Hello Joshua –

Agencies that book authors and illustrators to do presentations at schools, libraries, and related venues are called booking agencies or speaking agencies. I do not belong to one but have checked into two, How Now Booking and The Author Village, and have compiled information about other agencies based on feedback I received from authors and illustrators I interviewed.

Booking agencies work similarly to literary agents in that an author or illustrator may query the agency, but there is no guaranteed offer of representation. Agencies typically represent established authors and illustrators who enjoy presenting to large audiences (e.g., on stages with mics), are available to travel, and want to actively pursue being a presenter. It helps if libraries, schools, and related entities are already familiar with your books.

Benefits of belonging to a booking agency may include having a dedicated representative manage some of the tasks involved in finding and securing these kinds of visits. An agency may handle inquiries about author/illustrator’s availability and do outreach to promote them; then when an event seems favorable, negotiate contracts with fair terms and compensation. The agency may also schedule travel and coordinate itineraries, help with invoicing, and provide administrative support. Some authors are happy to offload these tasks, freeing up their time for other pursuits.

Being part of a booking agency may also mean visibility to dozens, hundreds, or thousands of schools, libraries, and organizations based on relationships that agency has built and fostered.

As with literary agents, booking agencies work on commission, earning a percentage on paid events they schedule for you. Generally, their cut is around 15% of the compensation you receive for the event. Some agencies charge a one-time setup fee of about $300 to get you into their system. Other costs can include add-ons such as being “boosted” or spotlighted at an average cost of $100 per hour with an average commitment of a few hours. (Figures are based on July 2026 conversations.) However, the basic expectation is that authors and illustrators will appear on the agency’s website and in their newsletters, if applicable. Schools and libraries use agencies as a kind of “one-stop shopping”; it’s easy for them to visit a known and respected agency’s website, browse their offerings, and make a selection. Being part of an agency puts you in that pool.

California, however, is a tough market in which to earn money doing school visits because of insurance requirements and limited (or lack of) resources for author and illustrator visits in our school and library systems.

I interviewed six local authors and illustrators and their feedback varied. Two were thrilled, stating it was well worth the associated costs; three said they got some work through their booking agency but mainly still booked their own events; and one said it was a waste of money after having tried and severed (or been severed from) two booking agencies. Again, sounds a lot like our relationships with our agents—they are relationships.

IN CONCLUSION

I found this an interesting research exercise to undertake. Based on what I learned, a booking agency isn’t a fit for me at this time. I schedule my own events, write my own contracts by utilizing the helpful information at SCBWI.org (Go to Member Home, My Resources, The Essential Guide to Publishing for Children; the “SCBWI School Visits and Speaking Engagements” section includes helpful articles and a sample contract), and hire a contract lawyer periodically to ensure the contract language is current. Also, I prefer smaller, hands-on presentations and am not available to travel extensively.

If you seem to be an author or illustrator who would benefit from such a service, do your homework. Reach out to several; compare and contrast their offerings. Signing with a booking agency is a personal choice. Even if it’s not for you today, it’s good to know options available to help us along our career paths.

—Christine

HAVE QUESTIONS?

To ask a question that may be answered in an upcoming Kite Tales, please follow this link and fill in the form. Answers by Christine Van Zandt, children’s book author and owner of Write for Success Editing & Coaching Services.

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Event photos courtesy of Annelouise Mahoney, Colleen Paeff, and Molly Ruttan