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 
Hi Mark, Just wondering if you recommend Austin Maccauley publishers. Hope you are doing well. Happy New Year.
Donna Tappe
Hi Donna,
I’m pretty sure that’s one that 100% or 99.something% of the authors they work with need to pay to publish with them. So, hopefully an agent or a publisher who doesn’t charge to publish expresses interest. 🙂
Have a great rest of your week, and please let me know when you have more, or know more.
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
www.thefamilybookstore.com
Comments?
Hi Estelle,
I’m not sure what you’re asking or looking for, but if you provide more information, I might be able to help.
If your goal is to get a literary agent (that’s what I help authors do)…
Here are my resources to help you 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 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,
On December 30, I was the drive time guest on the Kim Monson Show here in Denver. She is the first to have the intestinal fortitude to even admit “Upside Down” even exists. We the People may be getting close to the point where our government-medial oligarchy is finally forced to tell the Truth as exposed in Chapters 2 through Subchapter 4.
My only question is can you connect me with anyone who has the clout to put 100 copies of “UD” in every Barnes & Noble store in a stand-alone kiosk to which every shopper is exposed?
Influencial people have been exposed to “UD”. One example is gubernatorial candidate Greg Lopez read/underlined “UD” and we met three times as he recruited me to campaign with im in 2022.
I know you understand. I hope you can help.
Hi Dan,
I’m glad you’re getting exposure for you work. Exposure often begets more exposure. I don’t have connections to agents though, not the way you’re asking. You’ve seen and used the things I offer, so the only thing I can suggest is querying more agents and/or publishers, with the hope that one of them might be the one to get you to a bigger audience.And, if you do, let me know. I’ll do a thing or two to you help you promote the book.
And…
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
I have written 7 novels all between 90k and 102k words. I self published 3 of them with Ewings publishing, a scam artist. I also made an audio book from my first book. These books are a series. I would like to take the whole series to a literary agent but I’m not sure if the series has been tainted by a corrupt Publisher. Any advise how I should proceed. Thanks
Hi James,
Sorry to hear about that experience you had.
Glad you didn’t let it stop you from pursuing a good publisher.
Start here: 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 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 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