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Alan Nevins

American Literary Agent/Manager

Alan Nevins started his book career working for the famed super agent Irving "Swifty" Lazar during a five year period and had been the famous agent's only associate in his 60 year career. After the agent's wife, Mary Lazar, died in 1993 and shortly prior to Irving’s death the same year, Nevins founded Renaissance Literary & Talent with two Hollywood based literary agents and the agency thrived.

In 1995, Renaissance acquired the famed Irving Paul Lazar Agency and its extensive backlist from the Lazar Estate after a year of negotiations, beating several eager bidders, including one of the major Hollywood agencies. This acquisition, and that of the H.N. Swanson Agency, gave the infant Renaissance the enviable legacy of two of Hollywood's most colorful literary agents and solidified its place as a powerhouse boutique literary firm supplying material to the New York publishers as well as the film/television community.

After Renaissance completed a three year stint associated with Michael Ovitz’s Artists Management Group, Renaissance was quietly placed in the background and Nevins cut a deal with music and film management company, The Firm, to create a literary division that would come with longstanding and impressive relationships in Hollywood, London and New York.

After six years with The Firm, Nevins departed in late 2008 and re-established Renaissance Literary & Talent which allowed him the continued independence to represent clients who may already have other talent managers and agency representation but seek exclusive literary representation.

Renaissance, as it is known in Hollywood, currently represents more than 75 writers, including an extensive estate list, including George Axelrod, Elia Kazan, Arthur Rubinstein and Cornell Woolrich. It also has major properties in development at the Hollywood studios and with the leading networks, a substantial backlist, and continues to attract some of the world's most sought after writers for both publishing and film representation.

Among some of the authors and books Nevins has represented are Goldie Hawn, whose memoir A Lotus Grows in the Mud remained on the NY Times List for 16 weeks; the creator and author of the international best selling series, What to Expect When You're Expecting, Heidi Murkoff, whose books have sold more than 26 million copies worldwide wile remaining on the NY Times Bestseller List for over 400 weeks , selling in excess of 1.3 million copies in 2008 and spending it's 267th week on the Publisher's Weekly Trade Bestseller List as of March, 2009 ; Illusionist Criss Angel, whose book about his life in magic hit book stores last year and continues selling to date; Don Felder, former band member of the Eagles whose book about life in the fast lane landed in U.S. stores in May 2008 and hit the NY Times List; Tony Curtis, legendary actor, whose memoir, American Prince,  published October 2008 debuted at #18 on the NY Times List;    Marlee Matlin, whose memoir sold in 2008 to Simon Spotlight and will join Matlin’s three young adult novels in bookstores spring 2009;  Steven Saylor, NY Times Best Selling author of the internationally acclaimed historical Roman mystery series (Roman Sub Rosa Series, Twist at the End, Roma ); Danny Seraphine, former drummer for music group, Chicago, whose book will appear late 2009; Snoop Dogg who co-wrote a novel with David E. Talbert, award-winning African American playwright;  The Doors: A Pictorial History by the members and families of the band;  Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman whose memoir, published August 2007, was highly anticipated by the book chains and received huge support throughout the industry landing it at #1 on the NY Times Best Seller List for two weeks; Lauren Bacall, whose National Book Award winning autobiography was updated and published on its 25th Anniversary as By Myself and Then Some and rose to the #1 position in London and reached incredible sales similar to its original release putting it on the NY Times List again; Rita Rudner, comedian and comic novel writer (Tickled Pink) whose new non-fiction book I Still Have It, I Just Can’t Remember Where I Put It landed in stores in early 2008; Richard K. Morgan, one of the United Kingdom's leading sci-fi writers (Altered Carbon, Market Forces);  Lifestyle expert and member of the modern art world’s Rubell Clan, Jennifer Rubell (Real Life Entertaining);  Ruben “Doc” Cavazos, who has written a memoir as the  President of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, described by the FBI as the nation’s most dangerous gang; Larry Collins (recently passed) and Dominique Lapierre, mega-selling international authors of seven New York Times Best-Selling books (Is Paris Burning?, Fall From Grace, Oh Jerusalem!, Black Eagles); and Kirk Douglas, who now has five non-fiction, three novels and two children's books to his credit (Climbing the Mountain, My Stroke of Luck). Other clients include children's author Lin Oliver and her hugely successful NY Times best-selling series Hank Zipzer, penned with Henry Winkler; historical fiction writer Michael Curtis Ford; Cosmo creator, Helen Gurley Brown; Carrie Gerlach, author of Emily's Reasons Why Not; Fieldy, the bass guitar player for the band Korn, whose memoir was published March 2009 ; and Sean Ferrer Hepburn and the Estate of Audrey Hepburn (An Elegant Spirit, Audrey Treasures);

Nevins also represented Lorna Luft for her autobiography, Me and My Shadows: A Family Memoir and made the subsequent deal for the award-winning mini-series; Larry Flynt for his memoir for which Nevins wrote the Afterword ; Patricia Hearst for her novel Murder at San Simeon ; Malcolm Cook MacPherson, author of nine books including The Race for the Atomic Bomb and his Simon & Schuster novel, Deadlock; Don Wolfe, whose book The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe shook up the international publishing scene; and Susan Donnell (Pocahontas). He represented the Road to Tara Museum, when it discovered an unknown manuscript, Lost Laysen, by Margaret Mitchell whose Gone With the Wind is the most successful novel in history. The short novella was sold worldwide for more than $1.5 million. He has numerous other authors on his list including the respected British writer Wendy Taylor Holden, who has penned four successful biographies for him, including the international best-seller Tomorrow to be Brave, which is to be made into a film; Behind Enemy Lines by Marthe Cohn; and Deana Martin, the daughter of Hollywood legend, Dean Martin. Nevins was also behind one of the largest deals in publishing history when he conceived a series of novels for Christian author Tim LaHaye and co-represented him in a four book deal for $42 million.

In other areas, Nevins acted as Co-Executive Producer for the Lifetime original movie, Homeless to Harvard based upon the true story of one of Nevins' book clients, Liz Murray. The movie was nominated for an Emmy in the Best Movie Made for Television category and received a Christopher Award for its Humanitarian contribution. Nevins is also serving, alongside his client, as the Executive Producer of the Lionsgate film WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING starring Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and others. Nevins will also serve as a producer on the Darren Star created VIAGARA DIARIES starring Nevins' client, Goldie Hawn.

In personal representation, Nevins manages Academy Award winning actress, Goldie Hawn, in all areas, as well as Duane "Dog" Chapman, his wife Beth and their #1 show on A&E Dog the Bounty Hunter starting its 8th season in 2011.