Title: Editor and Publisher
Company: The Sager Group LLC
Location: La Jolla, California, United States
Michael A. “Mike” Sager, Editor and Publisher at The Sager Group LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Literary Journalism.
Mr. Sager’s career in journalism and publishing spans more than four decades, marked by a commitment to literary excellence, cultural exploration and mentorship. Since 2012, he has served as the editor and publisher of The Sager Group LLC, an independent hybrid publishing company based in La Jolla, California. Under his leadership, The Sager Group has published more than 150 books in a little more than a decade, earning a reputation for striking cover designs and innovative approaches to the publishing process.
Establishing his company at a pivotal moment for the magazine industry, Mr. Sager aimed to eliminate traditional gatekeepers and empower writers. His vision was informed by his own experience publishing five books with major houses and his desire to create new opportunities for authors. The Sager Group LLC is recognized for its traditional publishing model and for working with well-known writers, further cementing Mr. Sager’s status as a trusted figure among his peers.
Since 1990, Mr. Sager has also been a contributing editor and writer at large for Esquire magazine. He is widely regarded as a “writer’s writer,” known for immersive reporting that often involves living among unconventional communities to gain authentic insight into their lives. Notably, Mr. Sager spent six weeks embedded with a crack gang in Los Angeles and lived among members of the Aryan Nations. These experiences have informed his self-identification as a literary anthropologist.
From 1991 to 1997, Mr. Sager lent his expertise as a writer at large for GQ magazine, where he continued to develop his distinctive narrative style and contributed to the publication’s national profile. Earlier, he served as a contributing editor for Rolling Stone magazine between 1985 and 1991, producing influential stories that helped define his reputation for fearless reporting and cultural commentary.
Mr. Sager began his professional journey at The Washington Post in 1978 as a copy boy before being promoted to staff writer, a position he held until 1984. During this period, he broke several important stories, including one that led to a Senate investigation. His article ‘Hunting Marlon Brando’ in 1984 marked a significant breakthrough in his career.
In preparation for his future, Mr. Sager received an undergraduate degree in history and creative writing from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, conferred in 1978. While at Emory, he was active both academically and in extracurricular activities, serving as the president of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity for two terms and as a managing editor of the student newspaper and editor of its literary magazine. Mr. Sager also completed an internship with Atlanta News Flash Creative Loafing from 1976 to 1978.
Beyond his professional writing and publishing endeavors, Mr. Sager has contributed significantly to civic life and education. He helped establish the literary journalism major at the University of California, Irvine, a program where students assisted him in creating his first wiki page, and taught with Words Alive in San Diego when called upon. He also became known for collaborating on projects that serve broader communities, including his time working with a journalist wounded in Iraq to publish a sex manual for wounded warriors. Moreover, Mr. Sager has coached and managed several high school varsity basketball teams and has been recognized for providing grants to individuals pursuing creative or journalistic projects.
As an author, Mr. Sager has published several notable works, including “The Devil and John Holmes” and “The Rise and Fall of a Super Freak.” His stories have inspired more than 30 Hollywood options, among them “Boogie Nights,” “The Devil,” “John Holmes,” and “Veronica Guerin,” as well as several documentaries.
Mr. Sager’s achievements have been acknowledged through numerous awards, beginning with recognition from the Baltimore Washington Newspaper Guild while at The Washington Post in 1981, several local awards for column writing, and First Place Honors from the San Diego Press Club for commentary and opinion. In 2010, Mr. Sager garnered significant acclaim with an Ellie Award from the National Association of Magazine Editors and the American Society of Magazine Editors for his contributions to Esquire magazine.
Throughout his career as a journalist and literary anthropologist, Mr. Sager has sought understanding across diverse communities by suspending disbelief and keeping an open mind. He credits much of his success to the mentorship received from influential figures such as Don Graham, Jan Wenner and Walt Harrington, who played pivotal roles in shaping his approach to literary journalism. Looking toward the future, Mr. Sager hopes to continue publishing meaningful work while thriving personally, focusing on daily accomplishments as he enters semi-retirement.
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