Jane Dystel
Director
Jane Dystel is the founder and President of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC, a well-respected literary agency with a diverse client roster that includes Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners, bestselling novelists, political figures, celebrity chefs, social media influencers, and children’s book authors.
The daughter of publishing industry legend Oscar Dystel, Jane grew up with a love of books and literature. She began her career at Bantam Books and moved on to Grosset & Dunlap, where she was a managing editor and, later, an acquisitions editor. She subsequently became Publisher of World Almanac Publications where she created her own imprint and a Vice-President of the United Media Newspaper Syndicate,.
When she decided to become a literary agent, she brought her fierce work ethic, her instinct for finding stories with mass appeal, and her nose for good writing to her new profession. Soon, she became known for her indefatigable championing of her authors, her literary taste, and her integrity. As the agency grew, so did her reputation in the publishing business.
While running a successful business and raising two remarkable kids, Jane also found time for volunteering her services by serving on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Rodeph Sholom and chairing the Adult Education Committee and The Publicity Committee.
Jane has a passion for education and an ever-present desire to help people in challenging situations. Her mentorship of numerous young people in the publishing business is well known and, for years, she has been actively involved in a publishing fellowship program established in her father’s name at New York University.
As a result of her brother John Dystel’s diagnosis and long battle with Multiple Sclerosis, Jane has also been active with the MS Society in the annual awarding of a fellowship named after John.
Since Jane’s husband Steve was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, she has been tireless in educating herself about the disease and providing support for him. She has also found great solace and help within the caretaking community through support groups she has joined and helps lead. She is dedicated to helping others who find themselves in similar situations understand that they are not alone.
