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 
I am interested I’m speaking directly with someone in your firm that may be interested I’m working with me as an agent. I have written a book that could easily be put to film as well. Would really like to chat,. If your company looking for new great opportunities that enhance social equity, social justice and importance of clean waterways thru an adventure that eovea around us lakes, rivers and oceans. I invite you to reach out. Cheers
Hi Robert,
Your book sounds good but we’re not a literary agency.
We’re a coaching/consulting company that helps authors get literary agents.
To that end, if you haven’t seen or used them yet, you might find 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/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post 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
In 2000 I self-published (with the help of various publishing professionals) a small number of copies of a hardcover memoir (Searching for the Good . . . A Young Man’s Journey to War and Back). It was very well received and while copies lasted was sold nationally. Since then I continue to get requests for the book but it is no longer available. Late in the the book I describe my experience as a severely wounded infantry officer being treated by nurses of the 25th Infantry Division in Chu Chi referenced in The Women by Kristin Hannah. I continue to get requests for the book am therefor considering re-publishing it. The timing might be just right.
I don’t anticipate a need for any changes to the book. However, given the passage of time an introduction by a notable individual may be desirable.
Please let me know your thoughts . . . Thanks!
Hi Tom,
That’s great…
If you’re talking about trying to get a literary agent, see here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/getting-a-literary-agent-after-self-publishing/.
And if you haven’t seen or used them yet, you might find these things helpful also:
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 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,
Hi, this is William Bardwell, author of the new book Validating Truth – A Fast Track Guide that we discussed.
I am making good progress on finalizing the manuscript and have decided to use draft2ditial to self publish. My biggest challenge has been to find a competent editor. I have hired two with mediocre results. If you could recommend a few substantive editors, I would be appreciative.
Also, I tested the keywords of my title on Amazon and got poor search results. Does it make sense to change the title to achieve better keyword search results? BTW, Amazon does offer 7 total keywords so many these would help overcome the title results.
Hope that you and your service are doing great!!
Bill
Hi William,
Good hearing from you, and yes, staying busy here. I’m glad you’re following through with your work. When it comes to finding and hiring a book editor, see here: https://literary-agents.com/book-editors-for-hire/.
And, yes, for nonfiction books in particular, it’s good to let SEO research inform your book title/subtitle.
Smart. 🙂
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post 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
You used to have a list of all agents.
Please send to me?
Thanks.
Jennifer Miller
Hi Jennifer,
Glad you asked, it’s still there/here:
Literary Agent Database (Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
And, if you haven’t seen or used them yet, you might find these things helpful also:
How to Get a Literary Agent (NEW 15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
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 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