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.
The Bestselling Author™Get a Literary Agent(Everything You Need)450+ writers have gotten offers from literary agents and/or traditional publishersUse our article and audio library, and the official Directory of Literary Agents™Your Information is confidential
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
Looking for a local reliable literary agent who would be willing to work with me in the promotion and republication of two existing self published books. One of which has caught the attention of several motion picture companies. Must be able to work face to face with the agent.
Goal is to attempt to get the next editions of both books published by a major publishers. Then to see if the queries from the various motion picture companies are genuine. If so would need assistance in establishing a contractural agreement.
Have been scammed out of tens of thousands of dollars due to a false literary agent who was very convincing until I demanded actual results.
Any fee would have to come from commissions. I am unwilling to put any additional funds into the books without a significant ROI. If you can assist in this effort and are willing to become my literary agent, please respond.
Additional information can be obtained at walterpbenesch.com.
Thank you,
Walter Benesch, author of:
It’s Me the Early Years: Letters to my daughter
It’s Me from the Big Apple to Bean Town
Hi Walter,
I’m happy to help.
See here:
Free Resources to Get a Literary Agent
https://getaliteraryagent.com/#find_and_get_a_literary_agent
Anything else, let me know.
You can post questions more 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 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
I have recently been approached by Lee Boudreaux who has read my books and is currently reviewing them. She referred me to an agent, Vivian Cross, who is interested in my books. I would like to know how I can verify if they are real and this is not a scam. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi Donna,
I do.
See here to protect yourself from the latest book scams: https://getaliteraryagent.com/book-scams/.
Anything else, let me know.
You can post questions more 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 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
Mark – thank you for our call yesterday. You threw me a bit of a curve with your idea. I think what I’ll do is write a few more chapters and bring Renee more into my original story and then I can introduce the idea of hope before and after her passing. I won’t publish this new new version, but instead use it as a way to interest a literary agent and traditional publisher. It would be a new title. Do you agree with this idea?
Hi Jim
My pleasure, and yes, that’s the way to go if you want to get a literary agent.
I’m glad you’re going to do it, and it was an honor getting to know you and your story.
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 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers
How do I get a printable list of all self-help nonfiction agents and agencies so that I can contact them one by one?
Thank you.
Hi Bonnie,
You can find all the information you need about literary agents in our no-cost agent directory, but nothing downloadable or printable.
See here:
Free Resources to Get a Literary Agent
https://getaliteraryagent.com/#find_and_get_a_literary_agent
And here, if you want 1-on-1 support re: trying to get a literary agent:
Literary Agent Advice (1-on-1 Coaching/Consulting with Me)
https://getaliteraryagent.com/literary-agent-advice/
Anything else, let me know.
You can post questions more 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 450+ authors get offers
from literary agents and/or traditional publishers