Mel Parker Books, LLC is both a book packaging firm and a literary agency.

As a full-service book producer/packager, we specialize in major practical nonfiction, developing titles for individuals, brands, and institutional entities. In our capacity as a book producer and book packager, we create original ideas for books, develop and finance publishing proposals, and deliver fully edited manuscripts or complete electronic files to publishers. Some packaged books include The Structure House Weight Loss Plan for Fireside/Simon & Schuster, One Minute Manners for Doubleday/Broadway, and the American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness for John Wiley & Sons.

As a literary agency, we also represent authors for projects they bring to us, focusing primarily on high-profile narrative nonfiction, current affairs, science, psychology, lifestyle, and biography. Agented titles include newsmaking nonfiction such as the forthcoming The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business by Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen (Knopf), The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century by Dickson Despommier (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press), and Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit from It by Amy Cortese (Wiley).

And now, as an ebook publisher, we have the ability to publish original ebooks, both fiction and nonfiction, and rediscover and republish classic titles in digital format.

We are always looking for high-profile, media-savvy authors who are thought leaders in their fields of expertise, and who have a unique and marketable message or story that can be conveyed across multiple platforms--from speaking engagements to radio and television appearances to online media.

In any one of these capacities, as a book producer commissioning and developing our own original projects from start to finish, as a literary agency representing clients on the sales of their own proposals and manuscripts, or as an eBook publisher bringing authors directly to the marketplace, Mel Parker Books works with all our authors through every phase of the publishing process, including promotion, marketing and global licensing.

BOOK AND AUTHOR NEWS

ERIC SCHMIDT AND JARED COHEN'S THE NEW DIGITAL AGE: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business is coming from Alfred A. Knopf in April 2013. Rights sold in the UK, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. Audio rights to Audible.

Confirmed National Media:

Wall Street Journal First Serial
CBS-TV, CBS Sunday Morning profile
National Public Radio, All Things Considered,
NBC-TV, Today Show
PBS-TV/Bloomberg TV, Charlie Rose
MSNBC-TV, Morning Joe
Comedy Central, Colbert Report
National Public Radio, Weekend Edition

Advance Praise for THE NEW DIGITAL AGE:

“Every day, technological innovations are giving people around the world new opportunities to shape their own destinies. In this fascinating book, Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen draw upon their unique experiences to show us a future of rising incomes, growing participation, and a genuine sense of community—if we make the right choices today.” -- Bill Clinton, Former President of the United States

“This is a book that defines both the nature of the new world which the internet is creating; and its challenges. It describes a technological revolution in the making. How we navigate it is a challenge for countries, communities and citizens. There are no two people better equipped to explain what it means than Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen.” -- Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

“Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen have produced a searching meditation on technology and world order. Even those who disagree with some of their conclusions will learn much from this thought-provoking volume.” - Henry A. Kissinger, former Secretary of State

“The New Digital Age is must reading for anyone who wants to truly understand the depths of the digital revolution. Combining the skills of a social scientist and a computer scientist, Cohen and Schmidt blend the technical and the human, the scientific and the political, in ways I rarely saw while in government. They challenge the reader's imagination on almost every page. Indeed, what will be the impact of virtual and physical worlds coexisting, the first generation of humans to have an indelible record, or more frequent revolutions without resolution as the digital age nurtures more celebrities than leaders? And these questions are just the beginning. Read on.” - General Michael Hayden, Former Director of the CIA

“This is the book I have been waiting for: a concise and persuasive description of technology’s impact on war, peace, freedom, and diplomacy. The New Digital Age is a guide to the future written by two experts who possess a profound understanding of humanity’s altered prospects in a wireless world. There are insights on every page and surprising conclusions (and questions) in every chapter. For experts and casual readers alike, Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen have produced an indispensable book.” - Madeleine Albright, Former Secretary of State

"This is the most important -- and fascinating -- book yet written about how the digital age will affect our world. With vivid examples and brilliant analysis, it shows how the internet and other communications technologies will empower individuals and transform the way nations and businesses operate. How will different societies make tradeoffs involving privacy, freedom, control, security, and the relationship between the physical and virtual worlds? This realistic but deeply optimistic book provides the guideposts. It's both profoundly wise and wondrously readable." - Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute and Author of Steve Jobs.

“The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business offers an intriguing fusion of ideas and insights about how the virtual world is intersecting with the “Westphalian order.” It seeks a balance between the discontinuities of technologists’ “revolutions” and the traditionalism of internationalists’ study of states, power, and behavior. The authors explain that technology is not a panacea, yet the uses of technology can make a world of difference. This book should launch a valuable debate about the practical implications of this new connectivity for citizens and policy makers, societies and governments.” - Robert B. Zoellick, Former President of the World Bank Group, U.S. Trade Representative, & U.S. Deputy Secretary of State

“Few people in the world are doing more to imagine – and build – The New Digital Age than Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen. With this book, they are looking into their crystal ball and inviting the world to peek in.” – Michael R. Bloomberg, New York City Mayor and founder of Bloomberg LP

“We have long needed an incisive study of how the ever- evolving world of technology leaves almost no aspect of life unchanged. We have it in The New Digital Age. Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen offer a rigorous approach to decoding what the future holds in a story that is as well written and entertaining as it is important.” - General Brent Scowcroft, Former National Security Advisor

"At last, a brilliant guide book for the next century—what the future holds for entrepreneurs, revolutionaries, politicians, and ordinary citizens alike. Schmidt and Cohen offer a dazzling glimpse into how the new digital revolution is changing our lives. This book is the most insightful exploration of our future world I've ever read, and once I started reading I was simply unable to put it down." - Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman, Virgin Group

“Starting with a simple, powerful and terrifying observation – that “the internet is among the few things humans have built that they don’t truly understand” – this fascinating book takes you on a wonderfully stimulating and important journey. It will make you rethink your concepts of the digital age, the way the world works, what lies ahead, and what all this means for you, your family and your community

You don’t need to know much about technology to benefit from this incredibly insightful book. Using their repeatedly-tested talents and their highly successful experiences, Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen brilliantly detail for us how the digital age is rapidly altering the balance of power between citizens and governments, between the physical and the virtual worlds, and between good and bad.

Whether we like it or not, technology is fundamentally changing the manner in which we all interact and depend on each other – and in an accelerating manner whose scale and scope remain obscure for too many of us. Schmidt and Cohen expose you to the enormous productivity potential of this transformational period in history, as well as the scary risks of harmful balkanization and threatening individual empowerment.

This brilliant book is a must read for all those seeking to understand, and navigate well a fundamental structural shift that will play a critical role in determining the well-being of current and future generations.” -- Mohamed El-Erian, CEO of Pimco

"Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen's thoughtful, well-researched work elucidates the staggering impact of technology on our daily lives, as well as what surprising and incredible developments the future may hold. Readers might be left with more questions than answers, but that's the idea—we are at our best when we ask 'What's next?'" -- Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX and cofounder of Tesla Motors and PayPal

DEAN KOONTZ'S ODDKINS: A Fable for All Ages was published as an eBook by Mel Parker Books in partnership with Open Road Integrated Media. Audio rights sold to Brilliance Audio.

DICKSON DESPOMMIER, author of the THE VERTICAL FARM: Feeding the World in the 21st Century (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press), was interviewed by ABC.com and NPR in Los Angeles. Simplified Chinese rights were sold to Hunan Science and Technology Publishing House. Tantor Media also bought audio rights. Traditional Character rights have sold to Marco Polo Press in Taiwan, and Japanese rights have sold, at auction, to NTT Shuppan. He recently appeared at the Seoul Digital Forum, IdeaCity in Toronto, and the Manchester International Festival. He appeared at the Omega Institute in October, recently did a new TEDx talk, was just featured in the Wall Street Journal, and will appear on 60 Minutes in Australia for a segment on vertical farming.
Vertical farms have been built in Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Chicago, and a 17-story vertical farm is being built in Sweden.

“Despommier has quickly become the central figure in what could be a worldwide revolution in food production and waste reduction.”
—Scientific American

LOCAVESTING: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit from It by journalist Amy Cortese, who coined the term "Locavestors" in the New York Times Magazine Year in Ideas issue, was published by Wiley. Amy Cortese appeared on the Dylan Ratigan Show on MSNBC and on Leonard Lopate on NPR. LOCAVESTING was also featured in Fast Company.

Recent endorsements include:

“An inspiring look at what local businesses can achieve.”
--Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics

“Investing locally makes sense as long as you do it with your eyes wide open. And this book is a realistic, up-to-the-minute exploration of the field. After all, it was the local community that invested in Ben & Jerry’s—and it worked out pretty well for them.”
--Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry’s

“Buy this book before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) bans it! Locavesting demolishes the myth that the best investment options lie in the financial-doomsday machine we call Wall Street. Fasten your belt for a mind-blowing journey where you will learn about dozens of highly profitable community investment opportunities. Amy Cortese takes you on a breathtaking ride.”
--Michael Shuman, author of The Small-Mart Revolution and Going Local.

Amy Cortese recently named one of 25 "Women Changing the World" by Goodb, a sustainable business website, and her piece on Crowdfunding was a front-page story in the New York Times Sunday Business Section in January.

“The thought of writing a book for the general public always began with the question: Where do I begin? Fortunately, Mel Parker provided the answer. With great skill Mel allowed me to take my book from proposal to publication. I would recommend Mel to anyone who wants to be certain that his or her work and thoughts are successfully presented.”
--Gerard Musante, Ph.D., author of The Structure House Weight Loss Plan

“Mel Parker shepherded my book from beginning to end with diligence, integrity, and concentration on my goals as an author. With his editing skills and insider’s view of the publishing world, he was able to provide the best possible service for my book. Mel kept me realistic and focused throughout the process, and I am very grateful to him for his help. I recommend him highly and without reservation!”
--Laurence M. Westreich, M.D., author of Helping the Addict You Love

“Mel was terrific with Not Built in a Day. He took on an unusual, quirky manuscript and masterminded the search for a publisher with unfailing persistence and resourcefulness. I owe him a great debt of gratitude.”
--George H. Sullivan, author of Not Built in a Day: Exploring the Architecture of Rome

“As a first time author, I could not have asked for a more experienced and trustworthy guide and partner. Mel's insight and advice have been invaluable!”
--Amy Cortese, author of Locavesting

"Mel Parker is my literary agent, but he is also my number one resource for everything in the world of publishing and entertainment. He has the uncanny ability to identify and promote the things that really matter for getting the word out to the public. Without his expert guidance and judgement, I would still be searching for an outlet for my muse. So when it comes to the literary world, Mel Parker is the man."
--Dickson Despommier, author of The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century

Mel Parker has worked in virtually every aspect of book publishing, from hardcover and paperback publishing to direct marketing and book clubs.

In 2005, he launched Mel Parker Books, LLC, a full-service book packaging firm and literary agency.

In its capacity as a book producer and book packager, Mel Parker Books specializes in major practical nonfiction, originating and developing book ideas for individuals, brands, and institutions. Some packaged books include The Structure House Weight Loss Plan for Fireside/Simon & Schuster, One Minute Manners for Doubleday/Broadway, and the American Medical Association Complete Guide to Prevention and Wellness for John Wiley & Sons.

As a literary agency, Mel Parker Books also represents authors for their own projects, focusing primarily on high-profile narrative nonfiction, current affairs, science, psychology, lifestyle, and biography. Some agented titles includes nonfiction such as the forthcoming New Digital Age by Google’s Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen (Knopf), The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century by Dickson Despommier, Emeritus Professor At Columbia University (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press), and Locavesting: The Revolution in Local Investing and How to Profit from It by Amy Cortese, a leading financial journalist, whose work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and BusinessWeek (John Wiley & Sons).

And now, as an eBook publisher, Mel Parker Books can bring authors directly to the marketplace.

Before launching Mel Parker Books, Mel was Senior Vice President and Editorial Director of Bookspan, the ten-million-member book club partnership between Time Warner and Bertelsmann AG, where he directed the editorial acquisitions programs for all of Bookspan's general interest, lifestyle and specialty book clubs, including Book-of-the-Month Club, Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, Mystery Guild, Quality Paperback Book Club, History Book Club, Black Expressions and One Spirit. At Bookspan, Mel also played a key role in consolidating the book club businesses of Book-of-the-Month Club and Doubleday Direct into Bookspan; launching a number of successful new book clubs such as Mosaico, the Latino book club; and leading Bookspan's successful proprietary publishing program for book club members.

Mel came to the book clubs from Time Warner Trade Publishing, where he was Senior Vice President of Warner Books and Publisher of its paperback division. During his more than eleven years at Warner, Mel acquired and edited his own hardcover list of bestselling fiction by authors such as Dean Koontz, David Morrell and Larry Bond, as well as hardcover bestsellers in a variety of nonfiction categories, from narrative nonfiction and biography to business books, health, inspiration and pop culture.

Mel was also responsible for Warner's successful mass market paperback publishing program, including major bestselling authors such as James Patterson, Michael Connelly, Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci, Scott Turow, Elmore Leonard, P.D. James, Carl Hiaasen, Sidney Sheldon, Brad Meltzer and Sandra Brown. In addition, Mel oversaw Warner’s trade paperback list, featuring critically acclaimed authors such as Jeffrey Eugenides, Rick Moody, Katherine Dunn, Philip K. Howard, Alan Lightman, James Ellroy, Lorrie Moore, Ethan Canin, Calvin Trillin, E.O. Wilson, and Sherman Alexie.

Prior to joining Warner, Mel was Editor-in-Chief of the Berkley Publishing Group, where he played a key role in helping build the company into a major paperback publisher featuring 10 continuing New York Times bestselling authors. He also personally acquired a number of major bestsellers, most notably the paperback rights to The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy, which set the stage for the author’s bestselling career at Putnam and Berkley.

Mel was chairman of the Executive Trade Committee of the Association of American Publishers, where he launched the book publishing industry group's national Get Caught Reading Campaign, which secured millions of dollars of free print advertising to promote books and reading. Mel has also lectured on publishing at the Stanford Publishing Course and at the University of Denver Publishing Institute, and his chapter on paperback publishing appears in EDITORS ON EDITING (Grove Atlantic).

Foreign and audio rights are represented by Trident Media Group.
Foreign rights: Claire Roberts (croberts@tridentmediagroup.com)
Audio rights: Mark Gottlieb (mgottlieb@tridentmediagroup.com)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Send a query letter and brief synopsis within the body of an email (no attachments) to submit@melparkerbooks.com. Please understand that given the number of queries we receive, we can respond only to those that interest us.

Mel Parker, President
David Parker, Editor-at-Large