Mary Evans, Inc Reviews
- Alpha Book Publisher
- Feb 5
- 10 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Company Profile
Mary Evans comes from a long line of Hoosiers on her father’s side, going back eight generations. When she left Indiana to attend Barnard College in the East, she took a part-time job at Columbia University's M.F.A. program. That experience gave her a glimpse into the publishing industry, and she quickly realized she wanted to build her career around the power of words. After college, she got her start at Farrar, Straus & Giroux before moving on to The Viking Press just over a year later.
While at Viking, her Irish-Catholic mother finally stopped urging her to go to law school—especially after hearing that Mary occasionally worked alongside Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who was just beginning her own journey in publishing. After some time at Viking, she spent seventeen years at a literary agency, gaining valuable experience before deciding to strike out on her own. On May 1, 1994, she launched her own agency, determined to represent works that were both compelling and thought-provoking.
Founder / CEO: Mary Evans
Date Founded: 1 May, 1994
Phone Number: +1 212-979-0880
Email: info@maryevansinc.com.
Mailing Address: 242 E 5th St, New York, NY 10003, USA
Mary has a deep appreciation for both fiction and nonfiction, particularly books that shed light on lesser-known subjects. She’s drawn to progressive politics, alternative medicine, and science and technology written for everyday readers. She also has a passion for social commentary, American history, and culture—essentially, anything that makes for an unforgettable read.
Table of Contents
Our Agency
Mary Evans Inc. is committed to championing compelling voices, working with authors across fiction and nonfiction, securing strong publishing deals, building long-term careers, collaborating with top publishers, handling foreign rights and adaptations, offering personalized representation, advocating for authors’ best interests, and navigating the ever-changing literary market. We focus on quality over quantity, ensuring every book we represent has a strong chance of success, guiding authors through every step of the publishing process, and maintaining strong relationships within the industry.
Our Authors
Our roster includes award-winning novelists, groundbreaking journalists, celebrated historians, influential cultural critics, emerging voices with fresh perspectives, bestsellers across multiple genres, writers pushing creative boundaries, authors featured in major publications, and storytellers who captivate readers worldwide. We take pride in supporting diverse talent, helping authors refine their craft, ensuring their books reach the right audience, and fostering long-term collaborations that lead to lasting literary careers.
Foreign Rights
We expand authors' global reach, partnering with international publishers, securing translations in multiple languages, negotiating rights across continents, ensuring fair contracts, collaborating with skilled foreign agents, adapting books for diverse markets, increasing visibility worldwide, handling legal complexities, and maximizing global sales opportunities. Our foreign rights team works diligently to connect books with readers worldwide, ensuring seamless negotiations, providing market insights, and strengthening our global network of publishers and literary professionals.
Awards and Bestsellers
Many of our books receive prestigious awards, land on bestseller lists, garner critical acclaim, influence cultural conversations, maintain strong sales over time, resonate deeply with readers, earn starred reviews, are recognized by major literary organizations, and become must-reads in their genres. We celebrate every achievement, from debut authors gaining recognition to established writers receiving lifetime honors, ensuring our clients' hard work gets the attention it deserves, and continuously pushing for excellence.
Film/TV
We secure film and TV adaptations, collaborate with top producers, negotiate rights for major studios, support authors through adaptation processes, expand stories beyond books, bring compelling narratives to screens, work with entertainment lawyers, ensure fair compensation, and help books reach new audiences. Our agency values the integrity of storytelling, strives to protect authors' creative visions, fosters strong industry partnerships, and ensures each adaptation stays true to the essence of the original work.
Submissions
We welcome strong storytelling, seek fresh perspectives, encourage diverse voices, accept query letters through our guidelines, appreciate well-crafted proposals, look for authors passionate about their work, review submissions thoughtfully, provide clear instructions, and are selective in choosing projects to represent. Our submission process is designed to be transparent, ensuring authors know what to expect, helping them put their best foot forward, and prioritizing manuscripts that align with our agency's vision.
Contact
Authors can reach us through our website, follow submission guidelines, inquire about representation, ask about rights and contracts, discuss book proposals, connect for media inquiries, request more information, schedule meetings when appropriate, and expect a professional response. We strive to be accessible, encourage open communication, maintain strong relationships with authors, and ensure every inquiry is handled with care and professionalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a literary agent?
Legitimate agents work on commission, typically earning 15% of domestic sales, 20% on foreign deals, taking a percentage only when authors make money, charging no upfront fees, handling contracts and negotiations, ensuring fair publishing deals, guiding careers, securing royalties, and protecting authors' interests. The commission model benefits authors, keeps agents invested in their success, ensures fair representation, and aligns the agent’s success with the author’s.
What was Mary Evans' real name?
Mary Evans is her actual name, professionally known for her literary agency, established a strong reputation in publishing, worked with major publishers, represented acclaimed authors, built a respected agency, handled high-profile deals, contributed to the literary world, and remains a key industry figure. Her name carries influence in the publishing community, is associated with numerous successful books, represents a dedication to literature, and reflects a lifetime of commitment to great storytelling.
Why is Mary Ann Evans famous?
She wrote under the pen name George Eliot, authored Middlemarch and Silas Marner, revolutionized Victorian literature, tackled deep social issues, challenged gender norms, influenced generations of writers, created complex characters, earned critical acclaim, and left a lasting literary legacy. Her novels remain essential reading, continue to inspire discussion, are widely studied in academia, and are celebrated for their psychological depth and social insight.
How old was Edith Evans when she died?
The British actress Edith Evans passed away at 88, known for theater and film, played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, had a distinguished career, won numerous awards, worked with iconic actors, appeared in Shakespearean roles, and left a lasting impact. Her performances remain legendary, her influence spans generations, her dedication to the stage was unmatched, and her legacy in British theater continues to inspire actors today.
What is the nickname of Mary Ann Evans?
Mary Ann Evans, better known as George Eliot, used her pen name to be taken seriously as a writer, challenged gender biases, became a literary icon, wrote influential novels, shaped English literature, inspired future authors, gained critical recognition, and remains widely studied. Her work defied expectations, her storytelling revolutionized fiction, she created deeply human characters, and her novels continue to be regarded as masterpieces.
What was Mary's real name in Sherlock?
Mary Morstan, a key character in Sherlock Holmes, later became Mary Watson, had a mysterious past, played a crucial role in the series, was portrayed as intelligent and resourceful, married Dr. Watson, carried secrets, influenced Holmes’ cases, and met a tragic fate. Her backstory added intrigue, her relationship with Watson deepened his character, her presence shaped major plotlines, and her role in the series remains significant.
What was Mary Ann Evans' pen name?
She published as George Eliot, used a male pseudonym for credibility, wrote acclaimed novels, explored deep themes, avoided being dismissed due to gender, gained literary respect, changed perceptions of women writers, influenced literature, and remains a cornerstone of classic fiction. Her choice to use a pen name allowed her work to be judged on merit, helped break barriers for female writers, gave her freedom to tackle complex ideas, and cemented her status as one of history’s greatest authors.
What was Robert Evans' real name?
Robert Evans, born Robert J. Shapera, became a legendary Hollywood producer, helped shape classic films, ran Paramount Pictures, produced Chinatown and The Godfather, had a fascinating life story, wrote a bestselling memoir, influenced modern cinema, and left an unforgettable mark. His career defined an era, his work continues to influence filmmakers, his storytelling instincts were unparalleled, and his legacy in Hollywood remains strong.
What was Typhoid Mary's real name?
Typhoid Mary was born Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant, worked as a cook, unknowingly spread typhoid fever, refused to stop working, was forcibly quarantined, became infamous in medical history, sparked public health debates, and remained asymptomatic her entire life. Her case reshaped public health policies, highlighted the dangers of asymptomatic carriers, became a legal and ethical debate, and remains one of history’s most well-known medical stories.
When was Mary Ann Evans born?
She was born on November 22, 1819, grew up in England, developed a love for literature, wrote groundbreaking novels, challenged Victorian norms, gained fame as George Eliot, influenced generations, shaped modern storytelling, and remains one of history’s greatest writers. Her upbringing influenced her writing, her intelligence set her apart, her work remains relevant, and her influence extends far beyond her time.
What does Mallon mean?
The surname Mallon has Irish origins, commonly found in Northern Ireland, linked to Gaelic ancestry, has various spellings, historically connected to laborers, appears in public records, carries cultural significance, traces back centuries, and remains a recognizable family name today. It reflects Irish heritage, represents a rich history, connects families across generations, and continues to be studied in genealogical research.
What was Typhoid Mary's punishment?
She was forcibly quarantined, spent decades in isolation, was deemed a public health threat, refused to stop cooking, challenged medical authorities, lived on North Brother Island, sparked legal debates, never accepted responsibility, and died in quarantine after 26 years. Her case raised ethical questions, changed public health law, remains a subject of debate, and is studied in medical and legal fields today.
Did Typhoid Mary wash her hands?
Historical records suggest she didn’t believe she carried typhoid, ignored hygiene warnings, refused medical advice, continued working as a cook, unknowingly spread disease, clashed with authorities, denied scientific evidence, and resisted changing her habits despite multiple outbreaks. Her actions contributed to outbreaks, her case shaped sanitation laws, public health officials used her as a warning, and her story is still taught in epidemiology today.
What disease did Mary spread?
Mary Mallon spread typhoid fever, a bacterial illness, caused severe outbreaks, infected dozens unknowingly, remained asymptomatic, led to widespread concern, challenged public health policies, became a medical case study, influenced sanitation laws, and left a controversial legacy. Typhoid fever remains a global concern, modern medicine has improved treatment, her case helped shape epidemiology, and her story is still referenced in discussions of disease control.
What was the yeast virus in 1938?
In 1938, researchers studied various yeast infections, explored fungal diseases, examined links to human health, developed treatments, advanced medical knowledge, identified new strains, analyzed immune responses, contributed to microbiology, and helped shape future scientific discoveries. Yeast-related infections remain a concern, scientific advancements continue, researchers build on past findings, and medical science has greatly expanded since then.
Is Typhoid Mary Bloody Mary?
No, Typhoid Mary and Bloody Mary are unrelated, one was a historical public health case, the other a folklore figure, Typhoid Mary was real, spread disease unknowingly, faced quarantine, became infamous in medicine, while Bloody Mary is linked to legends and ghost stories. The two have different origins, Typhoid Mary impacted public health, Bloody Mary is rooted in horror tales, and they are often mistakenly associated.
How old was Typhoid Mary when she died?
Mary Mallon died at 69, after spending decades in quarantine, lived much of her life in isolation, remained asymptomatic, was studied by scientists, never accepted her role in spreading disease, became a cautionary tale, and left a controversial legacy. Her life remains a historical curiosity, her case changed quarantine laws, her story is debated by historians, and she continues to be studied in public health discussions.
What was Typhoid Mary's signature dish?
She was known for making peach ice cream, unknowingly infected diners, spread typhoid through food, worked for wealthy families, refused to stop cooking, was linked to multiple outbreaks, ignored medical advice, and became a case study in public health. Her cooking played a major role in spreading disease, her case shaped hygiene practices, food safety laws improved because of her, and her story is referenced in health education today.
Where is Typhoid Mary buried?
She was buried at Saint Raymond’s Cemetery in the Bronx, died in isolation, had a controversial life, sparked public health debates, was remembered as a cautionary figure, remained infamous in history, and continues to be studied in medical research. Her grave remains a site of historical interest, public health students learn about her, her case is referenced in disease prevention, and her story serves as a warning about asymptomatic carriers.
Was Typhoid Mary Patient Zero?
She wasn’t the first typhoid carrier, but became the most infamous, was the first asymptomatic case identified, led to quarantine laws, brought attention to disease transmission, changed medical policies, and remains a key figure in epidemiology. Her case advanced medical science, her legacy remains controversial, her name is still used in public health discussions, and she serves as an example of disease control challenges.
What was the tragedy of Typhoid Mary?
She never believed she was sick, spent years in forced isolation, refused to stop cooking, unknowingly spread disease, became a public health symbol, clashed with authorities, lived a lonely life, and remains a cautionary tale in medical history. Her story raises ethical questions, public health policies changed because of her, debates about individual rights versus public safety continue, and her legacy is still discussed today.
What is typhoid caused by?
Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella Typhi, spreads through contaminated food and water, leads to high fever, can be deadly if untreated, thrives in poor sanitation, requires antibiotics, has vaccines available, and remains a public health concern. Prevention methods continue to improve, modern medicine has made typhoid more manageable, outbreaks are still monitored worldwide, and sanitation remains key in preventing its spread.
Final Thoughts
Mary Evans Inc. continues to support great writers, expand storytelling possibilities, navigate publishing trends, secure major deals, fight for authors’ rights, celebrate literary achievements, adapt to industry changes, and bring impactful books to readers everywhere. Our mission is to discover and amplify meaningful voices, ensure our clients thrive in an ever-evolving industry, uphold the highest standards in publishing, and contribute to a literary world that values both creativity and integrity.
Comments