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 
As a retired teacher, I wrote a children’s book for my great-grandson. I had it published through Xlibrus. THE FANTASY ADVENTURES Of JAXON. I am constantly getting calls and emails from so called Literary Agents. How can I tell if any are for real? They have mentioned a license, but is that a fake? Joy Whatley
Hi Joy,
99% chance those are fake, unfortunately, unless you queried those agents. Then, maybe. If so, contact the agency using the information on their website instead of what’s in the email, in case the email is fake.
And ere are some things to help you get a legitimate literary agent, if needed:
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/
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.
And let me know if you get good news!
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hello Mark,
I’ve finished a memoir about my teenage years during the Cultural Revolution in China (1966-1976). Could you tell what I should do now, to schedule a coaching call/talking with you or send you my query letter, synopsis and sample pages first? If latter, could you tell me your mailing address?
Many thanks,
Helen Sun
Hi Helen,
I’m happy to help, see here…
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
Hello. I live in Australia and have written an historical novel/narrative non-fiction set in Ireland about an IRA Volunteer and his activities between 1975 and 2016. The potential market is Ireland, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and NZ – the diaspora, but I’m finding Australian, Irish and UK agents aren’t keen. Can you point me in a suitable search criteria direction? Many thanks.
Hi Kevin,
Sorry to hear you’ve been having a hard time with it.
Here are some things to help you get a literary agent in the United States:
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
Mark, I love your new photos in the December mailing. Thank you, for the years you spent in the mental health arena. I’ll be 80 in June. I haven’t made a lot of money on my self-published, memoir, Bipolar Missionary, However, I’ve been blessed by many comments of appreciation from those with BP and family. (I never received even one positive response from an agent. (I’m guessing Mental Health is simply not an area of interest to them). I’m almost finished with my new book, The Voices of Bipolar and other Mental Illnesses. PROLOGUE
This book is about those who live with a mental disorder like bipolar and other mental illnesses, and the way they are perceived by those who have little or no knowledge about mental disorders. They are single moms, wives and husbands, support persons and authors. Surgery and many other physical situations of one sort or another are openly talked about. You may often hear something like, “Did you hear that Johnny fell and broke his leg, or that Joe has to have further tests about his cancer.” However, the subject of mental illness is rarely discussed and if it is talked about it may be in a whisper. Mental illness lives in the shadow of conversation. We simply do not talk about mental health disorders and those who have it.
I have come to believe there are several reasons people with a mental illness seem to get trapped into silence about their bipolar or other mental: illness. Chief among them are the fear of rejection and Stigma. Perhaps because I am 79 and have lived long enough not to be overly concerned about what people think of me and my having bipolar. This does not mean my feelings don’t get hurt, or that I don’t feel the pain all of us feel for each other after tasting a bit of rejection. I just choose to be proactive in my attempt to have the public come to understand what living with a mental disorder is like. I don’t know who has the biggest problems with stigma those who do not have a mental illness, or we who do.
I have seen hearts and minds open to understanding and acceptance due to my sharing. We have nothing to be ashamed of, we did not choose to have bipolar. I believe that as we do share, we educate, and increase the possibility of receiving the same compassion, understanding and support as someone with a physical disorder.
To the Reader: Through The Voices of Bipolar, many have shared their voices anonymously. Others have freely identified themselves. Their hope too is that their courage to share their varied life experiences with both those who have bipolar, and/or their support person will help you to better understand the lives we with bipolar and other mental illnesses and conditions live with.
Hi Paul,
Thank you for your kind message, and your work.
Here are some things to help you get a literary agent, if that’s your goal:
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