Does anyone understand her sub guidelines? It mentions a synopsis not a query. Also mentions pasting a "writing sample" - presumably from the book you're pitching, but does not mention how many pages. It also warns not to deviate from the sub guidelines - despite them being, erm, a bit vague.

PitMad request 12/4
Query & full sent 12/8

MG Fantasy. Looks like she's not in the habit of responding quickly.

Update: No response ever.

From her timeline, it seems if she hasn't gotten back in a day it's over.

EQ: 5/6/17

Philosophical/Lit. Fiction; 117,000 words

Pitmad request 12/4
Full sent 12/5

Judging from KellyE I'm in for a very long wait!

5 out is excellent. Good luck finding the right agent.

KellyE

Yes. Her and eleven others. She is an excellent agent.

She has a full and is currently reading.

Patrick, we can add historical fiction to Helen's genres. She'll be at the Historical Novel Society conference this summer. Her description includes the following:

"She specializes in front-list fiction which she defines as ‘the sweet spot where extraordinary prose meets engrossing plots’. She loves historical fiction and has handled many historical novels such as the recently-published The Virgin Cure by Ami McKay. She has also done historical crime fiction like The Mistress of the Art of Death series by Ariana Franklin. Helen’s preference is for books that transcend genre to deliver amazing characters as well as riveting stories. She is a stickler for historical accuracy and gets annoyed at dialogic solecisms in shows like Downtown Abbey and The Hour! That having been said, she also has an innate dislike for ‘talking forsoothly’ in her books."

For those of you wondering, if you'll go to their website, they say quite plainly that if you don't hear back from them in a week or so, they're probably not interested. It's on the FAQ page under "I emailed a query but I never heard back! Why?"

Sent a query. Helen req a partial. Sent the partial. She req a full. Sent the full in early Jan 2011. Haven't heard anything. Followed up with an email in April. Haven't heard. Typically, if someone req a full, they at least let you know if they passed, right? Or am I being impatient and it could be a few more months?

Aug 8, 2011- After another follow up today, recvd an email from Helen saying she had replied some time ago to let me know the book wasn't a fit. I never recvd that, obviously wouldn't have nudged someone who had already rejected it. Sorry to have bothered her because she was very nice/professional throughout the process.

Queried on 02/10/2010. I haven't heard back from here....I'm guessing it is a no.

Sarah requested a partial in less than two weeks. They are changing over their computer system and emails seem to be a bit backlogged right now.

It appears that if they don't respond immediately (a day or two), they don't respond at all.

I sent a query to Helen's email this morning and recived a request for the first few chapters from Sarah less than an hour later!

I know it doesn't guarantee anything, but it feels good!!