Literary Agent Lee Sobel

Hello! My name is Lee Sobel and I am a literary agent. So far this year, 2021, I have sold 12 books so I've been on a roll. I am the son of a literary agent and grew up in the New York publishing world. I have books in my blood! I launched the Lee Sobel Literary Agency in 2016, but the first book I sold was in 1992 when I briefly worked as a literary manager. I only represent books I absolutely love and I make myself available to my clients 24/7. My agency is also represented for film and television deals in Hollywood by Intellectual Property Group who recently handled the movie option for the Bill Haley book I agented. While the bulk of the sales I have made have been non-fiction, I love a great novel! I am seeking fiction with distinctive characters caught up in an intensely emotional situation who are then thrown into the deep end -- be it a thriller or horror novel -- told in a classy way. I particularly love what is being referred to as "Elevated Horror." Not to be negative but what I am not looking for: novels about wizards and dragons; definitely not repackaged books that were previously published, nor authors who self-published books and want a big publisher to republish it.

"Lee Sobel sold my proposal faster than it will take someone to read the book. My accountant and I are equally impressed." - Author Nat Segaloff

"Lee is highly dedicated to his clients and he has enormous energy. He works tirelessly to make his clients and their books successful." - Author Laura Davis-Chanin

"Lee Sobel is an amazingly creative, intelligent and resourceful agent. I've worked with at least four other agents during my eight-book writing career, but Lee tops them all by a long shot." - Author Peter Benjaminson

"Lee Sobel is an outstanding literary agent and shows tremendous respect and support for his clients that is in a class by itself. If you want a literary agent with an unmatched love for what he does -- he is your guy! I have only positive things to say about working with Lee." - Author Herbie J Pilato

"All the deals we’ve done have been refreshingly straightforward and if you get to meet him in person, I guarantee you’ll have a blast. I can’t recommend working with Lee highly enough!" - Book Editor David Barraclough

"Lee is a Renaissance man---truly creative and knowledgeable, great taste, enthusiastic and driven. It's great to work with someone who has his passion." - Book Editor Bernadette Malavarca

“Within three months of opening conversations initiated by agent Lee Sobel, I had a new book deal. The endorsement speaks for itself.” — Author Steven Blush

“If you are looking for an agent who will champion your work and fight for you, Lee is your man! I’ve worked with agents both in the US and UK, and I never encountered one whose passion, energy and savviness came anywhere close to Lee’s. His enthusiasm and belief in my ideas and my ability as a writer gave me a huge boost, and I will be forever grateful to Lee for letting me realize my long-term passion projects.” - Author Anthony Uzarowski

"Lee Sobel is as kind and supportive as he is shrewd. He helps clients shape their book proposals and secures deals with first-rate publishers, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism at all times. He's the best." - Author Stephen B. Armstrong

Herbie J Pilato, Peter Benjaminson, Steven Blush, Peter Aaron, Dave Thompson, Laura Davis-Chanin, Nat Segaloff, Max Mobley, Joseph Eastburn, Anthony Uzarowksi, Michael Alago, Bill Haley, Jr., Richie Ramone, Sylvain Sylvain, Walter Lure, Daniel Bukszpan, Steven B. Armstrong.

Kiss Them Goodbye by Joseph Eastburn (2016)
There's No Bones in Ice Cream: Sylvain Sylvain's Story of the New York Dolls by Sylvain Sylvain and Dave Thompson
The Girl in the Back: A Female Drummer's Life with Bowie, Blondie, and the '70s Rock Scene by Laura Davis-Chanin (2018)
I Know Better Now: My Life Before, During and After the Ramones by Richie Ramone and Peter Aaron (2018)
The Story of Motown by Peter Benjaminson (2018)
Crazy Man, Crazy: The Bill Haley Story by Bill Haley Jr. and Peter Benjaminson (2019)
Howard & Debbie by Max Mobley (2019)
I Put a Spell on You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins by Stever Bergsman (2019)
Come and Get These Memories: The Story of Holland-Dozier-Holland by Eddie Holland, Brian Holland and Save Thompson (2019)
I Am Michael Alago: Breathing Music. Signing Metallica. Beating Death. by Michael Alago and Laura Davis-Chanin (2020)
To Hell and Back: My Life in Johnny Thunders' Heartbreakers, in the Words of the Last Man Standing by Walter Lure and Dave Thompson (2020)
I Feel Love: Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and How They Reinvented Music by Dave Thompson (2021)

UNDER THEIR THUMB: How a Nice Boy from Brooklyn Got Mixed Up with the Rolling Stones (and Lived to Tell About It) by Bill German (Backbeat Books)
THE TOUGH GUY: Lawrence Tierney’s Hollywood Rampage From Dillinger to Tarantino by Burt Kearns (University Press of Kentucky)
50 YEARS OF FEAR: The Phenomenon of The Exorcist by Nat Segaloff (Kensington)
THE LIFE OF BETTY BOOP by Peter Benjaminson (Rowman & Littlefield)
WHEN ROCK MET DISCO by Steven Blush (Rowman & Littlefield)
JESSICA LANGE: American Horror Story and Beyond by Anthony Uzarowski (University of Kentucky Press)
FRIENDS OF DOROTHY: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Icons by Anthony Uzarowksi (Imagine Books/Charlesbridge)
CONNERY, SEAN CONNERY by Herbie J Pilato (University of Kentucky Press)
ONE TOUGH DAME: The Life and Career of Diana Rigg by Herbie J Pilato (University of Mississippi Press)
LUCAS/SPIELBERG – THE DIRECTORS’ CUT by Herbie J Pilato (University of Kentucky Press)
LAUREN BACALL: The Queen of Cool by Anthony Uzarowski (University Press of Mississippi)
THE RAMONES AND THE MAKING OF ROCK 'N' ROLL HIGH SCHOOL by Stephen B. Armstrong (Backbeat Books) 

Movie rights for Crazy Man Crazy - The Bill Haley Story by Bill Haley, Jr. and Peter Benjaminson - deal represented by Joel Gotler at Intellectual Property Group.

I have had a rich and varied career, including working in the movie and television business for producers, developing scripts and scouting books and screenplays for production; I've written and directed a number of my own movies (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0811763/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1); I've produced thousands of live music events, and published and edited numerous magazines, including the current online pop culture site Greast Kidstuff Magazine (https://www.greasykidstuffmagazine.com).

Query letter by email only which should include a synopsis of book and bio of author.