Really Need Advice-Agents!!!

[Gardenia31]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to this forum, happy I joined and look forward to everyone's input/advice, etc.!

I just finished my first novel and have been busy querying various agents...it's been a bit of a disappointment but I'm still hopeful I'll find representation (naive, youthful optimism I suppose). Two agents have asked for a partial submission, Jessica Faust and Karen Solem, is anyone out their familiar with them? Faust's website says 10-12 weeks for a response to a partial and Solem simply emailed me back asking for the first few chapters, she admitted she was swamped with work and would get back to me asap...that was about three days ago...should I email Solem or just sit tight, wait a little while longer?

[awatkins]

Hi Gardenia31 and welcome to the Cooler!

I'm going to port your message over to the Novels forum; this forum is for posting paying markets only. :)

[Just Me 2021]

You sent Solem the partial, right?

If you've already sent it, keep querying other agents and sit tight and wait. Some agents take months to read a partial. DO NOT email her after only 3 days. If you can't take the suspense after 6-8 weeks, you can email politely to ask on the status, but I recommend patiently waiting even longer than that.

I've had agents take over 3 months to respond to partials. Publishing is a slow business.

Congrats on the requests!

[CheshireCat]

Two agents have asked for a partial submission, Jessica Faust and Karen Solem, is anyone out their familiar with them? Faust's website says 10-12 weeks for a response to a partial and Solem simply emailed me back asking for the first few chapters, she admitted she was swamped with work and would get back to me asap...that was about three days ago...should I email Solem or just sit tight, wait a little while longer?

Not familiar with Faust, but Karen Solem has been in the biz a long time, mostly in the romance genre.

Echoing the advice of others, keep querying and wait.

It's far, far more common to wait months for a response than to get one in days or even weeks.

And welcome to AW.

[Novelhistorian]

Welcome, Gardenia, and congrats on the requests. That's pretty good cookin', to get two responses like that right off.

I agree with what's been said. Don't expect a reply within a couple months at least, and don't bother anybody before then, or you'll turn them off. Do continue to query others, and don't sit by the mailbox or the phone. Keep writing, and enjoy the confidence boost that will show in your work, because, in the back of your mind, you know you've got something good on the back burner.

I don't know the two agents you mention, but I hope you've done due diligence. You may or may not know that AW has a separate heading, titled Bewares and Background Checks, that offers commentary on many agents, though I can't say off the top of my head whether yours number among them.

[Gillhoughly]

Welcome to the forums!

Regarding any submission--it can take MONTHS before you hear back on anything, even when they ask you for material.

"ASAP" to an agent can mean from six weeks to 8-10 months. Even a small operation may have to deal with 30-100 submissions coming in daily. You just have to suck it up until they can get to you.


One of the smaller slush piles: http://www.michellerowen.com/blog/images/tor_1.jpg



Getting published takes lots of time. It took 2 years to sell my first novel--which is rather short, considering how long it sat on various slush piles.

To keep your head from exploding be working on your next 2-3 projects. I'm not kidding. Start the next few books you plan to write.

By the time I got that phone call from the publisher I had two novels finished and ready to send in. They bought all three and three more besides.

One thing to remember, is once you make a sale it doesn't end. They might want MORE from you and FAST. Be ready for it.

Be sure to bookmark this site: http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/
to avoid being scammed.

For info on new agents and publishers you know nothing about it's a good habit to google search them like this:

name + scam or name + rip off

This provides hours of info and entertainment!

Publish America + scam (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=publish+america+scam)

Hill and Hill literary Agency + scam (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Hill+and+Hill+literary+agency+scam)


There's info on Karen Solem on this page (http://wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/publishing_biz_pages/agents.htm), and she's apparently a white hat.

Be patient and good luck!

[donroc]

That slush pile reminds me of our physician's office in 1960s L.A. He had stacks like that behind his desk. He treated many A-list actors and was known as "Doctor to the Stars". Even during consultations, people would pop into his office to drop off scripts for him to pass on to his patients -- which he did NOT read or pass on to the best of my knowledge.

www.donaldmichaelplatt.com

[Gardenia31]

Thanks guys! I had no idea the time it can sometimes take for an agent to respond...thanks for the visual=meaning slush pile photo! Well I've already started on my second novel, ab out 6 000 words in. Guess I'll get back to it!

[Rolling Thunder]

That's the way to do it, Gardenia. Good luck on those submissions.

[Gardenia31]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[rwam]

Both good agents, too. Jessica's with Bookends. Her blog is bookendslitagency.blogspot.com (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com) - you should read it as it's chock full of great advice.

[Queen of Swords]

Well I've already started on my second novel, ab out 6 000 words in. Guess I'll get back to it!

Very good idea. And that way, when you've sent out a full and the agent calls you to offer representation and ask what you're working on now, you'll be able to describe your new project and she'll be even more impressed. :)

[Gardenia31]

Both good agents, too. Jessica's with Bookends. Her blog is bookendslitagency.blogspot.com (http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com) - you should read it as it's chock full of great advice.

I have been for the past hour, had not read your post, but yes, her blog is really, really interesting!

[Carmy]

Congratulations and good luck!

I don't know Solem but I know Faust is a reliable agent.

[wayndom]

Unless I read through this thread too fast, it appears no one mentioned Preditors & Editors.

www.anotherealm.com/prededitors

You can check most any agent you're wondering about there.

[David I]

I don't know Jessica Faust but had plenty of dealings with Jacky Sachs, Jessica's partner at Bookends, and Jacky is tops.

[Gardenia31]

BOOKENDS by the sounds of it has a solid reputation...crossing my fingers so we'll see!

[ORION]

It does.
Funny story. Jacky replied to my query for LOTTERY after a delay- I had to tell her I was already agented- When LOTTERY sold for a sig. deal she emailed congrats (so did Dan Lazar) -I think it shows real class to do that.

[Gardenia31]

Yes, classy, absolutely, unheard of in today's world!

[jenstrikesagain]

From Jen's Files of Bitter Personal Experience: Getting an agent is like trying to get somebody into bed. It's almost the same process; you send letters, they send letters, you talk on the phone, maybe you meet, have lunch, size each other up, maybe gifts are exchanged, you both create wildly ridiculous fantasies about the other person that he/she can't possibly fulfill, and then when you finally get where you wanted to go it's always a bit of a letdown. Even if it ends happily. But sometimes it works.

[chartreuse]

From Jen's Files of Bitter Personal Experience: Getting an agent is like trying to get somebody into bed.

So all I have to do is hang around till they're drunk enough to say yes?

[Gardenia31]

Has anyone heard of Alana Lennie, an agent from La Jolla? She asked for the first 20 pages, this afternoon. Anyone had dealings weith her?? I found a bit of info but not alot...

[wee]

Has anyone heard of Alana Lennie, an agent from La Jolla? She asked for the first 20 pages, this afternoon. Anyone had dealings weith her?? I found a bit of info but not alot...


This many partials this quick? You must have something there! Be sure to post when you get accepted.

Good luck!


wee

[ORION]

um Gardinia?
Didn't you research the agents/agencies BEFORE you submitted?
A hugely great resource is Publishers Marketplace - you can check out the agent's deals.

[ORION]

I just put in Alana's name - are you sure you spelled it right? It comes up with no deals on PM - could it be an assistant that is reading for an agent?

[David I]

I think you can find them at PM under "Michael and Alana Lennie" or "Lennie Literary Agency":

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/mlennie/

All I know is that Michael Lennie is a big-time entertainment lawyer. I had no idea he was involved in a Lit agency, and it sounds to me as if they might just be starting out.

[ORION]

I agree- it looks like they are opening up - he's mainly academic...
Might not be a good choice.

[Gardenia31]

This many partials this quick? You must have something there! Be sure to post when you get accepted.

Good luck!


wee

God, I hope you're right, praying everynight, believe me, and to think I use to be an ognostic!

[Gardenia31]

um Gardinia?
Didn't you research the agents/agencies BEFORE you submitted?
A hugely great resource is Publishers Marketplace - you can check out the agent's deals.

Of course I have, but some agents have a tonne of info others don't, so I thought I'd try this sight figuring you never know what might turn up!

[Gardenia31]

I'll be careful but keep an open mind about her. Nothing might come of it anyway. You never know!

[ORION]

Okay - we are only looking out for you!
:)

[jenstrikesagain]

So all I have to do is hang around till they're drunk enough to say yes?

Ha! I wish! Though he did come to one of my dinner parties with his wife, and she found out one of the other dinner guests was a tattoo artist, and the next thing I knew she was taking off her pants to show the artist where she wanted her tattoo and what she wanted it to say. Bona fide true story.

[Gardenia31]

Thanks guys!