{{BLP sources|date=September 2017|reason=new employer, client list may have dramatically changed}}{{Infobox person |name = Byrd Leavell |image = |image_size = |caption = |birth_date = |birth_place = Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/fashion/weddings/11Stack.html?_r=0 Alanna Stack, Byrd Leavell III] ''The New York Times''. June 22, 2016</ref> |alma_mater = University of Virginia |known_for = representing Tiffany Haddish,<ref name=SAS003>[http://about.simonandschuster.biz/news/tiffany-haddish/ Gallery Books to Publish Tiffany Haddish]. Simon & Schuster. January 25, 2018.</ref> Justin Halpern, Cat Marnell and "Weird Al" Yankovic<ref name=publishersweeklyprofile/><ref>Haskell, Will [https://www.businessinsider.com/caroline-calloways-instagram-book-2015-6 This 23-year-old ditched her blog and started writing her memoir on Instagram — now 300,000 people are reading it] ''Business Insider''. June 22, 2016</ref> |occupation = Literary agent |awards = |spouse = }}
'''Byrd Leavell''' is a literary agent and the co-head of the publishing department at United Talent Agency.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2017/09/people-etc-642/|title=People, Etc. - Publishers Lunch|date=2017-09-20|work=Publishers Lunch|access-date=2017-09-20|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>[https://www.publishingtrends.com/2017/10/people-round-early-october-2017/ People Round-Up, Early October 2017]. Publishing Trends. January 25, 2018.</ref><ref>Hayes, Dade [https://deadline.com/2023/01/uta-acquires-lit-agency-fletcher-and-company-christy-fletcher-to-co-run-publishing-unit-president-david-kramer-1235210597/ UTA Acquires Lit Agency Fletcher & Company]. Deadline. January 4, 2023.</ref> Previously he was known as a named partner at the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/01/books/01podb.html?_r=0 |title=Authors Find Their Voice, and Audience, in Podcasts |author=Newman, Andrew Adam |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 1, 2007}}</ref><ref name=publishersweeklywaxman>{{cite web| url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/deals/article/52152-waxman-leavell-form-new-agency.html |title=Waxman, Leavell Form New Agency |publisher=Publishers Weekly |date=May 30, 2012}}</ref>
==Career== Leavell graduated from the University of Virginia and the Radcliffe Publishing Program.<ref name=publishersweeklyprofile>{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/ByrdLeavell3/ |title=Profile: Byrd Leavell |publisher=Publishers Weekly}}</ref><ref name=writingroutinesinterview>{{cite web |url=https://www.writingroutines.com/byrd-leavell-interview/ |title=UTA Literary Agent Byrd Leavell On Publishing Industry Trends |publisher=WritingRoutines.com}}</ref> In 2012, he partnered with Scott Waxman to form the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency.<ref name=publishersweeklywaxman/>
As a partner at the Waxman Leavell agency, he oversaw multiple ''New York Times'' bestsellers including #1 bestselling books ''Shit My Dad Says'' by Justin Halpern.<ref>Deahl, Rachel [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/profiles/article/67680-tucker-max-is-back-with-dating-advice.html Tucker Max Is Back—With Dating Advice] ''Publishers Weekly''. June 24, 2016</ref><ref name=nyobserver>{{cite news |url=http://observer.com/2011/12/sht-my-agent-sells-the-art-of-turning-instafads-into-tome-blrs/ |title= Sh*t My Agent Sells: The Art of Turning Instafads Into Tome-blrs |author=Witt, Emily |newspaper=The New York Observer |date=December 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name=nytimesmax>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2009-11-08/paperback-nonfiction/list.html |title=Best sellers: Paperback Nonfiction |work=The New York Times|date=November 8, 2009}}</ref><ref name=nytimeshalpern>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/books/bestseller/besthardnonfiction.html?ref=books|title=Best Sellers: Hardcover Nonfiction|work=The New York Times|date=June 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>Kleeman, Sophie [https://mic.com/articles/120102/caroline-calloway-instragram-memoir-book#.ynQCrF1xp This 23-Year-Old Is Writing Her Fairy Tale Memoir Entirely on Instagram] ''Mic''. June 22, 2016</ref><ref name=fastcompany>{{cite news |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1457314/will-tweet-book-deal |title=Will Tweet for a Book Deal |author=Dishman, Lydia |newspaper=Fast Company |date=November 16, 2009}}</ref><ref name=writersdigest>{{cite news |url=http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/agent-advice-byrd-leavell-of-waxman-literary-agency |title=Agent Advice: Byrd Leavell of Waxman Literary Agency |author=Sambuchino, Sam |newspaper=Writer's Digest |date=October 16, 2009}}</ref> Leavell also represents Rob Elliott, whose LOL series has sold more than 2.5 million copies.<ref>Lodge, [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/70399-need-a-laugh-rob-elliott-and-harpercollins-have-you-covered.html Need a Laugh? Rob Elliott and HarperCollins Have You Covered] ''Publishers Weekly''. June 22, 2016</ref> He also represented the anonymous Dutch novel ''Diary of an Oxygen Thief''.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/unknown-oxygen-thief-author-becomes-self-published-success/ Unknown "Oxygen Thief" author becomes self-published success] ''CBS News''. June 22, 2016</ref><ref>Fleming, Jr., Mike [https://deadline.com/2016/05/diary-of-an-oxygen-thief-anonymous-author-gotham-group-self-publishing-phenomenon-1201748378/ ‘Diary Of An Oxygen Thief’ Sells To S&S Imprint Gallery After Gotham Group Buys Screen Rights] ''Deadline''. June 22, 2016</ref> Leavell also represents Cat Marnell, a former ''Lucky'', XoJane and ''Vice'' blogger.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/07/cat-marnell-drugs-addict-destructive |title=Cat Marnell interview: shooting star |author=Hoby, Hermoine |newspaper=Guardian |date= October 6, 2012}}</ref>
In September 2017 he began his employment at UTA.<ref name=":0" /> One of the first clients Leavell represented at UTA was comedian and actor Tiffany Haddish.<ref name=SAS003 /> Haddish's memoir, ''The Last Black Unicorn'', was a debut ''New York Times'' bestseller, spending each of its first six weeks in print on the list and, as of January 2018, reaching #5 overall.<ref name=SAS003 /><ref>Greene, David. [https://www.npr.org/2017/12/14/569890709/tiffany-haddish-i-know-what-im-supposed-to-do-here-on-this-earth Tiffany Haddish: 'I Know What I'm Supposed To Do Here On This Earth']. NPR. January 25, 2018.</ref><ref>Gardner, Chris. [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/groupon-books-superfan-tiffany-haddish-super-bowl-ad-1074547 Groupon Books Superfan Tiffany Haddish for Super Bowl Ad]. Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/ Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction]. New York Times. January 25, 2018.</ref>
Over his career, Leavell has frequently been interviewed about publishing trends.<ref name=writingroutinesinterview /><ref name=nyobserver /><ref name=writersdigest /><ref name=TheTimes001 />
In 2024, Leavell was promoted to Partner at UTA.<ref>Kuznikov, Selena [https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/uta-promotions-24-partners-1236005544/ UTA Promotes 24 Employees to Partner]. Variety. May 16, 2024.</ref>
==Selected clients== According to ''Publishers Weekly''.<ref name=publishersweeklyprofile/><ref name=writingroutinesinterview/>
*Arnold Schwarzenegger *Stephen Curry *MrBeast<ref name=Times001>[https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/mr-beast-book-young-men-dont-read-7822287h6 Men Don't Read Anymore. Can MrBeast Change That?] ''The Times''. January 22, 2026</ref> *Tiffany Haddish *Rich Paul *Jay Chandrasekhar *Mark Frauenfelder *GloZell Green *George Karl *Chelsea Handler *Larry Charles *Drew Magary *Cat Marnell *Patrick McEnroe *Daniel O'Brien<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanholiday/2012/04/16/exclusive-how-comedian-daniel-obrien-turned-one-joke-into-a-major-book-deal/#2f1fa5e12d59 EXCLUSIVE: How Comedian Daniel O'Brien Turned One Joke Into A Major Book Deal] ''Forbes''. June 22, 2016</ref> *John L. Parker, Jr. *Carol Moseley Braun *Brian Kilmeade *Mike Sacks *Pete Sampras *Scott Sigler *Steve Spurrier *"Weird Al" Yankovic *Rich Roll *Guy Raz *Adam Savage *Mandy Stadtmiller *Anthony Sullivan *Jorge Cruise *Mat Best
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[https://byrdleavell.com/ Personal Website] *[http://www.waxmanleavell.com/ Waxman Leavell Literary Agency] *[https://www.linkedin.com/in/byrdleavell Linkedin Profile]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Leavell, Byrd}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American literary agents Category:University of Virginia alumni Category:Businesspeople from Charlottesville, Virginia