Writing It!

Episode 68: The Agent’s Perspective with literary agent Alia Hanna Habib

January 26th, 2026

We’re talking with Alia Hanna Habib of the Gernert literary agency about how academics can successfully find agents; what’s the best way to write a cold-call query letter to agents; how an academic author can include her own intellectual history in the book proposal; avoiding the “voice from nowhere” style of writing; how much money is reasonable to expect as a first-time trade press author; and what to expect from an agent. We also discuss how book deals differ from their cinematic portrayals, and when an academic might consider trade press publication.

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