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 
Do you accept m.s if so how much?
Hi Donna,
We’re not a literary agency or publisher, but if your goal is to get a literary agent and/or a traditional book publisher, you’ll likely find the following helpful:
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/
And if you want/need help with anything else, or have another update, post on my new “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll do what I can to help.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Hi my name is Tony St. Cyr and my first book is coming out in January. I am looking for an agent/promoter to assist me in landing radio and television interviews as well as helping increase sales. I do have a publisher. My non fiction book has been published through Xulon Press and it is soon to be released for distribution. My contact number is 770-652-0189. I would love to find out information for securing an agent for this “Best Selling” adventure. Thank you.
Hi Tony,
Nice to meet you but I’m sorry to say that everything I do is about helping an author get a literary agent with the purpose of getting a book publisher. I don’t have information resources about getting an agent/promoter to assist in landing radio and television interviews as well as helping increase sales.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Academic publishers currently price their books between $150 and $200. My questions are this:
How many copies do you imagine the publisher prints on the first run?
What are their profit margins per copy?
Hi Steven,
I’m not knowledgeable about academic publishers, unfortunately. Re: your first question, a bit of Googling might reveal something. I’m sure, however, their profit margins are tremendous, considering academic books are priced so much higher than other books.
If you want/need help with anything else, or have another update, post on my new “Ask a Literary Agent” page at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll always respond personally.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I’ve self-published a half dozen children’s books (including a couple of best sellers). Mark, you’ve seen some of my work. That wasn’t enough to drive really significant sales. Now I’m considering looking for an agent. I have a 4 children’s books ready that I have not yet published – 2 are already illustrated (professionally) and 2 aren’t. 1 is the first in a series, 3 are the second in a series. In reaching out to agents do I need to go with one of the books that is not illustrated? Also I have parenting book on education ready to publish which has gotten excellent testimonials (sent to educators and psychologists). I’ve been looking for a “known influencer” to support the book with no luck so far. Is it possible to find an agent for this book?
Hi Neil,
I’m glad you’re moving forward with your work. You don’t need illustrations to query agents for picture books, so you can go either way with that. Keep in mind that a publisher might want to change some of the illustrations or go with a different illustrator. And, re: your question about the parenting book, you might be able to get a literary agent for it despite it already being published and/or you not having a known influencer to support it. So you should definitely try!
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com