Ask a literary agent your question about how to get a publishing agent here. You’ll also find answers to questions other authors have posted. This article is part of our free 15-Part Guide About How to Get a Book Agent. It was created by, and is curated by, a former literary agent who’s now helped hundreds of authors get book agents as an author coach and consultant. See successful authors at How I Got My Literary Agent.
ASK A Literary Agent – FAQ
This Ask a Literary Agent FAQ answers questions about: the definition and role of a book agent, who publishing agents are, when you should query literary agents, how much representation costs, the best way to find book agents looking for authors, submissions to literary agents, how to handle an offer for representation, what happens after you get a book agent, and more.
Author Representative definition and role
When you Should Get An Author Representative
How Much An Author Representative Costs
Finding An Author Representative
- How to find a literary agent?
- How to research book agents?
- Who are the best publishing agents?
- Who are the top 10 book agents?
- How to find publishing agents near me?
- Licensed book agents?
- Established publishing agents?
- New book agents?
- Publishing agents to avoid?
- Book agents seeking submissions?
- How to do a publishing agent search?
- Find a list of book agents?
- Publishing agent database?
- Book of literary agents?
- Where to meet publishing agents?
- Book agent events?
- How to Pitch a Literary Agent at a Conference?
Submitting To An Author Representative
- Literary agent submissions?
- How to contact a publishing agent?
- What to submit to a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent query letter?
- How to write a synopsis for a book agent?
- How to write a publishing agent proposal?
- How to submit a book to a literary agent?
- How many publishing agents should you query?
- Best time to submit to book agents?
- How long to hear back from publishing agents?
- Book agent response time full manuscript?
- What happens when a publishing agent requests your full manuscript?
- Book agent not responding?
- How to follow up with a publishing agent?
- Book agent rejection letters?
- Revise and resubmit to a publishing agent?
Representation Offer From a Book Agent
- Getting an offer of representation from a literary agent?
- First meeting with a book agent?
- Questions a book agent will ask?
- Questions to ask a publishing agent?
- Multiple offers from publishing agents?
- Choosing a book agent?
- Literary agent contract?
- Standard book agent contract?
- Publishing agent contract terms?
- Book agent contract red flags?
- Publishing agent lawyer?
What Happens After You Get An Author Representative
Mark has helped hundreds of authors get offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishers. Writers of all Book Genres have used our Literary Agent Advice coaching/consulting to get Top Literary Agents at the Best Literary Agencies on our List of Book Agents.
Ask a Literary Agent
Due to time constraints, we can’t answer questions that have already been answered. Please make your question clear, and concise, since the submission form below is limited to 500 characters.
If you want to remain anonymous, type “Anonymous” in the name field. You’ll receive an email when a reply has been posted (usually within 48 hours). We look forward to helping you get a book agent.
MARK MALATESTA is a former literary agent turned author coach. Mark now helps authors of all genres (fiction, nonfiction, and children's books) get top literary agents, publishers, and book deals through his company 
Mark, Happy Xmas, still no nibbles from our 350 agents, but my Cuba books are out to 2 publishers, mine & Amazon. In the last month I went viral on Tiktok with 40,000 hits & 500 followers as Leo The Immortal. This (very true) immortality promise could leverage my Fountain of Youth books into print. I’m doing video etc. for this phase of my global notoriety. My latest post is my proven cure for the common cold, and covid.
Hi Leonard,
Happy holidays, and I’m glad you’re staying with it, including going direct to good publishers. Hopefully good news before the end of the year, but, if not 2024 will be okay instead! 🙂
Let me know,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi Mark,
This is Shellby Young,
We did a consulting phone meeting about my Children’s Horse book series
“Whinny Nicker Neigh” a couple years ago.
You gave me great reviews and feedback on my books.
I am now starting a fourth book , about the amazing therapeutic benefits of horses.
This book “Holding Horses” is aimed at young teenager girls.
It’s a introduction into the amazing world of horses and how they can transform your life , emotions, physical state, confidence, disabilities, And the Benefit list goes on and on.
Colorful horse and poetry Adorn its pages for a full book experience.
I would love to work with you for this book . I want it to be more available and present, for it is a personal healing process not only for myself and family, but may be a life saving tool for a child to use in any stage of adolescents.
I’m in the beginning stages of my book . Probably will take me a year or less to finish . Please let me know if this is something you would like to work on with me . I know I need your help with this . The last three books I self published and are a great product for my art shows, galleries and boutique stores.
But this book I want more available, seen and used for reference.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Be safe , Happy and enjoy your time over the holidays.
Truly, Shellby Young
Hi Shellby,
I’m glad you followed up because I replied to your previous message but it doesn’t seem like you received it.
Here’s what I sent…
Yes, it’s been a while!
Glad you’re still writing.
I’m certainly open to that. Just email me your query and/or synopsis and/or sample pages when you’re ready. I might have a question or two. Then we can see if it might make sense for us to do something together. Use the email address you used before, or just reply to this message when you get it in your inbox. 🙂
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I teach esoteric spirituality in small groups using materials that I developed as an urban high school teacher. I have had three ndes and am here on this plane under and by direction of spirit to teach Gaias energy shift.
I have read your materials and congratulate your goals
Candace
Hi Candace,
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful message. You made my morning.
If you want/need help with something at some point, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best, and happy holidays,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Good Afternoon,
I have been trying to for years to find a literary agent. It’s who you know that is what I was told. I’m an author of four books…one novel and two children’s books and poetry. And I’m an artist. I always feel like giving up..but I keep going. Where and who represent all my genres? You can find my books under…Shawnita Chevis and Shawvae. I hope you can give me feedback on what I’m doing wrong.
Thank You,
Shawnita J.
Hi Shawnita,
I’m happy to help.
Here are my resources to get a literary agent, if you haven’t seen or used them yet:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to point you in the right direction.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com