Cascade Literary Agency?

[kimberlyFDR]

Does anyone have information about Cascade Literary Agency (Jewelann Cone)? I queried today, at the suggestion of a friend who had done prior query rounds in the paranormal genre. The agent was listed as having made a sale in the genre on January 26, 2012. My query turned into a full request within 3 hours! After more thorough research, the author and sales list on the agency's site mostly reflects erotica publishers that don't need an agent (Like Loose ID, but I saw some from TOR Romance, too) and nothing really in the non-erotic market. I'm not sure if she's just getting into the non-erotic market and that's why her client list isn't reflective of the genre or not. Just wondering if anyone knows more about Ms. Cone and Cascade.

[Falen]

I do not, but congrats on the full!

[kimberlyFDR]

Thank you! It's my first full request After a string of rejections it's always nice to get good news. So far I've maintained one request per month from 3 agents (December--request for pages, January--request for partial, February--request for full) with a whole lot of no-thanks mixed in 

[LydiaT]

That is a little concerning. They aren't listed on QT, and the fact that they have little sales to large publishers isn't too good  I don't know how reliable of an agent Ms. Cone would be, given her not too great track record.

However, congrats on the request 

[kimberlyFDR]

Yes, it is concerning. I based my entire query list on QueryTracker, but my friend suggested some others to try, so I figured it couldn't hurt. I should have done more extensive research on what publishers the sales were to, rather than just basing it on sales in general and the suggestion of a friend, but hindsight and all that.

I've contacted some of her clients to see why they chose to go with Ms. Cone rather than doing direct submissions and to get a feel for how she is as an agent. I know that a full doesn't mean she will like the manuscript, but just want to get as much information as possible before I have to make any kind of decision.

[LateToTheParty]

Patrick, the most excellent Admin, will probably hip you on this. I asked a question on a group and he weighed in, less than 24 hours after I hit return. 

[LydiaT]

I've contacted some of her clients to see why they chose to go with Ms. Cone rather than doing direct submissions and to get a feel for how she is as an agent. I know that a full doesn't mean she will like the manuscript, but just want to get as much information as possible before I have to make any kind of decision.

That's a good idea. And if it comes to an offer you're not comfortable with, you could always decline.

[Falen]

Also, here's the thing, the full doesn't have to mean anything. Even if she offers, you can always say no.
That's what i told myself after i got a full request from an agent i regretted querying.

[kimberlyFDR]

Thanks everyone. The whole process is filled with ups and downs. You never want to make the wrong move 

[kitforbes]

From the About section on the Cascade website :

She has a degree in business and worked as an editor for a small publisher. She is a member of RWA, Rose City Romance Writers, and Greater Seattle Romance Writers.

There's no mention of where she got her agenting experience and most have spent time learning the ropes and making editorial contacts at an established agency or spent time as an editor at a large commercial publisher.

Even though it's hard to believe, it really is better to have no agent than an agent who isn't right for you.

[kimberlyFDR]

Even though it's hard to believe, it really is better to have no agent than an agent who isn't right for you.

I know. The more I talk to her list of writers and look more at the agency in general, the more I'm convinced Cascade isn't the right agency to pursue. I'll await responses from my list of agents that I already had and continue on the query rounds. Thanks everyone.

[abbeysroad]

I'm curious if you've heard anything from this agent as I've had a partial request from her.

[kimberlyFDR]

@abbeysroad

I decided to not submit to this agent because it wasn't the right agency fit for me.

[River]

Hey Kimberly-
Just checked them out on P&E and their website. I found several odd things. They only spoke about the one writer they repped and that was last year. They also mentioned other writers who had signed with other agencies () My rule is that if a website is cheesy, I'll pass. She talked about her membership in Romance Writers of America-anybody can belong if they pony up a hundred bucks a year.
Then they said they conducted themselves by the rules of AAR-but not that they were a member.
Given their lack of experience and limited knowledge, it just might be the bullet you dodged.
Glad you got out before any real harm was done!

And I would reccomend the post by sharpegirl-an agent-who gave me a crash course in agenting that I will take with my through the rest of my writing career. It's on the post "Loose Leaf Literary' published on on March 9,13. It's an amazing tutorial on how the mythical beings known as agents, really work.

[kimberlyFDR]

Great post! Thanks for pointing that out.