Finding a Literary Agent…the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
My Guest Editorial from Reader Views
March 16, 2015
It’s probably a given that most indie authors, at one time or another, dream of someday finding an agent to represent them in the literary world. Whether the reason for seeking representation is to find validation for their work or to achieve fame and fortune (spoiler alert: don’t quit your day job just yet!), the quest for an agent is a daunting one. Developing a credible literary product—be it a book, screenplay, or whatever—is only the first step. Creating and disseminating a catchy query letter and associated material is where the rubber hits the road, and continuing the analogy, where the wheel often comes off the wagon.
But even assuming you have, arguably, the next Great American Novel, an eye-catching query letter, a great biography, and a stunning synopsis, and leaving aside for a moment the lack of a personal reference from someone in the field (an English professor already represented by an agent, another novelist, and so forth . . . that is, someone with an inside track), what can you expect from the various literary agents to whom you send your material?
That’s the question this Guest Editorial will try to answer. I hope the answers you find below not only will give you some insights into the query process, but also, save you time pursuing agents and agencies that more likely than not, will prove frustrating.
Since the summer of 2014, I have attempted—and failed—to find an agent for three novels: Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell, Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy, and The Hypnotist. All are mystery/thrillers, the last being a Young Adult novel written under the pseudonym Alyssa Devine. In each case, query letters and associated material—each letter and set of material tailored to the specific agency, per the agency’s instructions—were sent to an agent whose specific, stated quest for stories matched the genre of my books.
If you’re just starting the query process, you’re probably wondering where you can find a list of potential agents to query. The ‘bible’, in this case, is the Guide to Literary Agents edited by Chuck Sambuchino and published by Writer’s Digest Books. You also would do well to follow Chuck’s Blog on Writer’s Digest’s Site, Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog. Here’s where you’ll find information on new agents seeking to establish themselves in the literary world. Armed with these and other sources, there’s no limit to the number of agents you can query, though for starters, it might be a good idea to begin with something on the order of ten or 20, just to get your feet wet. In all cases, go to an agent’s Website, look at the page marked Submissions, and be sure to follow the directions to the letter. Query letters should be no longer than one page, by the way. It’s an unwritten if not explicitly stated law! Don’t violate it. It would be a good idea to read several ‘good’ letters to get the gist of what a winner looks like before writing your own.
One question you’ll have to answer for yourself is: do I want to do an exclusive query? That is, do I want to give one agent, and only one agent, my material for a given amount of time, or do I want to broadcast my query to multiple agents at the same time. Unless you have an ‘in’ with an agent—that is, unless someone has recommended you to an agent or you have met an agent at a conference and he or she has invited you to send them your material—I think much time will be wasted in using exclusive queries. That’s been my experience, albeit limited.
So, what exactly has been my experience? Below, by book, are the results of my efforts, all of which have not, sad to say, produced the desired result…i.e., an agent. Nevertheless, the three books have all been published in the Kindle and/or paperback formats, where they have achieved a modicum of success. (Last week, for example, Eighth Circle, at one point, ranked #814 Paid in the Kindle Store.)
Agents and agencies are listed in the chronological order queried. Those for which no response was received are highlighted in pink. (I’d use red, but it makes the text more difficult to read.) To be blunt, there is NO excuse, in my opinion, for an agent not to respond to a query! I’m not the only one who feels this way. (Read more here.) To me, it’s just bad business. And besides, it’s not courteous!
Now for the data. If you decide to send a query to a given literary agency, be sure to check all the entries for that agency among the three books (if applicable) to determine what response, if any, you might expect. Speaking of responses, they were, for the most part, somewhat limited in scope. Many could be boiled down to something like “not on my list” or “I’m not the right agent.” Some said they weren’t taking on new clients while others begged off, saying they only had time for current clients. Clearly, agent access in some cases is limited, so check each prospective agent’s Website so as to ensure the agent/agency currently is open to submissions. And then, there’s always the one response that makes you shake your head, squint at the screen for a few seconds, and chuckle: “While I was intrigued by [the] premise of the book, I ultimately didn't respond with the rare enthusiasm that tells me I can champion the book wholeheartedly and I’m afraid it’s not quite right for my list.”
Whatever the reason for an agent’s rejection, don’t attempt to argue with the agent or discuss the situation. Cross them off your list (you will be keeping a list similar to the ones below, won’t you?), and move on. And by the way, do not under any circumstances, query more than one agent at an agency at any given time.
Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell (available in Kindle and paperback)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press (my imprint)
Number of Queries Sent: 42
Number of Responses: 23
Percentage of Responses: 55
No. Agent Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Brooks Sherman http://www.thebentagency.com/intro2.php
7/12/2014 7/14/2014 Not right agent
2 Nicole James http://www.chalbergsussman.com/
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014 Assumed to have passed
3 Katie Kotchman http://www.doncongdon.com/
7/11/2014 10/6/2014 Not on her list.
4 Stacia Decker http://maassagency.com/
7/10/2014 7/16/2014 Didn't connect with the narrative strongly enough
5 Dirk Devlin http://www.maxgartenberg.com/
7/10/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
6 Rachel Ekstrom http://www.irenegoodman.com/
7/10/2014 9/10/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
7 Steve Kasdin http://www.curtisbrown.com/
6/9/2014 7/10/2014 Not right agent
8 Gina Maccoby http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
9 Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein http://mcintoshandotis.com/
7/11/2014 10/11/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
10 Liza Fleissig http://lizaroyce.com/
7/10/2014 7/13/2014 Not right for current list
11 Online submission http://www.serendipitylit.com/
7/11/2014 Sent follow-up e-mail 8/15/2014 Assumed to have passed
12 Paula Munier http://www.talcottnotch.net/
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
13 Uwe Stender http://www.triadaus.com/
7/11/2014 7/11/2014 Not right agent
14 Online submission http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/
7/11/2014 8/11/2014 No response
15 Shelby Sampsel http://www.vickybijuragency.com/
7/11/2014 9/10/2014 Not on their list
16 Pamela Ahearn http://www.ahearnagency.com/
7/13/2014 10/13/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
17 Jill Grosjean http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?...
7/13/2014 7/13/2014 Not right agent
18 Bob Mecoy http://bobmecoy.com/
7/13/2014 Nothing (8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
19 Liza Dawson http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/
7/13/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
20 Jim McCarthy http://www.dystel.com/
7/13/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
21 Faye Bender http://www.fbliterary.com/
7/14/2014 Nothing (8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
22 Michael Burke http://www.barbarabovaliteraryagency....
7/14/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
23 Laura Bradford http://www.bradfordlit.com/
7/14/2014 8/21/2014 Not the right agency
24 Win Golden http://www.castigliaagency.com/
7/14/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
25 Jane Chelius http://janechelius.com/
7/14/2014 8/25/2014 Not taking new clients
26 Doreen MacDonald http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
7/15/2014 10/15/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
27 Jim Donovan http://www.1000literaryagents.com/lit...
7/15/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
28 Yishai Seidman http://dclagency.com/
7/15/2014 8/25/2014 Not taking new clients
29 Verna Dreisbach http://www.dreisbachliterary.com/
7/15/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
30 Ethan Ellenberg http://ethanellenberg.com/
7/16/2014 Wait 2 weeks; drop if nothing Not on their list
31 Michael Sterling http://www.foliolit.com/
7/16/2014 7/20/2014 Not on their list
32 Jeff Gerecke http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...
7/16/2014 7/24/2014
10/23/2014* Not right agent
33 Barry Goldblatt http://www.bgliterary.com/
7/16/2014 7/19/2014 Not right agent
34 Susan Golomb http://www.sgolombagency.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
35 Doug Grad http://www.dgliterary.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
36 Kathryn Green http://www.kathryngreenliteraryagency...
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
37 Richard Henshaw http://richardhenshawgroup.com/
7/16/2014 7/17/2014 No time except for current clients
38 Carolyn Jenks http://www.carolynjenksagency.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
39 Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli https://jetliterary.wordpress.com/
7/16/2014 7/21/2014 Illness in family has curtailed activities
40 Mackenzie Brady http://www.newleafliterary.com/
7/17/2014 8/12/2014 Not on her list.
41 Michelle Richter http://quick-brown-fox-canada.blogspo...
8/22/2014 8/25/2014 Takes a pass
42 Barbara Lowenstein http://www.lowensteinassociates.com/
7/16/2014 9/12/2014 Not on their list
*Called for the full manuscript
Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy (available in Kindle only; individual books of the Trilogy are available in Kindle and paperback)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press
Number of Queries Sent: 12
Number of Responses: 6
Percentage of Responses: 50
No. Representative Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Katherine Flynn http://www.kwblit.com/
7/21/2014 None Withdrawn – 9/18/2014
2 Margaret Bail http://www.inklingsliterary.com/
7/22/2014 9/4/20143 Not what they are looking for
3 Rachel Vogel http://www.waxmanleavell.com/
7/22/2014 If nothing by end of August, expect nothing Assumed to have passed
4 Russell Galen http://www.sgglit.com/
7/22/2014 None Withdrawn -9/18/2014
5 Richard Henshaw http://richardhenshawgroup.com/
7/22/2014 7/24/2014 No time for new clients
6 Will Devlin http://www.maxgartenberg.com/
7/22/2014 7/25/2014 Cannot take on
7 Ian Kleinert http://www.objectiveent.com/
7/22/2014 None Withdrawn-9/18/2014
8 Andrea Somberg http://www.harveyklinger.com/
7/23/2014 8/15/2014 Not what they are looking for
9 William Reiss http://www.jhalit.com/#Home
7/23/2014 7/23/2014 Not what they are looking for
10 Liz Darhansoff http://dvagency.com/
7/23/2014 If nothing by end of August, expect nothing Assumed to have passed
11 Tamar Ellman Rydzinski http://ldlainc.com/
7/23/2014 8/22/2014 Not what they are looking for
12 Theresa Park http://www.parkliterary.com/
7/23/2014 If no answer, then nothing Assumed to have passed
The Hypnotist (now available in paperback; the Kindle version will be available by end of March, 2015)
Genre: Young Adult (YA), Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press
Number of Queries Sent: 43
Number of Responses: 20
Percentage of Responses: 47
No. Representative Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Sara Crowe
http://www.harveyklinger.com/agents.html
11/16/2014 11/16/2014 Not a good fit.
2 Sarah Davies http://www.greenhouseliterary.com/
11/16/2014 11/19/2014 Not confident
3 Kevan Lyon http://www.marsallyonliteraryagency.com/
11/16/2014 None Assumed to have passed
4 Caryn Wiseman http://www.andreabrownlit.com/
11/16/2014 None Assumed to have passed
5 Jim McCarthy http://www.dystel.com/
11/16/2014 11/17/2014 Not a good fit.
6 Linda Scalissi queries@threeseaslit.com
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
7 Genevieve Nine http://www.andreahurst.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
8 Holly Root http://www.waxmanleavell.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
9 Barbara Poelle http://www.irenegoodman.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
10 Peter Knapp http://parkliterary.com/
11/17/2014 1/4/2015 Pass
11 Katie Kotchman http://www.doncongdon.com/
11/18/2014 12/22/2014 Pass
12 Rebecca Podos http://reesagency.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
13 Carlie Webber http://ckwebber.com/submissions.html
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
14 Beth Phelan http://www.thebentagency.com/intro2.php
11/18/2014 12/24/2014 Not ‘connecting’
15 Ella Kennen http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
11/18/2014 11/18/2014 Did not like the way the story was presented
16 Thao Le http://www.dijkstraagency.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
17 Kimberly Brower http://rfliterary.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
18 Maria Vicente http://www.psliterary.com/
11/19/2014 12/13/2014 Not a fit
19 Christina Hogrebe http://www.janerotrosen.com/
11/19/2014 None Assumed to have passed
20 Adriann Ranta http://wolflit.com/
11/19/2014 12/15/2014 Not a fit
21 Linda Pratt http://www.wernickpratt.com/
11/20/2014 None Assumed to have passed
22 Melissa Edwards http://www.aaronpriest.com/
11/24/2014 None Assumed to have passed
23 Jennifer De Chiara http://www.jdlit.com/
11/24/2014 None Assumed to have passed
24 Nephele Tempest http://knightagency.net/
11/28/2014 12/2/2014 Not a fit
25 Miriam Altshuler http://www.miriamaltshulerliteraryage...
11/28/2014 None Assumed to have passed
26 Amanda Panitch http://www.lmqlit.com/contact.html
11/28/2014 12/1/2014 Not a fit
27 Bill Contardi http://brandthochman.com/
11/28/2014 None Assumed to have passed
28 Caitlin Blasdell http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/s...
11/28/2014 12/3/2014 Not for her
29 Alyssa Henkin http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/
11/28/2014 1/9/2015 Not for her
30 Sara Megibow http://nelsonagency.com/submission-gu...
11/28/2014 None No answer
31 Jody Albert http://www.thebookeralbertagency.com/
11/29/2014 None Assumed to have passed
32 Michael Carlisle http://inkwellmanagement.com/
12/1/2014 None Assumed to have passed
33 Jessica Faust http://www.bookends-inc.com/
12/1/2014 1/2/2014 “Not hooked”
34 Rachael Dugas http://www.talcottnotch.net/home
12/1/2014 None Assumed to have passed
35 Sarah LaPolla www.bradfordlit.com/
12/1/2014 12/9/2014 Not a fit
36 Kaylee Davis http://deemuraliterary.squarespace.com/
12/5/2014 1/8/2015 Not a fit
37 Heather Alexander http://www.pippinproperties.com/
12/15/2014 None Assumed to have passed
38 Leon Husick http://www.lperkinsagency.com/
12/22/2014 None Assumed to have passed
39 Sandra Bond www.bondliteraryagency.com
12/27/2014 1/17/2015 “Not hooked”
40 Cynthia Kane http://capitaltalentagency.com/
12/29/2014 None Assumed to have passed
41 Caitie Flum http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/
1/19/2015 1/26/2015 Not for her
42 Sarah Nagel http://writershouse.com/
2/2/2015 2/17/2015 Not for her
43 Heather Flaherty http://www.thebentagency.com/
2/9/2015 None Assumed to have passed
Several comments of note. First, the response percentages for the three books during the relatively short periods of time shown in the tables cluster around 50%. A similar study conducted by Ben Woods over a longer period of time and reported in 2010 (http://benwoods.com/news/literary-age...) showed a response rate closer to 80%. The difference may, in part, result for the length of the response periods discussed (clearly, his ‘response window’ was open for a longer period of time and he was more persistent than I was). The lower response rate I experienced also may have been a function of the surge in submissions that agents appear to be receiving (at least that’s the chatter I read on the Internet) and the fact (?) that submissions may be overwhelming many agencies, especially the smaller ones. You may want to read the spirited discussion of agents and the responses received (or not received) by Woods. Though somewhat dated, I think you’ll find the information interesting (and the presentation enjoyable).
Second, kudos to Uwe Stender of TriadaUS Literary, Jill Grosjean of Jill Grosjean Literary, William Reiss of John Hawkins and Associates, Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, and Ella Kennen of the Corvisiero Agency for responding to me on the same day as my query was submitted! That’s responsiveness. But remember, as they say in the financial industry, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Still, you’ll have to agree, such turnaround is truly impressive.
I also want to issue a special thanks to Jeff Gerecke (The G Agency, LLC; http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...), the only agent who called for the full manuscript of Eighth Circle. Though he chose not to represent me, I sincerely appreciated his taking the time to read and consider the book.
Finally, you may find the following articles relevant and of interest:
http://www.alythiabrown.com/anybody-r...
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2...
(I cited this one above, but just to be sure you don’t miss it, I’m repeating the full URL here.)
http://dankoboldt.com/querying-litera...
http://writeitsideways.com/will-liter...
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-b...
What’s the bottom line? This quote, from the ‘dankoboldt’ reference above, probably sums it up the best: “Success can be found, but it lies at the end of a long, slow road pock-marked with frequent rejections. If you can handle that, you’ll be just fine.”
Good hunting!
Theodore Jerome Cohen
Readers and authors wishing to contact me can do so through my Website: http://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com
March 16, 2015
It’s probably a given that most indie authors, at one time or another, dream of someday finding an agent to represent them in the literary world. Whether the reason for seeking representation is to find validation for their work or to achieve fame and fortune (spoiler alert: don’t quit your day job just yet!), the quest for an agent is a daunting one. Developing a credible literary product—be it a book, screenplay, or whatever—is only the first step. Creating and disseminating a catchy query letter and associated material is where the rubber hits the road, and continuing the analogy, where the wheel often comes off the wagon.
But even assuming you have, arguably, the next Great American Novel, an eye-catching query letter, a great biography, and a stunning synopsis, and leaving aside for a moment the lack of a personal reference from someone in the field (an English professor already represented by an agent, another novelist, and so forth . . . that is, someone with an inside track), what can you expect from the various literary agents to whom you send your material?
That’s the question this Guest Editorial will try to answer. I hope the answers you find below not only will give you some insights into the query process, but also, save you time pursuing agents and agencies that more likely than not, will prove frustrating.
Since the summer of 2014, I have attempted—and failed—to find an agent for three novels: Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell, Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy, and The Hypnotist. All are mystery/thrillers, the last being a Young Adult novel written under the pseudonym Alyssa Devine. In each case, query letters and associated material—each letter and set of material tailored to the specific agency, per the agency’s instructions—were sent to an agent whose specific, stated quest for stories matched the genre of my books.
If you’re just starting the query process, you’re probably wondering where you can find a list of potential agents to query. The ‘bible’, in this case, is the Guide to Literary Agents edited by Chuck Sambuchino and published by Writer’s Digest Books. You also would do well to follow Chuck’s Blog on Writer’s Digest’s Site, Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents Blog. Here’s where you’ll find information on new agents seeking to establish themselves in the literary world. Armed with these and other sources, there’s no limit to the number of agents you can query, though for starters, it might be a good idea to begin with something on the order of ten or 20, just to get your feet wet. In all cases, go to an agent’s Website, look at the page marked Submissions, and be sure to follow the directions to the letter. Query letters should be no longer than one page, by the way. It’s an unwritten if not explicitly stated law! Don’t violate it. It would be a good idea to read several ‘good’ letters to get the gist of what a winner looks like before writing your own.
One question you’ll have to answer for yourself is: do I want to do an exclusive query? That is, do I want to give one agent, and only one agent, my material for a given amount of time, or do I want to broadcast my query to multiple agents at the same time. Unless you have an ‘in’ with an agent—that is, unless someone has recommended you to an agent or you have met an agent at a conference and he or she has invited you to send them your material—I think much time will be wasted in using exclusive queries. That’s been my experience, albeit limited.
So, what exactly has been my experience? Below, by book, are the results of my efforts, all of which have not, sad to say, produced the desired result…i.e., an agent. Nevertheless, the three books have all been published in the Kindle and/or paperback formats, where they have achieved a modicum of success. (Last week, for example, Eighth Circle, at one point, ranked #814 Paid in the Kindle Store.)
Agents and agencies are listed in the chronological order queried. Those for which no response was received are highlighted in pink. (I’d use red, but it makes the text more difficult to read.) To be blunt, there is NO excuse, in my opinion, for an agent not to respond to a query! I’m not the only one who feels this way. (Read more here.) To me, it’s just bad business. And besides, it’s not courteous!
Now for the data. If you decide to send a query to a given literary agency, be sure to check all the entries for that agency among the three books (if applicable) to determine what response, if any, you might expect. Speaking of responses, they were, for the most part, somewhat limited in scope. Many could be boiled down to something like “not on my list” or “I’m not the right agent.” Some said they weren’t taking on new clients while others begged off, saying they only had time for current clients. Clearly, agent access in some cases is limited, so check each prospective agent’s Website so as to ensure the agent/agency currently is open to submissions. And then, there’s always the one response that makes you shake your head, squint at the screen for a few seconds, and chuckle: “While I was intrigued by [the] premise of the book, I ultimately didn't respond with the rare enthusiasm that tells me I can champion the book wholeheartedly and I’m afraid it’s not quite right for my list.”
Whatever the reason for an agent’s rejection, don’t attempt to argue with the agent or discuss the situation. Cross them off your list (you will be keeping a list similar to the ones below, won’t you?), and move on. And by the way, do not under any circumstances, query more than one agent at an agency at any given time.
Eighth Circle: A Special Place in Hell (available in Kindle and paperback)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press (my imprint)
Number of Queries Sent: 42
Number of Responses: 23
Percentage of Responses: 55
No. Agent Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Brooks Sherman http://www.thebentagency.com/intro2.php
7/12/2014 7/14/2014 Not right agent
2 Nicole James http://www.chalbergsussman.com/
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014 Assumed to have passed
3 Katie Kotchman http://www.doncongdon.com/
7/11/2014 10/6/2014 Not on her list.
4 Stacia Decker http://maassagency.com/
7/10/2014 7/16/2014 Didn't connect with the narrative strongly enough
5 Dirk Devlin http://www.maxgartenberg.com/
7/10/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
6 Rachel Ekstrom http://www.irenegoodman.com/
7/10/2014 9/10/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
7 Steve Kasdin http://www.curtisbrown.com/
6/9/2014 7/10/2014 Not right agent
8 Gina Maccoby http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
9 Elizabeth Winick Rubinstein http://mcintoshandotis.com/
7/11/2014 10/11/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
10 Liza Fleissig http://lizaroyce.com/
7/10/2014 7/13/2014 Not right for current list
11 Online submission http://www.serendipitylit.com/
7/11/2014 Sent follow-up e-mail 8/15/2014 Assumed to have passed
12 Paula Munier http://www.talcottnotch.net/
7/11/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
13 Uwe Stender http://www.triadaus.com/
7/11/2014 7/11/2014 Not right agent
14 Online submission http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/
7/11/2014 8/11/2014 No response
15 Shelby Sampsel http://www.vickybijuragency.com/
7/11/2014 9/10/2014 Not on their list
16 Pamela Ahearn http://www.ahearnagency.com/
7/13/2014 10/13/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
17 Jill Grosjean http://www.agentquery.com/agent.aspx?...
7/13/2014 7/13/2014 Not right agent
18 Bob Mecoy http://bobmecoy.com/
7/13/2014 Nothing (8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
19 Liza Dawson http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/
7/13/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
20 Jim McCarthy http://www.dystel.com/
7/13/2014 7/14/2014 Not on their list
21 Faye Bender http://www.fbliterary.com/
7/14/2014 Nothing (8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
22 Michael Burke http://www.barbarabovaliteraryagency....
7/14/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
23 Laura Bradford http://www.bradfordlit.com/
7/14/2014 8/21/2014 Not the right agency
24 Win Golden http://www.castigliaagency.com/
7/14/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
25 Jane Chelius http://janechelius.com/
7/14/2014 8/25/2014 Not taking new clients
26 Doreen MacDonald http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
7/15/2014 10/15/2014 limit Assumed to have passed
27 Jim Donovan http://www.1000literaryagents.com/lit...
7/15/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
28 Yishai Seidman http://dclagency.com/
7/15/2014 8/25/2014 Not taking new clients
29 Verna Dreisbach http://www.dreisbachliterary.com/
7/15/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
30 Ethan Ellenberg http://ethanellenberg.com/
7/16/2014 Wait 2 weeks; drop if nothing Not on their list
31 Michael Sterling http://www.foliolit.com/
7/16/2014 7/20/2014 Not on their list
32 Jeff Gerecke http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...
7/16/2014 7/24/2014
10/23/2014* Not right agent
33 Barry Goldblatt http://www.bgliterary.com/
7/16/2014 7/19/2014 Not right agent
34 Susan Golomb http://www.sgolombagency.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
35 Doug Grad http://www.dgliterary.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
36 Kathryn Green http://www.kathryngreenliteraryagency...
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
37 Richard Henshaw http://richardhenshawgroup.com/
7/16/2014 7/17/2014 No time except for current clients
38 Carolyn Jenks http://www.carolynjenksagency.com/
7/16/2014 Nothing 8/25/2014) Assumed to have passed
39 Elizabeth Trupin-Pulli https://jetliterary.wordpress.com/
7/16/2014 7/21/2014 Illness in family has curtailed activities
40 Mackenzie Brady http://www.newleafliterary.com/
7/17/2014 8/12/2014 Not on her list.
41 Michelle Richter http://quick-brown-fox-canada.blogspo...
8/22/2014 8/25/2014 Takes a pass
42 Barbara Lowenstein http://www.lowensteinassociates.com/
7/16/2014 9/12/2014 Not on their list
*Called for the full manuscript
Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy (available in Kindle only; individual books of the Trilogy are available in Kindle and paperback)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press
Number of Queries Sent: 12
Number of Responses: 6
Percentage of Responses: 50
No. Representative Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Katherine Flynn http://www.kwblit.com/
7/21/2014 None Withdrawn – 9/18/2014
2 Margaret Bail http://www.inklingsliterary.com/
7/22/2014 9/4/20143 Not what they are looking for
3 Rachel Vogel http://www.waxmanleavell.com/
7/22/2014 If nothing by end of August, expect nothing Assumed to have passed
4 Russell Galen http://www.sgglit.com/
7/22/2014 None Withdrawn -9/18/2014
5 Richard Henshaw http://richardhenshawgroup.com/
7/22/2014 7/24/2014 No time for new clients
6 Will Devlin http://www.maxgartenberg.com/
7/22/2014 7/25/2014 Cannot take on
7 Ian Kleinert http://www.objectiveent.com/
7/22/2014 None Withdrawn-9/18/2014
8 Andrea Somberg http://www.harveyklinger.com/
7/23/2014 8/15/2014 Not what they are looking for
9 William Reiss http://www.jhalit.com/#Home
7/23/2014 7/23/2014 Not what they are looking for
10 Liz Darhansoff http://dvagency.com/
7/23/2014 If nothing by end of August, expect nothing Assumed to have passed
11 Tamar Ellman Rydzinski http://ldlainc.com/
7/23/2014 8/22/2014 Not what they are looking for
12 Theresa Park http://www.parkliterary.com/
7/23/2014 If no answer, then nothing Assumed to have passed
The Hypnotist (now available in paperback; the Kindle version will be available by end of March, 2015)
Genre: Young Adult (YA), Mystery/Thriller & Suspense
Publisher: TJC Press
Number of Queries Sent: 43
Number of Responses: 20
Percentage of Responses: 47
No. Representative Agency Date Contacted Date of Response Response
1 Sara Crowe
http://www.harveyklinger.com/agents.html
11/16/2014 11/16/2014 Not a good fit.
2 Sarah Davies http://www.greenhouseliterary.com/
11/16/2014 11/19/2014 Not confident
3 Kevan Lyon http://www.marsallyonliteraryagency.com/
11/16/2014 None Assumed to have passed
4 Caryn Wiseman http://www.andreabrownlit.com/
11/16/2014 None Assumed to have passed
5 Jim McCarthy http://www.dystel.com/
11/16/2014 11/17/2014 Not a good fit.
6 Linda Scalissi queries@threeseaslit.com
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
7 Genevieve Nine http://www.andreahurst.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
8 Holly Root http://www.waxmanleavell.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
9 Barbara Poelle http://www.irenegoodman.com/
11/17/2014 None Assumed to have passed
10 Peter Knapp http://parkliterary.com/
11/17/2014 1/4/2015 Pass
11 Katie Kotchman http://www.doncongdon.com/
11/18/2014 12/22/2014 Pass
12 Rebecca Podos http://reesagency.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
13 Carlie Webber http://ckwebber.com/submissions.html
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
14 Beth Phelan http://www.thebentagency.com/intro2.php
11/18/2014 12/24/2014 Not ‘connecting’
15 Ella Kennen http://www.corvisieroagency.com/
11/18/2014 11/18/2014 Did not like the way the story was presented
16 Thao Le http://www.dijkstraagency.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
17 Kimberly Brower http://rfliterary.com/
11/18/2014 None Assumed to have passed
18 Maria Vicente http://www.psliterary.com/
11/19/2014 12/13/2014 Not a fit
19 Christina Hogrebe http://www.janerotrosen.com/
11/19/2014 None Assumed to have passed
20 Adriann Ranta http://wolflit.com/
11/19/2014 12/15/2014 Not a fit
21 Linda Pratt http://www.wernickpratt.com/
11/20/2014 None Assumed to have passed
22 Melissa Edwards http://www.aaronpriest.com/
11/24/2014 None Assumed to have passed
23 Jennifer De Chiara http://www.jdlit.com/
11/24/2014 None Assumed to have passed
24 Nephele Tempest http://knightagency.net/
11/28/2014 12/2/2014 Not a fit
25 Miriam Altshuler http://www.miriamaltshulerliteraryage...
11/28/2014 None Assumed to have passed
26 Amanda Panitch http://www.lmqlit.com/contact.html
11/28/2014 12/1/2014 Not a fit
27 Bill Contardi http://brandthochman.com/
11/28/2014 None Assumed to have passed
28 Caitlin Blasdell http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/s...
11/28/2014 12/3/2014 Not for her
29 Alyssa Henkin http://www.tridentmediagroup.com/
11/28/2014 1/9/2015 Not for her
30 Sara Megibow http://nelsonagency.com/submission-gu...
11/28/2014 None No answer
31 Jody Albert http://www.thebookeralbertagency.com/
11/29/2014 None Assumed to have passed
32 Michael Carlisle http://inkwellmanagement.com/
12/1/2014 None Assumed to have passed
33 Jessica Faust http://www.bookends-inc.com/
12/1/2014 1/2/2014 “Not hooked”
34 Rachael Dugas http://www.talcottnotch.net/home
12/1/2014 None Assumed to have passed
35 Sarah LaPolla www.bradfordlit.com/
12/1/2014 12/9/2014 Not a fit
36 Kaylee Davis http://deemuraliterary.squarespace.com/
12/5/2014 1/8/2015 Not a fit
37 Heather Alexander http://www.pippinproperties.com/
12/15/2014 None Assumed to have passed
38 Leon Husick http://www.lperkinsagency.com/
12/22/2014 None Assumed to have passed
39 Sandra Bond www.bondliteraryagency.com
12/27/2014 1/17/2015 “Not hooked”
40 Cynthia Kane http://capitaltalentagency.com/
12/29/2014 None Assumed to have passed
41 Caitie Flum http://www.lizadawsonassociates.com/
1/19/2015 1/26/2015 Not for her
42 Sarah Nagel http://writershouse.com/
2/2/2015 2/17/2015 Not for her
43 Heather Flaherty http://www.thebentagency.com/
2/9/2015 None Assumed to have passed
Several comments of note. First, the response percentages for the three books during the relatively short periods of time shown in the tables cluster around 50%. A similar study conducted by Ben Woods over a longer period of time and reported in 2010 (http://benwoods.com/news/literary-age...) showed a response rate closer to 80%. The difference may, in part, result for the length of the response periods discussed (clearly, his ‘response window’ was open for a longer period of time and he was more persistent than I was). The lower response rate I experienced also may have been a function of the surge in submissions that agents appear to be receiving (at least that’s the chatter I read on the Internet) and the fact (?) that submissions may be overwhelming many agencies, especially the smaller ones. You may want to read the spirited discussion of agents and the responses received (or not received) by Woods. Though somewhat dated, I think you’ll find the information interesting (and the presentation enjoyable).
Second, kudos to Uwe Stender of TriadaUS Literary, Jill Grosjean of Jill Grosjean Literary, William Reiss of John Hawkins and Associates, Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger, and Ella Kennen of the Corvisiero Agency for responding to me on the same day as my query was submitted! That’s responsiveness. But remember, as they say in the financial industry, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Still, you’ll have to agree, such turnaround is truly impressive.
I also want to issue a special thanks to Jeff Gerecke (The G Agency, LLC; http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/...), the only agent who called for the full manuscript of Eighth Circle. Though he chose not to represent me, I sincerely appreciated his taking the time to read and consider the book.
Finally, you may find the following articles relevant and of interest:
http://www.alythiabrown.com/anybody-r...
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2...
(I cited this one above, but just to be sure you don’t miss it, I’m repeating the full URL here.)
http://dankoboldt.com/querying-litera...
http://writeitsideways.com/will-liter...
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-b...
What’s the bottom line? This quote, from the ‘dankoboldt’ reference above, probably sums it up the best: “Success can be found, but it lies at the end of a long, slow road pock-marked with frequent rejections. If you can handle that, you’ll be just fine.”
Good hunting!
Theodore Jerome Cohen
Readers and authors wishing to contact me can do so through my Website: http://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com
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