Bio

(I know bios have been discussed, but so far I haven't found anything directly relating to my situation.)

I've been querying my first novel, and based on what I read here, I did not include a bio.

I was contacted by an agency (they responded in less than a week to my query letter), asking for an exclusive look at the full manuscript, but they also want a bio.

Here are my publishing credits: 0 (Unless you count being in the San Jose, Costa Rica University student exchange program publication when I was 12).

Here's what I've done within the past ten years: Edited software/hardware end-user manuals for an IT company, helped edit a friend's college papers (narratives and a portfolio for which she got outstanding marks--most of that was her, but I'd like to think my editing helped), created an on line learning cd for a trucking company (had to develop test questions/answers based on the video the trucking company provided).

I'm submitting snippets of my novel to an editor who is writing a book (she wants good writing examples to put in her book), and I submitted to two ss contests this year (which I won't know results on until at least December).

I attended a Don Maass workshop (the intensive one), and am an active member of my local writers group (the fastest growing group in NC).

I'm so afraid of screwing up this opportunity. I feel that, as of now, I don't have a bio, but surely some of what I just listed has to matter. How do I present it so that it can?

Thanks for the link waylander.

Perhaps I should clarify a bit.

I write mainstream/women's issues. My only "credit" to that is that I am a woman who has friends, sisters, mother, and I get inspiration/imagination from the lives around me.

I have been unable to work outside of the home due to health reasons for the past 12 years. I doubt that's something an agent is going to want to know, or even care about if it doesn't get in the way or writing (which it doesn't, in fact, it opened the door for me to do so) and/or touring if/when it comes to that. Or is it? (I really don't know where the line on this is).

As far as personal details, my novel has an underground railroad for women. When I was a child, my mother housed a woman on the run, and there are other connections with my life that I included in my book. How much is TOO much when getting personal and connecting those details in the bio?