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.
I have written a 3 book series. I have self-published on Amazon after failing to get an agent on book 1 (On the Brink). I didn’t try for books 2 (Betrayal) & 3 (Devil’s Den). But I am getting rave reviews from folks from all walks of life but I still have limited sales mostly due to word of mouth.
My question is, having self-published, is it still possible to try to get an agent and switch to the traditional publishing route, or have I burned that bridge? If so I would like to try again given the enthusiastic response for books 2 & 3. Thanks
Hi James,
You still have a shot.
See this: https://getaliteraryagent.com/getting-a-literary-agent-after-self-publishing/.
Then…
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
Mark,
Just FYI, my book, A Knife in the Fog, was made into a short film in London last summer. It recently debuted in London as a proof of concept to entice producers to make it into a 3 x 1 hour miniseries. We’ve had some interest from Acorn TV and a producer in Hollywood.
I’ll let you know if we sell it.
Thank you again for helping me get an agent.
Great website!
Brad
Hi Brad,
Always, and I mean always, good hearing from you. Would LOVE to your work not just on my bookshelf, but on the big screen, or a smaller screen. 😉
Any screen will do!
Difficult times for us here since our house flooding June 1. We’re still out. But should be back in another month or two. Other than that, life is good. Staying busy and doing lots of things here that will allow me to share more things with authors that I know will help, including pre- and post-publication.
I think about you often…don’t stop sending updates!
And have a great rest of your weekend,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I am a Canadian. Can I find an American agent, and are there advantages/disadvantages to doing so?
Hi Gilda,
Nice to meet you, and yes, you can get an agent in the United States, and you should consider it. American agents are more likely to place your writing with a major publisher in the United States, which would allow you to have greater distribution, not just in the United States, but globally. I can’t think of any disadvantages.
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent, if you want to utilize them:
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
My novel was published by an “inde” publisher 3 years ago and received very nice reviews. I am looking for a literary agent to negotiate a deal with a traditional publisher. Would a one-on-one session with Mark Malatesta be likely to assist? I need practical advice on how best to proceed directed to my particular situation. Please let me know. Thanks.
Hi Don,
Nice to meet you, and yes, that’s the type of thing I help with.
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent, that included:
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