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 Self Published. One of my books “AND GOD CRIED” got International- Best Sales on Amazon. The book is neither religious or political. It is about what is happening in the United States and the World in general today. I want to get the book into top sales. Would this be any thing a book agent would consider?
Hi Lueretha,
It’s (usually) harder to get a literary agent for a book that’s already been published. However, it is possible.
Read this: https://getaliteraryagent.com/getting-a-literary-agent-after-self-publishing/.
And…
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent, if you haven’t seen or used them yet, as well:
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
Dear Mark: We worked together and I did get an agent but she did not sell the book so I self-published. It did well for a self-published book but I would like to try to get it to “the next level” or to a potential agent for a mini series. I know this is a “reach” to say the least unless i can show many thousands of sales but do i have any path to try? Thank you. Best, Christine
Hi Christine!
I remember you, and I hope things are going well for you, beyond the agent not selling the book.
You can certainly try to get a different agent for the book, but that will be harder now that you’ve published it and worked with an agent who pitched it to publishers.
Read this, if you haven’t already: https://getaliteraryagent.com/getting-a-literary-agent-after-self-publishing/.
You could make it happen though.
Re: film/TV/streaming, etc., I’m mostly on the book side of things, but you might find the following helpful:
https://literary-agents.com/literary-agents-publishing-screenplay/
https://literary-agents.com/literary-agents-managers-cinematic-writing/
https://screencraft.org/
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again for me 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
As a first time author, I used Mark’s guides and suggestions to query potential literary agents. I successfully found an agent (three offers of representation), although we ended up publishing through Amazon after working our way through all the potential publishing houses. But that also led to a second literary agent, Tim Hays, who is shepherding One More Season: The Birth of Football’s Spread Offense through discussions with film producers and whose guidance has helped my book win several awards. Thanks for your guidance, Mark. It was invaluable.
Hi Lorin,
Thank you so much for letting me know. Your message made my day. I know the agent didn’t sell the book, but hopefully the new one will come through for you. If that happens, plsase share the happy news.
You can post again for me here at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/, as you know.
I’ll help you promote the book. 😉
And, in the meantime…
Happy Holidays!!
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have written 3 books. the first Growing the Spirit did not sell, but because I placed it in libraries throughout the country, it garnered 2.9 million positive reviews on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Recently, people representing themselves as Carson Rice, Universal Studios and Peter Cramer the CEO of Universal, along with Casey Bloys CEO of HBO, offered me a movie contract. They are real people, but the people I talked with were not these people. I guess I was lucky. It only cost me $2000 for a film deck before I discovered the fraud. I’ve tried several ways but have been unable to find a legitimate agent. Would you consider the job. Thanks for your time. Lew Norris
Hi Lew,
I’m sorry to hear you got caught up in that, but I’m grateful you figured it out and got out when you did.
I’m no longer an agent, but here are my resources to help you get a literary agent:
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