Form Q - 3/13

I think I'm going to close this out. According to her stats, it seems like if she was interested, she'd have responded by now.

Closed out - 4/15

Got a formal rejection - 5/17 - good to have that closure!

Quartofknees,

If you're looking for a career in writing, by all means pursue an agent. You have a contract for one book, but there's still a lot that can happen between now and the pub date that an agent would be invaluable for. Plus, a good agent will work with you on the next project while there is no commitment from the publisher to ever work with you again. Having an offer from a publisher might very well help you land an agent, but if you haven't signed a contract, they may have some ideas of other publishing houses that would have more to offer you.

This happened with a friend of mine. She had an offer from a publishing house, let an agent who was reading her proposal. The agent ended up signing her and was able to negotiate a contract with a MAJOR pub house and now they are looking at her book (non-fiction) as a franchise. Without an agent, she might have had success, but not like the possibility she has now.

It's an agents job to know the trends, both current and upcoming, and to look out for the long term health of your career.

My two thoughts... or like 8 jumbled together. ;)

EQ 4/16/13
full request 5/7/13, sent 5/8. woot! Add me to the list of full request recipients/authors trying not to obsessively check their email now...

EQ 4/5
Full request 5/4

Unfortunately I have it out with an agent that requested an exclusive, but I promised to send it along as soon as I heard back.

quartofknees, I don't have any suggestions for you having no experience with this, but I just wanted to offer you my congrats! :-) That's wonderful news!