For indie & published authors

Have a publishing offer? Bring an agent into the conversation.

An editor or publisher has offered for your book. The advance matters, and so do the rights, obligations, and restrictions that can shape the rest of your career. Kayla Bramante considers offer-in-hand inquiries for literary representation.

Already have an offer, but no literary agent?

You can ask Kayla to consider representing you before you finalize a publishing deal. This includes successful self-published and bestselling indie authors approached by an editor about an existing book, series, or new project.

Explain your current position clearly: informal interest, a written offer, terms already accepted, or a contract already signed. Include the real response deadline and time zone. An inquiry does not create representation, pause a deadline, or guarantee availability.

Email Kayla about your offer

kayla@storytellertalent.com

Beyond the advance

The terms deserve as much attention as the headline number.

Rights, formats & territories

Which languages, territories, editions, and formats does the publisher seek? Which audio, translation, screen, or other rights would remain with you?

Royalties & accounting

How are royalties calculated? Which deductions, reserves, reporting schedules, payment terms, and audit provisions appear in the proposed agreement?

Subsidiary rights

Who may license additional rights, which permissions are required, and how would licensing income be divided?

Publication & delivery

What delivery, acceptance, revision, and publication obligations apply? What happens if publication is delayed or the work is not accepted?

Rights reversion

When and how can rights return to the author? Review the out-of-print definition and any format-specific or performance-based provisions.

Future books & restrictions

What option, first-refusal, non-compete, or related restrictions could affect your next book, series, or continuing self-publishing plans?

Approvals & warranties

Which decisions require your approval or consultation? Review warranties, indemnities, permissions, and any proposed AI-use rights with appropriate professional advice.

Advance & payment milestones

What is being paid, when is each installment due, and how does the advance relate to royalties and the rights being granted?

These are questions to discuss, not a judgment on a particular offer. Literary representation and legal advice are different roles. A publishing attorney can advise on legal interpretation, enforceability, or obligations you may already have incurred.

From inquiry to a possible agreement

Share the facts. Send the offer, deadline, rights position, and author background to Kayla.
Establish fit and scope. STA considers the project and whether representation is appropriate. Any work on your behalf depends on a written agency agreement.
Evaluate the deal together. For a represented client, commercial terms, retained rights, and the final documents can be considered together. Do not assume an offer or signing deadline changes until the relevant parties confirm it.

STA is commission-based. This page does not offer a standalone paid contract-review service. See the agency’s existing representation terms.

Questions & answers

Can I get a literary agent after receiving a publishing offer?

Yes, you can approach an agent with an existing offer. Kayla Bramante at Storyteller Talent Agency considers offer-in-hand representation inquiries from indie and published authors. Email kayla@storytellertalent.com with the publisher, written offer, response deadline and time zone, book details, publishing history, and rights already licensed. An inquiry is not an agreement to represent you or a promise to meet the deadline.

What can an agent evaluate besides the advance?

For a represented author, the discussion can include the rights and territories being licensed, royalty definitions and accounting, subsidiary-rights income, publication obligations, rights reversion, options on future work, non-compete restrictions, and approval or consultation provisions. The proposed agreement and existing licenses determine which issues apply.

What if I already accepted an offer or signed the contract?

Tell Kayla exactly what you accepted or signed, when, and what documents or correspondence exist. Available options depend on those commitments. Do not assume an email acceptance is irrelevant or that a signed agreement can simply be reopened. A publishing attorney can advise on legal obligations.

Does STA offer a paid one-off contract review?

This is an inquiry for selective, commission-based literary representation under a written agency agreement. It is not a checkout for a standalone paid contract review or legal service. Representation scope and commission terms must be agreed before STA acts for an author.

Does an offer guarantee representation or a higher advance?

No. An offer does not guarantee representation, improved terms, a larger advance, competing bids, or a completed deal. Include any genuine deadline in your first message; urgent timing does not guarantee availability.