Ask a (former) 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 have written a book titled How We Lost The Human Race, a jeremiad, a laments about how we have been poor stewards of the planet Earth, and the reasons why we are where we are now. I’m not sure what genre this would fall under, or how to find a literary agent for this type of book. Any advice would be greatly welcomed.
Hi Larry,
Nice to meet you, and I’m happy to help.
As you know, the world needs more books like yours.
I’ve helped authors with books like yours, though I’m sure yours is unique. If we talk, I can be more certain about the genre, but it seems like nonfiction, for starters.
As a next step…
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent and/or a traditional publisher:
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.
Lastly, my apologies for the slow reply. This summer has been busier than usual, with us finally being able to move back into our home and get settled, after being forced out for an entire year due to flooding.
It’s been quite the journey.
All caught up now though.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I have been writing for 60 years, I own Nautilus Publishing Co.
I published all my work 23 books and 8 screenplays under Nautilus, to protect them. I never marketed them and always intended to find a real publisher for them. Are you interested?
Hi Lucy,
Nice to meet you and, yes, I’m happy to help.
To that end…
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent and/or a traditional publisher:
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.
Lastly, my apologies for the slow reply. This summer has been busier than usual, with us finally being able to move back into our home and get settled, after being forced out for an entire year due to flooding.
It’s been quite the journey.
All caught up now though.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
Dear Mark,
In May I queried 11 tops US litterary agents and received no reply, not even auto-rejections. Could you take a quick look at my query letter and tell me if something obvious might be turning them off ? Also, is there a better time of year to query agents?
Thank you.
Hi Raphaella,
I’m happy to help.
Summer is a terrible time to query.
Now is a great time.
To that end…
Here are my resources to help you get a literary agent (including a link to my 1-on-1 coaching page that explains how you can have your query reviewed/improved):
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.
Lastly, my apologies for the slow reply. This summer has been busier than usual, with us finally being able to move back into our home and get settled, after being forced out for an entire year due to flooding.
It’s been quite the journey.
All caught up now though.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
I am a disabled veteran based out of Texas and I am the sole provider for my family of 3. I’ve been searching and scouring the Earth for someone to help me regarding finding publishing and marketing for my projects, but can never meet their prices because I don’t generate enough revenue. Is there someone here available to help/discuss things with?
Hi J.M.,
I’m happy to help.
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.
Lastly, my apologies for the slow reply. This summer has been busier than usual, with us finally being able to move back into our home and get settled, after being forced out for an entire year due to flooding.
Quite the journey.
All caught up now though.
Have a great week,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com