“Michael made things happen for me that I wouldn’t have dreamed possible before meeting and working with him. He was there for me at every step — at once therapist, collaborator, sounding board, and cheerleader par excellence. It isn’t just his passion and tenacity and reach that set him apart. It’s his erudition and his instincts and his profound thoughtfulness. He is the platinum standard. I just hope he’ll take me on as a client next time around!”

—Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies

“Michael Taeckens is unequivocally the best. He’s a believer and he puts in the work with gusto and heart. The foundation he lays doesn’t crack. On top of it all, he’s an amazing human, which as we all can see is far too underrated these days.”

—Sarah M. Broom, author of The Yellow House, winner of the National Book Award

“Michael Taeckens is more than a publicist. He is a wizard, a life coach, a best friend, a maker of worlds. I have never experienced anything like the energy and professionalism of this man. And my career hadn’t either. Michael is worth much more than he charges—and I don’t like to spend money, so that means something. Doors sprung open that I had not even dared knock on before. His thoughtfulness and kindness were deeply touching. I can confess: when our contract for my latest book ended, I wept. Though eight hardcover printings made me feel better. I will never again go out with a new book without Michael guiding me.”

“Michael Taeckens is simply extraordinary at bringing books to their broadest possible readerships. He’s passionate, intelligent, and committed—he brings an incredible array of skills into singular chorus. I watched my own book turn into a minor phenomenon under his careful curatorial skill and magical midwifery; it was nothing short of astounding. I was able to see what ‘buzz’ really means, and how it can work on behalf of a book—I felt Michael cultivating and sustaining a steady groundswell of excitement. He’s truly a tireless advocate, fueled by genuine passion and seasoned by years of experience. He works from the heart, for books he believes in, and I felt the impact of his work on deep levels—not just as a writer but as a human being.”

—Leslie Jamison, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Empathy Exams and The Recovering

“Michael Taeckens is by far one of the most hardworking and dedicated people I know. Because of his thoughtful diligence, my book not only reached the masses in America, but created a seismic impact worldwide, including my home country of Jamaica. Not only did he take the time to groom me as a new author, prepping me for interviews and panels, but he made sure that my book got into the right hands. I never expected such an exceptional launch. My book made every major list there was, and is still being listed; and as a result, publishers abroad and Amazon Studios paid attention. I’m beyond grateful to him for being instrumental in the takeoff of my literary career.”

—Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of the New York Times Notable Here Comes the Sun

“Michael Taeckens is an extraordinary publicist—smart, tireless, and highly effective. He’s also wonderful to work with. I can’t sing his praises loudly enough to do him justice.”

“Having Michael in your corner is an invaluable boon that continues long after the release of a book, and I now can’t imagine making an important literary decision without him. His wisdom is topped only by his humanity, which is profound. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t refer to him with deep respect; his name doesn’t come up without all agreeing that there’s no one who accomplishes what he does with that level of thoughtful consideration. I feel so blessed to have had his particular grace and gravitas associated with my book. ”

—Mary-Louise Parker, author of the New York Times bestseller Dear Mr. You

“Michael takes on books he feels strongly about, and then he applies a unique blend of passion, experience, and personal relationships gained over years. He understands his audience–I’ve been told by numerous editors that when he sends them a book, they pay attention because he knows what they are drawn to. And he understands the business. He created an enormous buzz about Geek Sublime that I’d never expected, that I’m still amazed by. Working with Michael has been an absolute pleasure.”

—Vikram Chandra, author of the New York Times Notable Geek Sublime

“If Michael Taeckens were a book he would be a bestseller, and not a trashy bestseller, but a classic—one that makes us all glad that a truly worthy book is getting the attention it deserves. He’s the kind of publicist who gets the kind of book you have written and doesn’t just have a cookie-cutter formula for how to get your book into the hands of readers. As a reluctant public persona myself, Michael made me eager to participate in my books’ promotion. I felt I had my front, back, and all sides covered. He’s sensitive, easy to work with, very smart, supportive, and oh-so-elegant. In fact, he snows your hosts before you even get there, and then disappears, convincing everyone that YOU are the star. But he is!”

—Julia Alvarez, author of Saving the World and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents

“Michael Taeckens is passionate about the books he loves, and I cannot overstate how far that goes in such a passion-fueled industry. He was an instrumental part of the team that put Water for Elephants on the map—landing coverage on NPR and in the New York Times Book Review, People, USA Today, the New Yorker, Entertainment Weekly, and much more—and for that, I’ll be forever grateful. He is an exceptionally talented, well-connected publicist who is also such a stand-up guy you can’t help but love him.”

—Sara Gruen, author of the New York Times bestseller Water for Elephants