Before she was a top literary agent closing deals with Big Five publishers and landing her clients in major media outlets, Lucinda Halpern was a writer herself—living on espresso in a Paris attic, chasing the dream of publication. That dream took longer than expected, but it never went away.
From HarperCollins’ publicity division, where she helped launch Freakonomics, to leading corporate sales at Scholastic, Lucinda followed an unconventional path that would ultimately lead to her founding her own agency, Lucinda Literary, in 2011. During her wide-ranging career, she’s repped New York Times bestselling authors, taught hundreds of aspiring writers how to break into publishing, and launched her own book, Get Signed: Find an Agent, Land a Book Deal, and Become a Published Author.
In our conversation, Lucinda brought the full force of that experience to bear, offering actionable advice for nonfiction authors navigating a fast-changing landscape. Whether you’re on your first book or your third, traditionally published or eyeing new models, here’s what she wants you to know. =
Below, I’ve compiled 10 of the most memorable moments and practical takeaways from our conversation.
(Note: You can listen to our entire conversation by clicking the video at the top of the post.)
1. A Book Is Just the Beginning
One of the biggest mindset shifts nonfiction authors need to make? Stop thinking of the book as the finish line.
As Lucinda explained, publishers today are far more interested in books that are part of something ongoing: a bigger vision, business, or mission that extends well beyond publication day. They want to see that your book supports a broader ecosystem. Maybe it grows out of your podcast, leads into a course or coaching program, or complements the work you’re already doing in public.
“Your book should answer a need that your audience already feels, and be part of the ongoing way you serve them.”
If your book exists in isolation—with no clear connection to what came before or what comes next—it’s much harder to sell. On the other hand, if it builds on ideas you’ve already been sharing with an audience, and opens the door to further engagement, that’s a compelling story to tell.
Lucinda encourages authors to think like strategists:
What role does your book play in the bigger picture of your work?
What opportunity does it unlock for your readers—or for you?
A great book doesn’t mark the end of your message. It amplifies it.
2. Publishers Want Proof, Not Just Popularity
We’ve all heard it: “Publishers only care about follower count.” But according to Lucinda, that’s an oversimplification—and a discouraging one at that. While a visible platform can absolutely help, it’s far from the whole story.
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