The Richard Parks Agency

mbagrad · May 25, 2008

This is posted on The Richard Parks Agency website:

15% commission on domestic sales; 20% on foreign sales. Charges for photocopying, overseas postage, messenger fees, books ordered for use in rights submissions, any special expense incurred at the request of the client.

Are there any circumstances where it is normal, standard or ethical for a literary agency to charge any types of fees for certain services? I read all the horror stories about unethical agencies that charge for services but I was wondering if there are circumstances where this is acceptable.

DeadlyAccurate · May 25, 2008

This is normal and not at all a sign of a scam. Some agencies actually charge these expenses; many simply reserve the right to do so but rarely bother. If this agency is like the others, they'll take these expenses out when they sell the book; they won't send a bill.

waylander · May 26, 2008

What DA said
This is part of my agency agreement

mbagrad · May 26, 2008

Thanks for the response. So which fees that an agent might charge are considered unethical and a red flag that they might not be legit?

James D. Macdonald · May 26, 2008

Reading fees. Critique fees. Editing fees. All are red flags.

waylander · May 26, 2008

A fee to represent you (whether monthly or yearly).

brianm · May 26, 2008

Additionally, be wary of agents who claim to love your work but then recommend you go to such-and-such editing service to get the manuscript professionally polished.

nicolesingslave · Aug 8, 2009

Adding link http://richardparksagency.com/ ..and from his site ..
" No unsolicited manuscripts accepted, no faxed or emailed queries will be answered, nor can we respond to queries by telephone. Fiction by referral only."

sb2brown · Jun 14, 2011

Any new info on this agency? P&E shows "$ AAR A literary agency. (Richard Parks: Literary, Adult)". The only other info I can find is that he only accepts snail mail queries and seems to be interested in everything under the sun except the usual children's books, play, poetry, screenplays.

JanetO · Jun 14, 2011

sb2brown said:
Any new info on this agency? P&E shows "$ AAR A literary agency. (Richard Parks: Literary, Adult)". The only other info I can find is that he only accepts snail mail queries and seems to be interested in everything under the sun except the usual children's books, play, poetry, screenplays.

Well, he reps Jonathan Lethem.

CaoPaux · Feb 12, 2017

Mr. Parks retired in '15. Agency closed.

The Richard Parks Agency

mbagrad

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

mbagrad

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

brianm

Brian Boru

nicolesingslave

AW Addict

sb2brown

JanetO

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless