Biographies

Doris S. Michaels — President

Education:  B.A. in English and German Literature, University of California at Santa Cruz; M.A.T. University of California at Berkeley; Certificate in Computer Technology, Columbia University; Certificate in Book and Magazine Publishing, 1994 Summer Publishing Institute, New York University. 

Career history:  Editor for Prentice-Hall, 1982-84; Consultant for PHINET, 1984-86; Consultant for Prudential-Bache, 1986-87; Manager of International Information Center for Union Bank in Switzerland based in Zurich, 1987-91; Consultant based in London, 1992-93; President of Doris S. Michaels Literary Agency Inc. based in New York City, 1994-Present.

Professional activities and affiliations:  Member of the Association of Authors' Representatives, Women's National Book Association (WNBA, you can see the panels Doris organized and moderated on C-Span's Book TV), Women in Publishing, International Business Network, Women's Agenda; Conferences attended include Frankfurt Book Fair, London Book Fair, Book Expo America (BEA) in both Chicago and Los Angeles; Speaking engagements include Society of Southwestern Authors in Tucson, San Diego State University Writers' Conference, Willamette Writers' Conference in Portland, International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG), American Society of Journalists and Authors, National Press Club, Maui Writers' Conference; Moderator for panels on Books into Movies, Literary Fiction and the Bestseller List, The Importance of Subsidiary Rights, Book Industry Mergers and Acquisitions (aired on C-SPAN Book TV, May 1999), Business and Finance Books in the Age of E-Commerce, and Powerful Women in Publishing: Rising to the Top (C-SPAN Book TV, May 28, 2000); Listed in Writer’s Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents by Jeff Herman, Writer's Digest Guide to Literary Agents by Don Prues, and the Literary Market Place. 

Hobbies and personal interests:  Music, including listening to classical music and playing the violin.  Sports, including cycling (Doris has completed the Death Ride in California multiple times), skiing, and swimming.  Fluent in German.

A personal note from Doris:  All my life I have loved to read and solidified my passion by majoring in English and German Literature at UC Berkeley. It was there that I met my husband of over thirty years, Charlie Michaels, and where I learned the business skills to combine my love of reading with practical applications. In the early 80’s I began a career in publishing as an acquisitions editor for Prentice-Hall. Since I felt left out of the computer revolution, to round out my education I went to Columbia University at nights and on weekends while working full time to earn a Certificate in Programming and Technology. The additional education gave me the qualifications to run the International Information Center for the largest bank in Switzerland after my husband was offered the opportunity to start the European Securities area for Goldman Sachs based in Zurich. After four years in Zurich and two years in London, we returned to the States and I started my literary agency. Now that the computer world has merged with all other industries, I’m happy to be a part of this new technical world with all the opportunities of e-mail and websites to expand an agency like mine.

Photograph by Funico Studios

Pauline Hsia communicates with authors and editors, evaluates manuscripts, manages the website, and assists Doris S. Michaels with her projects. Previous to DSM Agency, Pauline interned at the Queens Ledger newspaper, where she covered local news. Pauline graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Psychology. In Binghamton, Pauline wrote an opinion column for the Pipe Dream newspaper for two years and interned for the Harpur Palate literary journal. Pauline currently lives in Queens, NY.