Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-03-08 19:16
I just received a response from an agent about my book. She said she was very interested in promoting the book and sent me a sample contract. I am going to have a lawyer(brother-in-law, so it's a freebie)look over the contract. But what raised concern on my part, wouldn't an agent want to read the actual book and wouldn't they want to meet with you? Or, are these things I should not be concerned about right now?
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Gopher Gold (---.hsd1.wa.comcast.net)
Date: 08-03-08 20:04
Sounds like you were contacted by a scam operation. No legit agent would offer representation without reading the book unless you were Bill Clinton or Madonna. Is she asking you for money?
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Robert Brown (---.hsd1.in.comcast.net)
Date: 08-03-08 20:11
I'd have to agree with that 200%. The only way that I might send a contract to someone without reading anything is if that person was a huge celebrity. If they were, I'd do the writing. Are you a huge celebrity? If not run.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Smiling Curmudgeon (---.tukw.qwest.net)
Date: 08-03-08 22:28
Alfredo,
Who is the agent?
This has all the hallmarks of a scam.
Cur
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 07:12
She never asked for money, the contract that was sent was only a sample. I was going to contact her and ask more questions; such as are there mandatory editing fees? What else do you think I should ask?
Her name is Judyth Piazza with thesop.com
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 07:17
Another thing, I found her name on this site.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Gopher Gold (---.hsd1.mn.comcast.net)
Date: 08-04-08 11:36
It's actually thesop.org. not .com
I can't quite work out from the website what she actually does...
What does your contract say? Does it mention literary representation, or does it just say promotion?
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Jena Grace (---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: 08-04-08 11:49
Looks like promotion. Did you send her a query? If so--Alfredo, please, PLEASE research agents fully before you contact them.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 12:21
I sent her a query, bio, and chapter outline of the book. The contract does say literary agent, and it also says I can terminate agreement by giving a 30 day notice. I have done a lot of research on her and found that she also hosts her own talk show on radio, I have done a search on her on the Internet and also found that she is executive editor for Florida People magazine in addition to writing for The Calder Gazette. On her sight thesop.org, she is managing editor for SOP. I emailed her and asked if there are any charges, I haven't gotten a response yet.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 13:16
I also meant to add, I got her name off writers.net as an agent.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: jayce (---.mob.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 13:29
Alfredo:
Anybody can list themselves as an agent on W/N. It's totally unscreened and unmonitored.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 13:34
Ok, that's good to know. Besides all of the other checking I have done so far,how else can I find out if she is ligit?
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: jayce (---.mob.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 13:37
Ask her what books she has sold to mainstream publishing houses.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Gopher Gold (---.hsd1.wa.comcast.net)
Date: 08-04-08 16:58
My red flag is losing some of its redness - looks to me like she is well-intentioned - that she likes the concept of your book and feels that she knows how to get it to her contacts. Is your book non-fiction? If so, it's actually not too bad that she hasn't read it, because what you've sent her is in some way similar to a book proposal. Although book proposals are usually accompanied by a sample chapter or two, it's not unheard of to go by your platform and detailed chapter outline.
It also may not be that much of an issue that she hasn't sold anything before, if she simply knows that an editor is looking for the exact subject you've written about.
If, however, you've written fiction, even if she is well-intentioned, it's pretty dumb to try to sell a novel you haven't read.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Robert Brown (---.hsd1.in.comcast.net)
Date: 08-04-08 17:12
And also, even if you've read the novel and are not an established, known agent, it's still dumb.
As far as non-fiction, it's true that if you know an editor who wants a certain book,it may seem easier, but it's still difficult if the author doesn't have a platform (prior sales or some celebrity). A few years ago, when non-fiction was flying off bookstore shelves, a person could get by with a smaller platform. Unfortunately, the market since then has become flooded, so name, expertise and credentials mean everything these days.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Alfredo Lima (---.mia.bellsouth.net)
Date: 08-04-08 17:43
Thanks, my book is fiction, and I had the same concerns about her not reading the book. Like I said, the contract was only a sample, and it does say I can terminate with 30 day notice. so I am waiting to here back from her and see what else she has to say. And now after these post, I have a few more questions for her. Thanks again everyone.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Robert Brown (---.hsd1.in.comcast.net)
Date: 08-04-08 19:40
You might ask her when she started her agency, how many properties she's sold, whether she sells to large publishers or small (many new agents are selling to epublishers only--be aware of this). Also she needs to read your novel in it's entirety before finalizing with you. Why? Because she needs to report back to you on problems she's found that might impede marketing your book to major publishers. There is absolutely no reason to sign with an agent who is only going to market your book to small publishers and no one else. Yes, I can understand the possibility of the majors not wanting it, but she should try there first and God bless her if she hangs on and gets you published with a smaller publisher--after she's failed with the large ones. Many agents won't do that today.
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Ann Crispin (---.proxy.aol.com)
Date: 08-04-08 21:34
Did you look this agent up on Preditors and Editors? Does Dave have her listed with a $$ sign? (Means verified sales.)
Did you check whether she's listed on www.agentquery.com?
Did you contact Writer Beware to ask Victoria Strauss whether there is anything in WB's database regarding this agent?
beware@sfwa.org is her address.
-Ann C. Crispin
Chair, Writer Beware
www.writerbeware.com
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Re: Agent response? |
Author: Dave Kuzminski (---.washington-21rh15-16rt.dc.dial-access.att.net)
Date: 08-04-08 22:02
P&E is posting an initial listing tomorrow concerning this agent. At present, we're not satisfied with the possible conflict of interest we see.
By the way, unless your brother-in-law specializes in intellectual property law, he probably won't know what to watch for in a publishing contract.
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