About That Agent...

Last time I wrote that I thought maybe I needed an agent, as I seemed to be spinning my wheels placing a detective novel I had recently finished called "Lost Little Girl." So, with that in mind I began sending query letters to agents that I found listed on various web sites, and guess how many responses, favorable or unfavorable, I got...wait for it...none.

So while I wated to hear from (as it turned out) nobody at all, I began sending the manuscript directly to publishers, about a dozen in all. Stipulating that 12 is the right number, I got three responses. One was a rejection, one was, "we'd like to see the entire manuscript" (I just sent the first three chapters) and one was an offer for a three-book deal, which I accepted.

So, what's the moral of the story? I think it's the same one that I use when I give local-area book talks at writers guild meetings and author fairs, and that is, never, and I mean never, give up. If you have a good product, it will find a home. Trust me.