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 
Hello, I’m having trouble finding titles of books that were repped by specific agents. Do you have any tips (other than Googling “books represented by…”)?
Specifically, I’m looking for titles of books that Lisa Grubka (UTA) repped.
Thanks!
Hi Rachel,
Happy to help. Check out PublishersMarketplace.com. They have a deal database with all that. You’ll love it.
And, if you haven’t seen or used them yet…
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
At the peak of my writing I lived in the Caribbean and needed to protect my work, so I formed Nautilus Publishing Company and brought out 23 books and 8 screenplays, but I never marketed them and now want to see my work published properly. Can I present my formal list of these works or do I have to present them one at a time? I am now ancient, and still working on another book, for seniors. I illustrated some of my books and did all my covers.Lucy Baker
Hello again, Lucy,
You can contact literary agents and/or traditional publishers about your body of work. That would likely make the most sense, in your case, due to you have a large body of work.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
https://markmalatesta.com
The Bestselling Author
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Literary Agent Undercover
https://literary-agents.com
My church is beginning a New Believer’s Ministry and we have chosen to use the NLT translation with the commentary and reading tracks by Greg Laurie. I see in the front of the Bible that Wolgemuth & Associates represents Pastor Laurie. I was hoping to get information about using the material in the YouTube channel that will be created for this ministry. Whether I can post screen shots of the tracks, for those who may not own the Bible; or if I can only make reference to them; or if we can use them at all? In order to use the NLT translation, I understand from Tyndale that I must place a credit line on the copyright/title page. I assume that, if I am able to use/refer to Pastor Laurie’s tracks, that I would have to do the same. If so, how should that be worded. Any assistance you can give would be most appreciate. I thank you for your time and attention to this inquiry.
Hi Gina,
Nice to meet you, though you’ll need to follow the advice of the publisher and/or agent. Agents and publisher have different requirements for that type of thing.
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
My name is Regan Perry, I am african american female 58, my 83 year old mom just completed her second book and she is looking for a traditional publisher . Her name is Barbera Washington Franklin and the book is entitled the Odyssey of Judicial Corruption. You can find it on amazon it is a hot read.
Hi Regan,
Nice to meet you, and 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