Red Ink Literary Agency

What Red Ink Literary Agency does

Red Ink Literary and Film Agency is a private literary agency headquartered in Khan Market, New Delhi, India, operating as a subsidiary of Bahrisons Bookstore — a book trade business founded in 1953 by Balraj Bahri. The agency was created in the 1980s–1990s by Anuj Bahri, who now serves as CEO and Principal Agent, after roughly 20 years of working in the family bookstore. Red Ink provides three core services: (1) author representation for literary fiction and narrative non-fiction manuscripts from and about the Indian subcontinent, covering local and foreign publishing markets; (2) manuscript submissions review and editorial assessment for aspiring and established authors; and (3) a Translation Program that licenses international bestsellers — including James Patterson, Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbo, and Hakan Nesser — into seven Indian regional languages (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati). The agency's stated specialization is literary fiction and narrative non-fiction on current affairs, and it publicly does not handle children's literature, poetry, plays, screenplays, or short stories.

The agency's go-to-market blends inbound author submissions (no reading fee charged; proposals reviewed within 30 days, full manuscripts within 60 days of request) with outbound rights brokering through an international co-agent network spanning the UK, USA, Italy, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Turkey. Revenue is generated via two mechanics: commissions on book rights sales to publishers (transaction-fee model) and licensing royalties on translation rights (licensing model). No commission rates or fee schedules are publicly disclosed. The agency represents over 100 authors across fiction, non-fiction, children's, and young adult genres, including prominent figures such as Smriti Irani, Shweta Bachchan-Nanda, Vikram Sampath, and Charu Singh. Marketing is conducted through the agency website, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter), and aggregation of earned media coverage in outlets such as India Today, The Wire, Scroll.in, and HuffPost.

The business operates with a small team of 7 employees anchored by Anuj Bahri, supported by an assistant agent/editor and an editorial assistant (the latter recruited from William Morris Endeavor and The Caravan). There is no proprietary technology platform, no AI tooling, and no disclosed funding — Red Ink is a relationship-driven, human-curated agency whose principal assets are its brand legacy (via Bahrisons), its international co-agent relationships, and its Translation Program rights portfolio. The Bahri group also includes an in-house publishing division called Tara-India Research Press, extending the family's book trade operations.

Name

Red Ink Literary Agency

Legal name

Red Ink Literary Agency

Website

https://redinkliteraryagency.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Red Ink Literary and Film Agency is a New Delhi–based literary agency and subsidiary of Bahrisons Bookstore (est. 1953) that represents literary fiction and narrative non-fiction authors from the Indian subcontinent and licenses international bestselling titles into Indian regional languages via an international co-agent network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Literary Agency Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Translation and Interpretation Services (541930)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Manuscript Development Services (Coaching, Developmental Editing) (MPAJAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Translation & Localization Services for Indie Authors (MPAJAJAN)

Keywords

• Literary representation
• Manuscript evaluation
• Author representation
• Translation rights
• Book publishing agency

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Commission on book rights sales: Red Ink Literary Agency earns revenue by representing authors and negotiating publishing deals with domestic and international publishers. Agents provide initial manuscript assessment, editorial advice, and rights negotiation on behalf of authors. Commission is earned on successful deals between authors and publishers.
2. Translation and foreign rights licensing: The agency administers translation rights for international authors (e.g., James Patterson, Jo Nesbo, Hakan Nesser, Stieg Larsson) into Indian languages, earning licensing fees. It also represents Indian authors' works for foreign language rights.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Red Ink Literary Agency provides literary representation services to authors of literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, and young-adult works, evaluating unsolicited manuscripts and brokering publishing deals with publishers. The agency also runs a translation rights program, licensing Indian and foreign language rights for represented authors through a network of international co-agents.

Product overview

Red Ink Literary and Film Agency is a literary agency that operates as a subsidiary of Bahrisons Bookstore in New Delhi. Founded in 1953, it is one of the oldest literary agencies in India. The agency offers literary representation services, connecting authors with publishers both locally and internationally. Their core offerings include manuscript evaluation and representation, a translation program for promoting international and local works into Indian languages, and a submissions service for authors seeking publication. The agency specializes in literary fiction and narrative non-fiction on current affairs, representing over 100 authors across fiction, non-fiction, children's, and young adult genres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Literary Representation

Quantifiable outcome

• Path of the Swan by Charu Singh reached the 5th spot in the Indian Bestsellers list (published by Hachette India, 2014)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Norstedts Agency (Sweden)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency representation for Stieg Larsson / David Lagercrantz - The Millennium Series ('The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', 'The Girl Who Played With Fire', 'The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest', 'The Girl in the Spider's Web') for Indian language rights. Norstedts Agency handles the original rights for Larsson's estate.
• Bonnierförlagen AB / Bonnier Rights (Stockholm, Sweden)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency representation for Hakan Nesser's 'Borkmann's Point' for Indian language rights. Bonnier Rights represents the author's interests internationally.
• Salomonsson Agency (Stockholm, Sweden)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-agency representation for Jo Nesbo's 'The Bat' for Indian language rights. Salomonsson Agency handles international rights for Jo Nesbo.
• Bahrisons BookstorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRed Ink Literary Agency was started as a subsidiary of the iconic Bahrisons Bookstore in Khan Market, New Delhi, which was founded by Balraj Bahri in 1953. This parentage gives Red Ink deep roots in the Indian book trade and access to established industry relationships.
• International Co-Agents and Publishers NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe agency maintains co-agent relationships across the Indian subcontinent, United Kingdom, USA, Italy, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Turkey. These co-agents facilitate cross-territorial rights sales and manuscript placement for the agency's represented authors.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• HarperCollins India: Major Indian trade publisher (Bachchan-Nanda's Paradise Towers was sold to HarperCollins India via Red Ink) — functions as both customer and ecosystem participant defining the publishers from which Red Ink earns commissions.
• Penguin Random House India: One of India's largest trade publishers acquiring literary fiction and non-fiction from literary agencies; sits on the buyer side of Red Ink's rights deals and is the most important counterparty in the agency's domestic revenue stream.

Broad incumbents

• The Wylie Agency: London and New York literary agency representing major literary and non-fiction authors worldwide — comparable at the high end of the international rights brokering market where Red Ink places premium Indian authors abroad.
• David Higham Associates: Major UK literary agency with a long history of representing literary fiction and non-fiction authors and handling international co-agent deals — comparable as a senior international agency for translation rights and foreign placements.
• Aitken Alexander Associates: Long-established UK literary agency handling international rights and translation deals for a broad roster of literary fiction and non-fiction authors — a benchmark international competitor for cross-border manuscript placement.
• Andrew Nurnberg Associates: Large international literary agency with offices across Asia (including India) and Europe, representing authors in translation and foreign rights — provides the strongest established alternative for Indian authors seeking global reach and competes for translation rights deals in India.
• William Morris Endeavor (WME) Books: One of the world's largest talent and literary agencies with a substantial books division that represents literary authors globally and brokers international rights — Red Ink's own editorial assistant interned in WME's books department, indicating it as a relevant talent pipeline and competitive reference.

Direct peers

• Shristi Literary Agency: Mumbai-based literary agency that represents Indian authors, sells translation rights, and handles co-edition deals domestically and internationally — most direct Indian comparator given overlapping author pool and services.
• Siyahi Literary Agency: One of India's leading literary agencies operating from Gurgaon, representing Indian authors across fiction and non-fiction and brokering domestic and international rights — competes head-to-head with Red Ink for high-profile Indian subcontinent manuscripts.
• Jacaranda Literary Agency: Indian literary agency focusing on representing Indian authors for domestic and foreign rights, including translation licensing — direct competitor targeting the same subcontinent author segment as Red Ink.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RedInk10
• Facebookfacebook.com/100067085034040
• Instagraminstagram.com/redinkliteraryagency/?igsh=a2ZqNHFibjRmdGVo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/red-ink-literary-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Red Ink Literary Agency