“As Senior Vice President of Warner Books and Publisher of its paperback division, Mel worked very closely with me, beginning with the acquisition and publication of Along Came A Spider, my first major bestseller with Little, Brown and Warner, to Kiss the Girls, Jack and Jill, and the republication of my backlist. In every instance, Mel proved to be an outstanding editor and publisher, whose creativity, energy, editorial acumen, and marketing instincts made him a key member of the publishing team that was so important to my career. His smarts, his sense of what makes a great story, and his ability to get books across to the public make him an invaluable publishing professional.”
—James Patterson, bestselling author of Along Came a Spider

“Let me be as clear as possible: I wouldn’t have my career without Mel Parker. He believed before just about anyone. I owe him forever for that.”
—Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The Escape Artist

“Mel Parker is a veteran in the book industry, and an expert advisor on the writing and publishing process. This was our first book, taking on an ambitious topic and a big idea–so we needed exactly the kind of help Mel provides. From the first step of writing a professional proposal, to the release and publicity work that came many months later, Mel’s guidance was always equally enlightening and practical.”
—Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Jayson White, authors of The Next American City

“Mel and I worked together on The Charm School, The Gold Coast, The General’s Daughter, Spencerville, and Plum Island, all of which were bestsellers. In all my dealings with Mel since 1987, I’ve found him to be innovative, smart, focused, and passionate about books. It was a privilege and honor to work with Mel, and I credit him in no small part for the success of my books.”
—Nelson DeMille, bestselling author of The Gold Coast

“Mel was my editor for many novels that include The Fifth Profession, The Covenant of the Flame, Assumed Identity, Desperate Measures, Extreme Denial, and Double Image. Mel and I had an excellent working relationship. Our frequent telephone conversations are still pleasantly vivid to me: the creative, enthusiastic way we discussed plot points and marketing strategies, the feeling I had that he genuinely cared about my work. Mel was also very thorough when he read my manuscripts. I found him to be a detailed and judicious line editor. I have only good things to say about the many years in which I worked with him. Indeed I thought of Mel as a friend as much as he was my editor.”
—David Morrell, bestselling author of Brotherhood of the Rose

“Mel Parker is a skilled negotiator who helped me fine-tune my book proposal and landed me my first book contract. But he’s more than just a literary agent. A former book editor himself, Mel was a terrific sounding board for everything from titles to writing-style choices to chapter ideas.”
—Jon Birger, contributor at Fortune magazine and author of Date-Onomics

“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

“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

“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 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

“Every writer wants an agent who will not only be a champion for a work, but who really “gets” that writer to the core and the message he or she wants to bring to the world. That agent is Mel Parker. He is also incomparably knowledgeable about every facet of the publishing industry, and expertly navigated my entire path from proposal to book deal, through the writing process and beyond. But above all else, Mel is an outstanding human being whose wisdom and advice I treasure. If you have the opportunity to work with Mel, consider yourself one of the lucky ones!”
—Jennifer Grayson, author of Unlatched

“For a new author, breaking into the publishing world is tough, and there is no better guide than Mel Parker. With decades of experience, Mel has worked with dozens of best-selling authors and held positions of consequence in nearly every aspect of the publishing business. He is a skilled editor, experienced advisor, patient mentor, savvy negotiator, and tenacious advocate for his clients. Without Mel’s support and guidance, my three novels would never have been professionally published. Working with him has been a rewarding partnership, and I owe my success as an author to Mel.”
—Robert McCaw, author of Fire and Vengeance

“Mel Parker is the literary agent of my dreams! His vast experience in editing, acquisitions and representing bestselling authors makes him ideally positioned to offer excellent advice on all things publishing. I’m grateful that Mel was willing to take a chance on me. He guided me through every step of publishing Mirror Meditation, my first book for a general audience. Mel is honest, optimistic, and very encouraging. His support has been stellar.”
—Tara Well, Ph.D., author of Mirror Meditation

“Mel Parker, who turned my freshman effort, Selling the Invisible, into an international bestseller, is the Total Agent. He’s deft at editing, positioning, titling and promoting a book, and working with a publisher to get the best results. No one better understands the bewildering world of book publishing, and is anyone as much fun to work with? No chance!”
—Harry Beckwith, author of The Invisible Promise