Mark Ryan | Backlist Literary

@backlistlit.bsky.social

Founder | Book Lover | Proud child of an immigrant 🇨🇺 Subsidiary rights for self-pubbed authors Opening to queries 8/5/2026 https://www.backlistliterary.com/

I’m building this agency around a belief I wish were more common: Independent authors deserve serious rights representation without being asked to stop being independent. They should be able to keep the publishing model they chose and still have someone in their corner.

A subrights offer can be exciting. Before you say yes, slow down and ask: What rights are included? Is the license exclusive? How are you paid? (Cover price? Net receipts?) When do the rights return to you? Know exactly what you’re giving up—and what you’re keeping.

A bit of news: next week I’m opening a subsidiary rights agency for self-published authors who intend to stay self-published. You keep publishing your books. I represent selected rights you own but may not have the time, contacts, or resources to license yourself.