What should my next move be concerning an editor?

[Jennyg]

I co-authored a book with a friend. We're first time authors & new to the publishing world. Another friend of mine works for Penguin Group and submitted the manuscript to an executive editor at Penguin. She told us the editor would contact us through phone or email. It's been four months and we haven't heard anything good or bad. We don't want to burn our bridges, but how much longer do we wait before we submit to other publishers? Do we send this editor a gracious letter & let her know that we hope she can look at our MS but we'll be submitting to other houses? Is there a certain protocol for this? We've been doing our research and I know that four months isn't long in the publishing world, but we could definitely use some advice on where to go from here.

Thanks in advance!

[Shady Lane]

Editors are busy. Is there any way your best friend could bring this up to the executive editor? Just send a friendly email: "I was wondering if you'd gotten the chance to look at that ms I sent you..."

That's all I can think of.

[herdon]

Submit the manuscript to agents while you wait.

[Will Lavender]

You're more than likely behind the agented submissions this editor has received, so I'd give it six months.

And no letter, in my opinion. The editor will not care if you're sending it to other publishers; that's none of her concern. She'll see right through that "gracious letter" for what it is: a plea to get back to you. I'd just wait and see.

In the meantime, I'd query some agents.

[johnzakour]

Query away.

Unless the manuscript was actually requested by the editor I wouldn't bother them with an email.

[Jennyg]

Ok, thanks for the good advice everyone, that's what I figured, I just needed the validation and some sanity....
- Jenn

[Julie Worth]

Getting your ms in front of an executive editor at Penguin is a big deal. This could be terrifically helpful in getting agents to at least look at your sample pages. Once the editor passes, however, the opportunity is lost.

(Editor--thanks, Garpy.)

[Garpy]

you mean...'once the editor passes...'

But very good advice that, Julie. I'd say you should be querying agents, letting them know that it's at Penguin right now. It might be an idea not to say it's been sitting there four months already...make it sound like it's a fresh submission and there's everything to play for.

[herdon]

I would *not* mention that it is at Penguin right now. I wouldn't mention any initial submissions to an agent. The only time I would mention anything to an agent is if I've already been offered a contract.

Simply put, an agent is not going to think anything more of a manuscript because it is in a slush pile.

[Julie Worth]

I would *not* mention that it is at Penguin right now.

Normally I would not mention submissions to publishers when querying agents. However, when you have a full in front of an executive editor at a big house, and you can name the editor, that's going to make a difference. (Miss Snark said something similar, as I recall.)

[Jennyg]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your thoughts & experience. When my friend submitted for us she asked us for a synopsis & the full MS, we have the editor's name & everything. The only contact we've had with the editor is when my friend suggested we send her a thank you for accepting to read it...I know that still doesn't mean anything but because this is her colleague and we obviously appreciate that she did this, we took her advice...my friend said that if we didn't hear from the editor in four months (which we just hit) that she would ask her about it...anyone think this is a good idea or is this just going to annoy the editor?

[Shady Lane]

I'm just going to put this out there, for consideration--a mutual friend of mine and a publisher's submitted my book to her for her consideration. She [the publisher] was very busy and my friend nagged her several times (though not at my request) to hurry up and read. My ms was with her for about four months, because at the time I was actively marketing a different book and I wasn't very concerned about this one. I let it sit, and every once in awhile asked my friend if there had been any progress. At one point, he took her out to dinner and asked about my book.
This publisher accepted my ms in January, after about five months.
You could have a good thing going.