McDonald Literary Group — Agent. Marketer. Publicist.McDonald Literary Group
For Authors · United States

Wherever you are on your author journey — there's a path forward.

From the first draft to the bestseller list, McDonald Literary Group serves American authors at every stage. This page exists to educate — not to sell. Find your stage below and learn exactly what we do (and don't do) for authors like you.

US-Based
New York

Boutique agency headquartered in NYC, the heart of US publishing.

Verified
Trustpilot 4.9★

Verified reviews from real US authors we've represented.

Authors Served
180+

Fiction and non-fiction across every major US genre.

Years in Industry
12+

Direct relationships with US publishers, editors, and media.

Find Your Stage

Six kinds of authors. One trusted partner.

Click into your stage to understand the challenges, what we offer, and which package fits.

Stage 01

The Aspiring Author

You have a story burning inside you — maybe a first draft, maybe just an outline.

Suggested: Debut Author Starter
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●Not sure if your manuscript is ready
  • ●Overwhelmed by query letters and synopses
  • ●Don't know how the US publishing industry actually works
  • ●Worried about scams and predatory 'agents'

How We Help

  • ◆Honest manuscript evaluation with developmental feedback
  • ◆Education on how traditional US publishing works (no jargon)
  • ◆Query letter and synopsis coaching
  • ◆A clear, step-by-step plan — without selling you something you don't need
Stage 02

The Debut Author

You've signed your first deal — or you're querying actively. The next 12 months will define your career.

Suggested: Book Launch Accelerator
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●First-time launch with no template to follow
  • ●Publisher's marketing budget is thinner than expected
  • ●No author platform, mailing list, or media contacts yet
  • ●Need Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub set up correctly the first time

How We Help

  • ◆Full launch strategy aligned with your publisher's plan
  • ◆Author Central, Goodreads, BookBub, NetGalley setup
  • ◆Press kit, podcast tour, and reviewer outreach
  • ◆ARC distribution & street team
Stage 03

The Mid-List & Career Author

You have a backlist of 2–6 titles. You want to break through to the next tier — not stay quietly mid-list forever.

Suggested: Author Platform Builder
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●Backlist is collecting digital dust on Amazon
  • ●No consistent newsletter or reader funnel
  • ●Each book launches without compounding the last
  • ●Need a long-term brand, not one-off campaigns

How We Help

  • ◆Backlist optimization (covers, A+ Content, ad campaigns)
  • ◆Author website, SEO, and email list growth
  • ◆Series planning and multi-book strategy
  • ◆3-month rolling PR with ongoing podcast bookings
Stage 04

The Traditionally Published Author

You're with a Big Five or major imprint. You need a partner who understands publisher politics — and fills the gaps your in-house team won't.

Suggested: Bestseller Campaign or Full-Service Partnership
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●In-house publicity is stretched across 30+ titles
  • ●Your editor moved on; advocacy is missing
  • ●Foreign, audio, film/TV rights underexplored
  • ●No one is fighting for the second-printing or paperback push

How We Help

  • ◆Co-agent network for foreign and subsidiary rights
  • ◆Independent publicity layered on top of in-house efforts
  • ◆Hollywood/streaming pitch document preparation
  • ◆Royalty audit and rights monetization
Stage 05

The Independent & Hybrid Author

You self-publish, hybrid publish, or run your own imprint. You want professional firepower without giving up control.

Suggested: Author Platform Builder or Bestseller Campaign
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●Acting as your own publisher, marketer, and publicist
  • ●Need legitimacy with reviewers, podcasts, and bookstores
  • ●Amazon ads eating margin without a real strategy
  • ●Want to break into traditional retail, libraries, and book clubs

How We Help

  • ◆Full Amazon ecosystem management
  • ◆Legitimate national PR (the kind indie authors rarely access)
  • ◆Library, book club, and retail outreach
  • ◆BookTok, Bookstagram, and influencer partnerships
Stage 06

The Bestselling Author

You've hit a list. Now you want to stay there — and turn one book into a brand, an empire, a legacy.

Suggested: Full-Service Literary Partnership
Email Deborah About This StageOr via Gmail

Opens your email with a tailored draft — just fill in the blanks.

Common Challenges

  • ●Diminishing returns from repeating the same playbook
  • ●Need bulk sales, corporate, and special-sales channels
  • ●Brand partnerships and speaking circuit are underdeveloped
  • ●Reputation management at a higher visibility level

How We Help

  • ◆Concierge, year-round literary partnership
  • ◆Dedicated publicist and quarterly strategy with Deborah
  • ◆Bulk sales, corporate, and book-club channels
  • ◆Brand partnerships, sponsorships, and speaking management
Built for the US Market

Why American authors choose McDonald Literary Group.

The US publishing market is the largest, most competitive, and most opaque in the world. We were built specifically to navigate it — with direct editor relationships, transparent contracts, and zero predatory practices.

Email Deborah Directly
  • Direct relationships with editors at Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and Macmillan
  • US-based contracts, US tax compliance, and transparent fee structures (no upfront reading fees — ever)
  • Member-aligned with the AALA standards (Association of American Literary Agents)
  • US media rolodex: NYT, WaPo, USA Today, NPR, People, Today Show, GMA, major podcasts
  • Specialized in US retail: Barnes & Noble, BAM, Target, Walmart, Costco, Indigo (Canada cross-border)
  • All client funds held in US-based escrow with full quarterly accounting
"We will never charge you a reading fee. We will never sell you services your book doesn't need. And we will never take on an author we don't believe in."
— The McDonald Literary Group Promise
Ready to Talk?

Email Deborah. Tell her your stage.

Every conversation starts and continues over email. Tell us where you are in your journey, and we'll respond personally with what we recommend — package or no package.

deborah@mcdonaldliterarygroup.com Or via Gmail
See all 5 packages