Does anyone know per the query requirements on the website, do they want nothing written in the email (other than the subject line) and everything in an attached file? That's how I'm reading it but just want to be sure. This would be the only agency I've come across that wants solely an attachment.

Thanks donedeal. Both URLs end up in the same place.

Hey Patrick - new website for this agency: http://hartlineagency.com/

Does not accept new authors unless you've met at a writer's conference

"Please do NOT submit any material that would conflict with the Christian worldview."

Joyce took the time to exchange views with me about first-time writers. She was very kind and supportive in this dialog, and I appreciate her doing so. The last words:

Be sure to include your copywriting experience in your bio. This is impressive and will get the attention of an agent. Your story sounds very interesting and I think you have a good chance of getting published. Just remember, sell yourself, do not feel like you are bragging. As unfair as it sounds, it’s important.



I wish you the best in find the right agent and publisher. Don’t give up. I think you have the drive to make it in publishing.

Joyce wanted to know what qualified me to write my book. Here's my answer:

Dear Joyce:

Thanks so much for taking time to respond to my query, however, in taking a closer look at what you folks do, I must say that I am not even remotely a good fit for you, so I must apologize for adding you to my list in the first place.

I am a bit perplexed, however, at your question of why I am qualified to write my book. How does one become "qualified" to write a book? The answer is simple. By writing it! There are no qualifications in fiction. There is ability, talent, perseverance and a few other elements that give someone the ability to write a book. Perhaps you are confusing the two terms.

I have the ability to write a book because I have done so - over 60,000 words. What would make me qualified? A degree in creative writing? If that were true, we could eliminate probably every classical writer over the last 400 years.

I will grant you that "life experience" could be considered a "qualifier" for writing. If you have none, it is more difficult to write, but not impossible. Look at Emily Dickinson. She spent most of her prolific life in her room dreaming about life experience and writing beautiful poems about those dreams. I can just imagine the rejection letter you would send her.

That's interesting. I had a bad experience with Andy Sheer last year.

3/1/13, I queried Joyce with Chain Venom. Today she passed. I'll try Diana with CR next month.

10/18/12 - went to check out new agent Andy Scheer and saw this on P&E:
Hartline Literary Agency: We're not hearing good things. A literary agency.

12/15: Well, after a few emails back and forth, it didn't work out with him. First of all, he didn't know what a R and R was. Second of all, once I told him, he told me he had to be blunt--he said my prose was awkward that he had ever seen. Second of all, he rejected my proposal and told me, he doesn't want me to resubmit, unless I can analyze what went wrong with my prose. I told him, I was willing to fix it and that I'm reworking it now as I speak. He thought I was arguing with him, when I tried to get some clarity out of it. He said to submit it to someone else, and told me he doesn't wish to work with writers who doesn't understand to see what he writes. I told him I did. So that was that. It's dead in the water. No R&R, officially scratched off on my query list for good. It's marked as helpful, since he gave me some tips on my prose. Oh well. I wished he wasn't mean. I did apology. He didn't respond.

Jillik, that's interesting. I got nothing from her. I actually sent it to Diana Flegal at Hartline on 10/26 via email. I've sent her a follow-up two weeks ago. Nope.

11/7: Nudged Joyce Hart on mu 7/28/11 query. She responded, she never got my query. 11/8: So I'm requerying her with updated submission package. I also changed the submission date for the status.



12/14: I've heard back from Andy Sheer. Let me know what you guys think. He apologized for getting back to me on the delay. He said that my proposal and sample chapters aren't sharp as they like--he said some were confusing, awkward or hard to understand. He did say the concept was good and wants me to go back to sharpen my prose for me to better able what I envisioned. AS for the proposal, (which I looked over at the website), he mentioned about target reader, comparable books and potential role to help promote my book. To me, this sounds like a R&R. Am I right? If anyone has done a winning Hartline proposal, let me know.

E'queried on 11/7/09
Rec'd an email today (11/9/09) saying she was sorry but she wasn't taking on any first time authors at this time.

Sent query on 7/13 received a nice personal rejection on 7/15 stating that my story was an excellent one however their wasn't that big of a market for my genre, at least with the publishers she worked with. I have found that "christian or inspirational agencies are probably not who I should query.

Sent just a query on 6/16 to gauge their interest and got a request for a partial from Terry Burns with Hartline today (7/4). He wanted me to email a "submission package" following their guidelines on the website. It was a lot of work but nothing unreasonable. I don't consider my manuscript a fit for the Christian market, so they do seem to consider more than just religious/inspirational material.

7/7: Quick! Got a very long R about markets and that they don't have the contacts to place it but they like to keep projects they like around for when their industry contacts grow so may ask for it again down the road. Can't tell if it's form or not.

This agent reviewed her profile and updated the genres.