reveal previous agent?

Yes. You don't have to mention it in your first query, but if you sign with an agent, you need to have a very frank discussion of where it was sent to, how much of the book was changed, and who submitted it. That will give the current agent an idea of what they can and cannot do with the manuscript.

I think it's always in the writer's best interest to be completely up front with business dealings, because what if your agent finds out about it on the back end? Then she/he will not trust you, and it could ruin a good relationship.

I agree with Irys, but I'll add you have to disclose it's been shopped before you sign.

Nothing will cause you to sour your relationship with your new agent faster than if he/she finds out later that an earlier version of the book had previously been shopped to editors. Given the time, they might not care, especially if it has been majorly revised. But you absolutely must disclose it before you sign.

And the reality is that it's probable the agent will ask for the book's submission history before you sign, so you'd have to lie to not disclose the previous representation and shopping of the book.

I've actually heard from agents the horrors of finding out from editors they've seen a version of the book before, that it had peviously been shopped by another agent - how do you think that relationship progressed?

~suki

A thought (since I agree with the above posts): Look up publishers that novel hasn't been sent to and who take unagented mss. Submit without an agent. Meanwhile, work on a new novel, finish it and polish it, then find a new agent on the strength of this new work.

suki said:

I agree with Irys, but I'll add you have to disclose it's been shopped before you sign.

Click to expand...

This is what I said as well. Sorry if my post was unclear.