Andy Ross

👋 Hey there —

I’m Andy Ross, a literary agent and the founder of the Andy Ross Agency. I launched my agency in 2008 after a 30-year career as the owner of the legendary Cody’s Books in Berkeley — one of the most influential independent bookstores in the U.S. literary scene.

Today, my agency represents a wide range of nonfiction and fiction authors, with a strong focus on narrative nonfiction, journalism, science, history, memoir, popular culture, and current events, as well as literary and upmarket fiction for adults and young readers.

A partial list of my authors is below:

Susan Griffin, Fritjof Capra, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Daniel Ellsberg, David Dayen, Daniel Boyarin, Tawni Waters, Gwen Strauss, Senator Jeff Bingaman, and Milton Viorst.

🧭 What I Bring to Uptales

• Decades of publishing ecosystem experience — from bookselling to agenting — giving authors a rare, end-to-end understanding of how books actually succeed.
• Deep expertise in nonfiction proposals: voice-driven, idea-rich books with strong narrative arcs and real cultural relevance.
• Editorial clarity and market realism — helping writers understand not just what works creatively, but what sells.
• A trusted agent’s eye shaped by representing authors whose work influences public discourse, culture, and policy.
• Teaching and mentorship experience from leading writers’ conferences and international writing workshops.

✅ Focus Areas

• Nonfiction book proposals (structure, positioning, authority, and voice)
• Narrative nonfiction & journalism with strong story arcs
• Memoir and cultural criticism
• Literary, historical, and upmarket fiction
• Publishing strategy, agent expectations, and market fit

📚 Selected Credentials & Experience

• Founder, Andy Ross Agency
• Author of The Literary Agent’s Guide to Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal
• Former owner of Cody’s Books, Berkeley
• Instructor at major writers’ conferences including San Francisco, Kauai, San Miguel de Allende, and Nebraska
• Co-leader of intensive international writing workshops (Santa Fe, Provence, Kauai, Scotland)

🎤 My Guiding Philosophy

“Strong books begin with strong voices — and succeed when those voices are paired with clarity, authority, and purpose.”

📌 Why Writers Choose Me

• You’ll work with an agent who understands publishing from every angle — creative, commercial, and cultural.
• I offer honest, informed guidance grounded in decades of real industry experience.
• Ideal for serious writers who want clarity on whether their work is viable — and how to make it stronger.