Will Murphy

Literary Agent

Will Murphy is an experienced publishing professional with a track record of acquiring, developing, and launching critically acclaimed, high-impact bestsellers. He has worked with content across a wide range of categories—current affairs, “big ideas,” business, politics, science, military affairs, history, narrative nonfiction, and fiction.

Murphy has edited and published a wide range of influential figures, including President Joe Biden, former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, David Brooks, Salman Rushdie, Nassim Taleb, Reza Aslan, Edmund Morris, Jeff Shaara, Michael Oren, Bing West, and Pope Francis.

Along with a proven talent for identifying, developing, and broadening thought-leading and trendsetter ideas, he possesses expertise in bringing content to market, from planning and positioning, to devising complex marketing plans. He is known for his ability to create forceful pitches and messaging, and is intimately familiar with the media (including social media) landscape.

While at Random House, Will conceived and branded a line Paperback Classics, managing launch, packaging, communications, and content. Over 300 books were rolled out in a few years, including new editions of classics, undiscovered works of merit, major new translations, and unique anthologies. As a “business-within-a-business,” it continues to generate high revenues at high margins.

Prior to that Will spent several years running the humanities program at the University of Minnesota Press, and as the literary editor at the University of California Press.

Murphy graduated from Bard College with high honors and is the recipient of the Wilton Moore Lockwood Prize for most distinguished critical writing and the John Bard Scholar award for outstanding academic achievement. He did graduate work in the English Department at UC Berkeley. He is a Courants Program Fellow (sponsored by the French Ministry of Culture) and a Jerusalem Book Fair Editorial Fellow.

Murphy works with and consults for a select group of clients, including writers, thought leaders, publishers, agents, and corporations. He lives in New York City.