Helen Heller's career in publishing began in London, England where she worked for Cassell & Co. After immigrating to Canada, she worked as editor for Harlequin Books, Senior Editor for Avon Books and Editor-in-Chief for Fitzhenry & Whiteside. She founded the Helen Heller Literary Agency in 1988.
helen@helenhelleragency.com

Daphne Hart has been a literary agent specializing in non-fiction since 1990. Her clients include journalists, professionals and authors of literary non-fiction. Before entering the literary field she was an art director and graphic designer in the corporate sector. Ms. Hart studied at the University of Toronto and the Central School of Art and Design in London, England. Phone inquiries can be made at (416) 461-5920.
daphne.hart@sympatico.ca

Sarah Heller grew up in the publishing world surrounded by authors, editors, and books for as long as she can remember. Prior to joining the Agency in 2003, she was an advertising copywriter and freelance graphic designer and writer.
sarah@helenhelleragency.com

Translation rights are handled by:

The Marsh Agency Ltd
11/12 Dover Street
London
W1S 4LJ
England

Tel: 207 399 2800

Entertainment rights are handled by various film agents on a project-by-project basis

Guidelines

There are a number of reputable agents in Canada. However, it can be difficult to attract the attention of the agent who is right for your work. It might help to keep the following in mind: Whether you are an author searching for an agent, or whether an agent has approached you, it is in your best interests to first find out who the agent represents, what publishing houses has that agent sold to recently and what foreign sales have been made.

You should be able to go to the bookstore, or search online and find the books the agent refers to. Many authors acknowledge their agents in the front or back or their books.
Reputable agents DO NOT charge reading fees. Nor do they ask for expense money upfront.

If you think your project is right for this or any other agency, write or email a query couched in straightforward language. Give the agent all the relevant information, if previously published, when and where, etc. But avoid the oversell. Talking about the book tour and the big contract in your query will not make a good impression.