Four years ago, Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Agency was an answer to my prayers.
Having written my first young adult novel, I decided to brave the terrifying world of querying literary agents. I was THRILLED when Rachel requested my complete manuscript. The song and dance (with a few escapee tears) came a couple months later when she called me to offer representation. Wow. There was no other word for it.
I didn't worry too much that Books & Such made the bulk of their deals with the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) and I was trying to get published with the American Booksellers Association (ABA). My agent was taking a chance on me, an unpublished author, so I was more than willing to take a chance on her.
Rachel targeted ABA publishers while I continued to write. We saw manuscript requests, a revision request and plenty of rejections. But no offers. Four years have passed and I've now written a total of five young adult novels (all stand-alone, though two of them have definite sequel possibilities). As Rachel's client list grew to include more and more authors looking to be published with the CBA market, I realized how completely alone I felt in being represented by an agency whose resources were directly exclusively to the CBA market.
After MUCH thought and consideration, and an email discussion with my agent, we both agreed that there was probably another agent out there more in tune with the ABA market who could better represent me.
So...I can't call this a "new" adventure as I've already done this once before. Therefore I'll dub it a "newish" adventure. Let the querying begin. Here's hoping I find another literary agent every bit as awesome as my first one!
Having written my first young adult novel, I decided to brave the terrifying world of querying literary agents. I was THRILLED when Rachel requested my complete manuscript. The song and dance (with a few escapee tears) came a couple months later when she called me to offer representation. Wow. There was no other word for it.
I didn't worry too much that Books & Such made the bulk of their deals with the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) and I was trying to get published with the American Booksellers Association (ABA). My agent was taking a chance on me, an unpublished author, so I was more than willing to take a chance on her.
Rachel targeted ABA publishers while I continued to write. We saw manuscript requests, a revision request and plenty of rejections. But no offers. Four years have passed and I've now written a total of five young adult novels (all stand-alone, though two of them have definite sequel possibilities). As Rachel's client list grew to include more and more authors looking to be published with the CBA market, I realized how completely alone I felt in being represented by an agency whose resources were directly exclusively to the CBA market.
After MUCH thought and consideration, and an email discussion with my agent, we both agreed that there was probably another agent out there more in tune with the ABA market who could better represent me.
So...I can't call this a "new" adventure as I've already done this once before. Therefore I'll dub it a "newish" adventure. Let the querying begin. Here's hoping I find another literary agent every bit as awesome as my first one!
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