HippoHead

Anyone able to recommend one? I know some of them like to be contacted based on what genre your book is... or is that just publishers?
Anyhoo, yeah, it'd be good to find one who accepts e-mails rather than snail mail stuff - the printing costs, children, the printing costs!
Cheers for any help :}

strangedaze

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Ken

You DEFINITELY want to target your agent queries. In other words, don't query an agent who is only interested in self-help books with your children's book idea! It's a waste of their time--and yours.

Pick up a copy of Writer's Market in a bookstore and study the agent listings for those actively seeking titles like yours. Then go to their website, if they have one, and look at their most recent sales. All agents want to see that you're specifically targeting them and that you know who they are and what they represent.

Also, pay close attention to their submission guidelines. Some ONLY accept email queries and want specific things in the subject line, etc. And most will noteven open an email with attachments, so be careful about that.

Another good idea is to pick up books similar to yours that have been published in the last year or so. Look in the author acknowlegements. Authors always thank their agents. This is another good way to produce a shortlist of agents who you know represent books like yours.

Good luck!

Ken

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Mike C

Yeah. Ken said it all. Though not all authors thank their agents.

You can use this - Contact Celebrity Agents Lawyers Managers and Publicists - WhoRepresents?com - to find out which agents represent which authors, or trawl publishers' marketplace, where authors often acknowledge their agents, or the authors' websites.

This is good advice for two reasons. A reputable agency will crow loud and long about who's on their client list. Folio Literary Management is a good example of a hugely successful NY agency.

A bad, or disreputable, or scamming agent won't. They won't have a successful client list, and will instead say something about wanting to protect their clients' privacy, or maybe list a few self-published titles.

Draw up your hit list of agents, and check them against P&E: Literary Agents, also Warnings and Cautions for Writers--Writer Beware's Thumbs Down Agency List and Bewares and Background Check - Absolute Write Water Cooler

Avoid any agent that charges fees up-front (a reputable agent will take their cut from your earnings once they've sold the book, not before) or that says you have potential, but you should send it to the editor they just happen to recommend, or any other helpful advice designed to suck cash out of your pockets.

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