Agentless...

…all over again, but saw it coming from a way’s off.

Just had an email from my agents where they’ve basically informed me that they feel they can’t move forward with me or my book due to complete lack of responses and interest in new crime fiction in the Irish publishing industry at present.

While I take their analysis at face value, the sell didn’t last long (only since July) and part of me suspects that as a new author, I too hard a sell for these particular agents in tough economic times.  Judging from their website their specialism seems to be true life stories of overcoming adversity and ‘celeb’ autobiographies, so I’m not sure what experience they have in selling crime fiction.

In hindsight I think I was way too quick to sign up with them as I was dazzled by the thought of having an agent and gave no thought to whether these agents was the right one for me.

On the plus side however, having an agent in the early stages of writing my first book spurred me on to complete it and start on my second one, and that may not have happened without their input.

So we’ve parted ways and I’m now starting from scratch. I’m going to look for an agent in the US and the UK instead to see if there are any takers there. Any advice or pitfalls to avoid would be appreciated,

I’ve ordered the Writers and Artist Yearbook 2011 off Amazon today and will begin with Agent submissions forthwith.

I've got to go now, there's grindstone waiting with my name on it ...

TF.80

Current Reading:     Eoin Colfer - The Atlantis Complex
                             Kurt Vonnegut - Slaughterhouse 5
Current Listening:   Bombay Bicycle Club - Flaws
                            Foals - Total Life Forever