Here's my sticky situation.
I had started writing photobook manuscripts a while back, and put them aside for over a year when i started writing my other book, after I had finished my field research on the subject matter.
after several months of searching, I found an agent who loved the book, and is currently working on getting it published. (There's been lots of interest, but also hesitation because publishers are worried about my genre in this economy.) But my agent is confident.
While I am waiting, I reopened my manuscripts, and after several weeks, I finally finished a very polished copy of one of them.
On monday I did a small test group of a handful of 4-8 year olds at the library... and they really liked the story... probably would have liked it more with the pictures, then it was off to a small group of 6 year olds at a daycare who also seemed to enjoy the story. the teachers said they'd love to have a copy for the school if it does get illustrated then published. So it was fairly successful.
So I emailed my agent to see if he even works with photobooks (should have asked that PRIOR to reopening the manuscript)... and unfortunately, he doesn't do photobooks or children's stories because he says it's too competitive of a market, and not as profitable.
So I'm at a loss. I don't think I can have 2 agencies representing me, even if though one doesn't represent photobooks. And I'm currently happy with my agency, so I don't want to screw that up.
Someone mentioned to me in another post I should go straight to a publisher with my photobook, however, I got the agent in the first place because I was warned publishers do not want to hear from you unless through an agent or unless you're an established writer.
so I'm kind of at a loss, and looking for suggestions. I'd hate to scrap the photobook, since it did so well in the focus group... but I don't want to step on my agent's toes, since I'm very happy with him thus far, by trying to sign with a second agency to rep my photobooks.
So suggestions are very welcome!
I had started writing photobook manuscripts a while back, and put them aside for over a year when i started writing my other book, after I had finished my field research on the subject matter.
after several months of searching, I found an agent who loved the book, and is currently working on getting it published. (There's been lots of interest, but also hesitation because publishers are worried about my genre in this economy.) But my agent is confident.
While I am waiting, I reopened my manuscripts, and after several weeks, I finally finished a very polished copy of one of them.
On monday I did a small test group of a handful of 4-8 year olds at the library... and they really liked the story... probably would have liked it more with the pictures, then it was off to a small group of 6 year olds at a daycare who also seemed to enjoy the story. the teachers said they'd love to have a copy for the school if it does get illustrated then published. So it was fairly successful.
So I emailed my agent to see if he even works with photobooks (should have asked that PRIOR to reopening the manuscript)... and unfortunately, he doesn't do photobooks or children's stories because he says it's too competitive of a market, and not as profitable.
So I'm at a loss. I don't think I can have 2 agencies representing me, even if though one doesn't represent photobooks. And I'm currently happy with my agency, so I don't want to screw that up.
Someone mentioned to me in another post I should go straight to a publisher with my photobook, however, I got the agent in the first place because I was warned publishers do not want to hear from you unless through an agent or unless you're an established writer.
so I'm kind of at a loss, and looking for suggestions. I'd hate to scrap the photobook, since it did so well in the focus group... but I don't want to step on my agent's toes, since I'm very happy with him thus far, by trying to sign with a second agency to rep my photobooks.
So suggestions are very welcome!
) and explain you really want to publish both, don't want to loose him as an agent, etc etc, and does he have someone he could recommend? You won't be stepping on his toes and you'll be letting him know you're interested in doing both genres. 
