Question about Query Etiquette

[allegretta12]

Sorry if this question has already been asked and answered elsewhere.

I'm wondering if it's okay to query agents and submit to small regional publishing houses at the same time. Is it better to do one first then the other? I'm very interested in small Canadian publishers, but most of them take several months to respond and it all seems to be done via snail mail. I'd like to keep querying in the meantime. If it's okay to do both at once, when's the best time to let a prospective agent know that you've submitted to x number of small presses? What happens if you sign with an agent (do you cancel submissions to publishers? I guess it probably depends on the agent?)

Thanks!
A

[Careyrox]

I think the problem in querying pub houses is that if you get an agent and he or she is trying to get your MS published, it kind of limits them...they can't try to sub the MS to a house that's already been subbed before, at least that's the gist from what I've read. My best suggestion, is query agents first, then do publishers. Not sure if it matters they are Canadian...more and more agents are going through Canada. But others here probably will have more experience than I, so that's just me 2 cents.

[allegretta12]

Thanks Careyrox,
I guess my assumption was that an agent probably wouldn't be subbing these publishers - small regional houses that accept unsolicited manuscripts and only publish Canadian authors. But maybe I'm completely wrong?
I know others here have/are being published by small houses. I'd be curious to know when in the submission process they decided to try that route and whether or not they stopped querying agents once they sent their MS away to one or more small press.

Sometimes it seems like I become more confused about querying the longer I do it!!

[Falen]

I think first you have to ask and answer a question:

Are you looking to be indie pubbed? Or are you looking for an agent?

Whichever way you answer, that's who you should be submitting to 

[allegretta12]

How very logical I guess I really should make up my mind ... How about subbing one MS to indie publishers while querying agents with another? Still no good?

[Falen]

That sounds fine to me