executive Editor at Adams Media, where she published the first biography of Laura Bush. She also published a wide range of new age, business, self-help, and inspirational books.

She is presently working as a literary agent and book development consultant. Among her clients are an ex-CIA agent, three psychologists, a policewoman, a District Attorney, an Assistant Attorney-General, a business communications consultant, a women's safety advocate, a best-selling psychologist,the Wall Street Journal's Soviet specialist, a former Miss Connecticut and inspirational columnist, a diabetes spokesperson and many more with equally fascinating backgrounds!

What Claire Is Looking for in Book Projects

Claire is always interested in projects that can change readers’ lives for the better. She is open to assisting authors as an agent, a book developer, or an editor. She is now focusing on nonfiction projects for all ages.

“Claire Gerus has amazing insight into the creative and commercial potential of authors in all genres. A sympathetic yet savvy editor and a well-placed agent, she supports all her clients with a loyalty and relentless focus that is rare in the publishing industry.”
-New York editor Paul Dinas, Penguin/Putnam

“In the ever-teetering pile of submissions, I read Claire Gerus’ first because I know that whatever the subject, it will be something that intrigues, challenges or inspires me. Her breadth of knowledge, passion for her clients, and creativity are unsurpassed.

“I have also seen her work as an editor transforming promising raw material into published gold. All who work with her benefit from her expertise, not just in the mechanics of writing, but even more importantly, in the communication of ideas. As both an editor and an agent, Claire combines her professional skills with such wonderful personal strengths as warmth, integrity and authenticity to offer unparalleled partnership to writers and publishers.”
-New York editor Tracy Bernstein, New American Library

"I found an angel in Claire. Six months ago I was an unpublished author who had just split with her second agent. Within those six months, Claire has acquired four book deals for me, I've appeared on CNN, and my life has completely changed. She is on a first-name basis with most of the editors and they all respect her; however, none more than I. She has also become a dear friend. She is simply amazing!"
-Stacy Dittrich, Author "The Cee-Cee Gallagher Series" (Dorchester)

“To say that Claire is beyond amazing would be a gross understatement. As a first-time author, I had no clue what I was doing or how to do it. But Claire walked me through every step of the challenges, frustrations, and stresses of the process and made it manageable, understandable, and truly enjoyable.

Claire puts her heart and soul into every one of her clients. She takes an interest in more than just their writing. She cares about her authors’ projects, their professions, and their lives. One must not confuse Claire’s immense care and compassion with being soft or wimpy. On the contrary, Claire is an amazing advocate and is tenacious in representing the best interests of her clients.

I really don’t know what I would do without Claire. She is the best agent, editor, literary advisor, and now friend that one could ask for.”
-First-time author Robin Sax, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County

"I am the author of nearly 15 non-fiction books, and most of them would not have come to fruition without the able assistance of my agent, Claire Gerus. Titles include "Yes, Lord, I'm Coming Home: Country Music Stars Share their Stories of Knowing God," Doubleday, and "Make a Joyful Noise: My 25 Years in Gospel Music: Bobby Jones," St. Martin's Press.

Claire is responsible for having my proposals accepted and books published by such publishers as Doubleday, Simon & Schuster, and St. Martin's Press. In addition to simply agenting my books, she also was instrumental in suggesting editorial changes that improved the work significantly.

Best of all, Claire is low-key, easy-to-get along with, and never yelled at me when I misspelled a word or two."
-Multi-published author Les Sussman

"Claire is a gifted agent, insightful book developer, and skilled negotiator. Her extensive knowledge of the publishing industry and what it takes to create successful books is evident immediately. She has a keen sense of what editors want, knows how to allay their potential concerns, and is superb at crafting proposals that sell!

Over the many years I’ve worked with Claire, I have immensely benefited from Claire’s exceptional skills. I am grateful for the wisdom and insights she lends to all my publishing projects. Claire is like a gifted sculptor, able to see the masterpiece contained within the stone. She helps me turn my projects into saleable and published works that I can be proud of.

Plus, she’s a joy to work with, a wonderful person and a great ally in a fiercely competitive publishing world.

My only hesitation in recommending Claire as an editor, agent, and book developer is that I’d like to keep her all to myself. She’s truly a gem!"
-Bestselling author Michelle Schoffro Cook

“Book making is a challenging task. Publishing Bnei Baruch books on Kabbalah is even more so due to the strict demands concerning content accuracy. Many editors tried to handle the demanding task of making Kabbalah material translated from Hebrew flow as though it were originally written in English. Only Claire hits the bull’s eye, every single time.

“Claire has the gift of a one-in-a-million combination of good nature, meticulousness, and loyalty to the integrity of the material (even when she does not agree with what is written). She is so communicative that the most perplexing problems seem to somehow dissolve over one or two e-mails with her.

“I feel fortunate to have found her, but I hope not many people read this review, so I can keep her available for my projects!”

-Tel Aviv editor Chaim Ratz, Director, Kabbalah Education and Research Institute, English Books Department

Beth Aldrich
Eve Adamson
Armen Bacon
Pat Barey
Pat Brown
Ann Bolinger-MacQuade
Jack and Mary Branson
Terry Burson
Dr. John Carlson
Anthony Carrozza
Michelle Schoffro Cook
Stacy Dittrich
Catherine Galasso-Vigorito
Dr. Ronald Glasser
Michelle Golland, Ph.D.
Riva Greenberg
Amy Hagberg
Joel Jacobson
Diane Jacques
Annie Kagan
Diane Katz, Ph.D.
Randye Kaye
Dr. Jeffrey Kottler
Taylor LeBaron (with Jack and Mary Branson)
Nancy Miller
David Parnell
Dr. Ravish Patwardhan
Allie Phillips
John Quinn
Robin Sax
Bernard Radfar
David Satter
Bonnie Stone
Judge Irene Sullivan
Dr. Heather Tick
Lynn Wiese
Pierce Word

"Million Dollar Mermaid" (bio of Esther Williams) S&S
"Laura" (bio of Laura Bush) Adams Media
"Fat-Burning Foods"(diet) Ottenheimer
"The Search for Joyful:The Story of Mrs. Mike Continues"(fiction) Berkley

Diane Jacques: "Terror Under the Big Top: The Strange Case of the Circus Arsonist," Rowman and Littlefield, (2013)

James W. Graham: "Victura: The Kennedys, the Sea, and the Small Boat They Sailed Through History," University Press of New England (2013)

Pat Brown, "The Murder of Cleopatra," Prometheus, (2013)

Heather Tick, M.D., "Living Pain Free," New World Library (2013)

Pierce Word,"Wisdom from the Oval Office," History Publishing (2012)

Movie rights available:

Randye Kaye, "Ben Behind His Voices: A Memoir of Schizophrenia" (nonfiction)

Pat Barey & Terry Burson, "Julia's Cats" (nonfiction)

Pat Brown, "The Murder of Cleopatra" (nonfiction)

Stacy Dittrich, all titles (fiction/nonfiction)

literary agent, author, editor, magazine writer (30 years in NY and Toronto publishing), ghostwriter, corporate communications consultant (9 years)

National Magazine Award nominee, Toronto, "Rising Above it All," Maclean's Magazine

Conference speaker, seminar leader: "Understanding the Changing Publishing Industry"

Restaurant reviewer, film reviewer, theatre reviewer

Claire Gerus, President

For nonfiction, submit to Claire at gerus.claire@gmail.com. Include overview, Table of Contents, and author bio.

Fiction is temporarily closed until further notice.
If more material is requested, send first 30 pages as Microsoft Word attachment to Claire's gmail address.