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 would like to find a literary agent for a older YA book about a black lab who is a substitute child and is watching his married male and female couple fall apart and he tries to bring them back together. He also is beginning to realize that he will be crossing the Rainbow Bridge.
Hi Kenneth,
I received your message and I’m happy to help if possible.
I’ve worked with many children’s book writers.
To that end, see here:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
How to Get a Literary Agent (15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Ask a Question (FAQ Page on My Website Where You Can Also Post. Questions)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (The Official Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Anything else, let me know.
Remember, you can post questions for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
https://getaliteraryagent.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
I’m in discussion with a literary agent, but nothing is signed. Is it ethical to pursue other agents in the meantime?
Hi Michael,
It’s not unethical to talk with another agent(s), but if the first one already offered representation, and they’re successful, they won’t wait long before losing interest or withdrawing their offer.
So, be careful.
If you want to talk about it, see here, and, if you do, email me immediately after you register for a call so we can get on the phone sooner rather than later, since, again, if the agent is serious and successful, you don’t want to lose that real opportunity vs another possibility:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
Anything else, let me know.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
https://getaliteraryagent.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
I am seeking representation for the translation from Italian to English, and publication of an autobiography / memoir written by Her Royal Highness, Princess June Rose Bellamy of Burma, also Yadana Nat-Mei (Burmese: ရတနာနတ်မယ်; lit. Goddess of the Nine Jewels).
Princess June Rose passed away at the age of 88, on December 01, 2020 in Florence, Italy, which was her home after leaving Burma. She wrote this memoir, “Le Mie Nove Vitae” (My Nine Lives) at the request of her son, Michele Bellamy Postiglione, also Htein Lin Aung, Prince of Limbin. The Italian Language edition was published in 2021, by add editore.
Over the tumultuous course of her life, she was first a royal princess who was asked by Hollywood to star opposite Gregory Peck in a movie about Burma (The Purple Plain – 1954) ~ which she abandoned because it was “so Hollywood, it was ridiculous”; later living in Manila after Burma was taken over by a military junta, and eventually moving to Europe. In 1976 she became the First Lady of Myanmar as the fourth wife of General Ne Win, the military junta’s President/dictator. Four months later, Ne Win accused her of being a CIA spy and divorced her. She left Myanmar and returned to Florence, where she continued her efforts to help her people in Myanmar, and also started a school where she taught art and Burmese cooking. She lost her younger son to a car accident in Italy, and her older son continues her struggle for a free nation for their people.
To say that her life has been filled with challenges, struggles, upheaval, adventure, tragedy, spunk and determination is but to scratch the surface. She did all with impeccable dignity and charm and maintained her keen sense of humor, which comes across in the few interviews she granted. Above it all stands the compelling and inspirational story of this remarkable lady, in her own words and time.
This would certainly be a project worthy of anyone’s time. I would be happy to provide additional details by email.
I am excited and encouraged after seeing the comment in your email about “Nicole, whose agent just said he has an offer from a publisher for her memoir, with another likely offer(s) coming soon.”
Thank you.
Hi Alok,
It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I’m happy to help if possible.
The book sounds promising.
First, however, I want to make sure you realize this isn’t a literary agency or a publishing company.
We help book authors get literary agents (400+ since 2011).
To that end, if that’s what you want, see here for support options (we have many):
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
How to Get a Literary Agent (15-Part Guide)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/how-to-get-a-literary-agent/
Ask a Question (FAQ Page on My Website Where You Can Also Post. Questions)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/
Literary Agent Database (The Official Directory of Literary Agents)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-database/
Anything else, let me know.
Remember, you can post questions for me here:
https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I will respond personally, and promptly.
All my best,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
https://getaliteraryagent.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
Hi Mark.. I’m 78 years young this coming June and it’s been 10 years of procrastination and so many rewrites that I lost count. Your online contact is the only encouragement and literary advice I’ve heard since starting this project.. even now I’m still trying to talk myself out of pressing the button for help. By nature I’m shy, and prefer being invisible except to my friends and family, and unlike so many of your literary success stories I’m not eager to put myself forward, even if it is possible into unobscurity…lol.
I’m ALMOST comfortable with asking you for help.. (mostly because of sharing your personal ups and downs over the last 10 years, Ingrid, your old and new kitties, and recent flood problems).. and if possible if you would read my manuscript, and query letter, for your opinion of both and if you think my fable is publishable and worth pursuing. I started out just writing a story about a turtle to entertain my grandchildren, but it has morphed into this chapter book with or sans illustrations.. crazy I know.. but every time I tried to forget it I received another email from you.. see I’m still trying to procrastinate and talk myself out of pressing the button.. hopeless case?!! Can you please help me stop the procrastinators’ merry-go-round..
.. almost Hopeful..LOL.. Alison Bell .. alison_08525@yahoo.com
Hi Alison,
I’m glad you’ve stayed committed to your writing, and I’m happy I’ve been able to be part of your journey that way. It’s often a long road, one that’s definitely better if you’re enjoying the journey. Re: how visible you need to be, I’m happy to say that for the type of book you described, you would not need to be public. If you were writing nonfiction, that would be different. And yes, I’m happy to help. What you asked about/for is what I do during an introductory coaching call. See https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/. If you want to do that, you’ll get a better sense of how marketable your work is, and what you can do to make it more so (if applicable), and I’ll help you see the best way to find the best agents for it and query them when you’re ready for that, whether now or later.
If you want/need help with anything else, you can post again at https://getaliteraryagent.com/ask-a-literary-agent/.
I’ll always do my best to point you in the right direction, and promptly.
Have a good day,
– Mark
Mark Malatesta
The Bestselling Author, LLC
Phone/Fax: (800) 928-5028
https://getaliteraryagent.com
https://thebestsellingauthor.com
Established in 2011, we’ve helped 400+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers