Where to submit, USA or UK?

Generally speaking, authors submit to the agents in the country they live in. The agents will sell foreign rights, either through a sub-agent or directly, to publishers in other countries. Of course there are exceptions, but that is the way it generally works.

Also be aware most London agencies still work the old fashioned way and very few will accept submissions by e-mail.

Feel free to query UK agents. The worst they can say is no.

When I was looking I only found a couple who didn't respond to an email, or did and then asked me to mail chapters.

The agent I signed with only takes snail mail submissions (according to the website anyway). I ignored that and emailed him direct. If I had gone the usual route my work would have probably disappeared into the slushpile never to be seen again.

I'd ignore the country, and just find an agent who specialised in books very similar to yours.

If you think the UK is a better fit, go for it!

If you can find an agent who has represented authors similar to you, then you're way ahead.

cheers
Sam

Kiltinator said:

The agent I signed with only takes snail mail submissions (according to the website anyway). I ignored that and emailed him direct. If I had gone the usual route my work would have probably disappeared into the slushpile never to be seen again.

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Considering most UK agents only accept snail mail, that's a bit of a misleading statement. I congratulate you on getting around the snail mail thing, but if you had submitted snail mail what on earth makes you think it would vanish into the slush pile? A slush pile of snail mail is the same as a slush pile of email. Adding to that, all agents I know read through every single submission, there is no vanishing act. Lastly, to give a personal example, my work was submitted to a UK agent by snail mail and found it's way out of the slush THE NEXT DAY.

Breaking the rules worked for you, and I always think a little bending of them here and there never hurts, but to hint at the fact that the only way one can get attention, can avoid vanishing into the slush pile, is through breaking the rules is a little one sided, and may put some people who follow your advice into hot water.

MM - I have answered a similar question of yours in another thread, but I shall do so again here. I got a UK agent while living in the UK and I am now back in Canada. Thanks to the wonders of technology it really isn't any kind of problem. So having an agent outside your own country really is a non issue. As is, in my opinion, submitting to such an agent. So it takes a bit of cash to submit overseas, isn't it worth it?

In the end you know your work and your market best. Yes agents sell foreign rights, but you have to have an agent interested in the first place. If you think UK agents are more likely to be enthusiastic about your work, go for it.

I will say what I said before though, that most UK agents want work that feels british. If your piece is heavy on the flag waving (American flag that is) or difficult for a UK audience to relate to, you may have a problem. Then again my agent represents Lee Child, a brit who writes gritty american crime thrillers, so it can be done.

Lastly make sure, as with submitting anywhere, that you do your research. Submitting to UK agents is different than submitting to American ones. I actually way prefer the UK way: a cover letter, synopsis and first three chapters from the off. However some UK agents only want a covering letter etc. Just investigate and you'll be fine.

You know best! Good luck!