• Guest please check The Index before starting a thread.

[Agent] Valerie Smith

The Scribbler

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
Anyone have any info on this agency? I have seen it a several lists for agencies that represent fantasy, but I cant seem ti find out anything about the agency. Thanks
 

The Scribbler

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
thanks. Is there any way I can find out about clients or recent sales?
 

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle
Absolute Sage
VPX
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Messages
25,582
Reaction score
3,785
Location
New Hampshire
Website
madhousemanor.wordpress.com
Val's clients include Madeline Robins, Sherwood Smith, Mary Frances Zambreno, and Steven Brust. I believe that Beth Bernobich, who sometimes posts here, is one of her clients.
 

The Scribbler

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 12, 2005
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
Thanks again. Since you seem to have the info, do you know what her submission guidelines are like?
 

waylander

Who's going for a beer?
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Messages
8,278
Reaction score
1,567
Age
65
Location
London, UK
Query letter, synopsis plus first 3 chapters according to another site
 

eqb

I write novels
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
4,680
Reaction score
2,055
Location
In the resistance
Website
www.claireodell.com
>>I believe that Beth Bernobich, who sometimes posts here, is
>> one of her clients.

I'm no longer a client, but yes, she is legitimate. Be aware that she tends to take a very (very) long time for replies.
 
Last edited:

special needs

Resident Airhead
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Messages
1,227
Reaction score
97
Location
Planet Earth
Beth Bernobich said:
>>I believe that Beth Bernobich, who sometimes posts here, is
>> one of her clients.

I'm no longer a client, but yes, she is quite legitimate. Be aware that she tends to take a long time for replies.

The reason you are not still a client isn't something we should know about it, is it?
 

eqb

I write novels
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
4,680
Reaction score
2,055
Location
In the resistance
Website
www.claireodell.com
special needs said:
The reason you are not still a client isn't something we should know about it, is it?

I'd say it boiled down to "things didn't work out." As with any other legit agent, some clients will find her the perfect agent, and some will not.
 

Unimportant

No COVID yet. Still masking.
Staff member
Moderator
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 8, 2005
Messages
19,533
Reaction score
22,763
Location
Aotearoa
Valerie Smith also does not seem to respond to queries if she's not interested. Either that, or she's got a secret fetish for collecting airmail stamps on authors' SASEs.
 

eqb

I write novels
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
4,680
Reaction score
2,055
Location
In the resistance
Website
www.claireodell.com
That's not unusual, actually. I'm now searching for a new agent, and I've seen quite a few guidelines that state the agent only responds if they are interested.
 

HapiSofi

Hagiographically Advantaged
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
2,093
Reaction score
676
Val Smith is slow-moving, insightful, kind, maddening, extremely talented, not all that good at handling foreign rights, discreet, honest, funny, a tad forgetful, and has been at the heart of the whole Scribblies/Bordertown/Apanage/Ace/Tor/Firebird nexus of fantasy literature.

There's nothing wrong with Val that couldn't be cured by a clutch of house-elves with a knack for trafficking and filing.
 

LloydBrown

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
1,749
Reaction score
196
Location
Jacksonville, Florida
Website
www.lloydwrites.com
HapiSofi said:
Val Smith is slow-moving, insightful, kind, maddening, extremely talented, not all that good at handling foreign rights, discreet, honest, funny, a tad forgetful, and has been at the heart of the whole Scribblies/Bordertown/Apanage/Ace/Tor/Firebird nexus of fantasy literature.

There's nothing wrong with Val that couldn't be cured by a clutch of house-elves with a knack for trafficking and filing.

I'm about 61% certain that's a recommendation...
 

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
...
06-06-2006, 07:50 AM
Manxom Vroom
Esteemed New Member

She's had my complete manuscript since the first week of April, and I'm waiting ever so patiently for a reply. In an odd sort of way, I find it comforting to know that she tends to be slow.
__________________
Jeff
06-06-2006, 08:37 AM
Beth Bernobich
Super Member

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manxom Vroom
She's had my complete manuscript since the first week of April, and I'm waiting ever so patiently for a reply. In an odd sort of way, I find it comforting to know that she tends to be slow.
Just to give you some data points. The first time I submitted to Val, she took eight months to reply with a rewrite request, then three months to pass on the revised manuscript. A couple years later I tried her with a new probject, and she only took two months to reply with a 'yes' to the full manuscript. This doesn't mean her response times are improving, only that you can never tell when she'll be quick or non-responsive.
06-06-2006, 09:01 AM
Manxom Vroom
Esteemed New Member

Wow! Thanks for the heads up. As you were waiting did you ever give into the temptation to call and talk to her directly, to ask for an update? 8 months is a terribly long time to wait.
__________________
Jeff
06-06-2006, 09:35 AM
Beth Bernobich
Super Member

Quote:
Originally Posted by Manxom Vroom
Wow! Thanks for the heads up. As you were waiting did you ever give into the temptation to call and talk to her directly, to ask for an update? 8 months is a terribly long time to wait.
No. iirc, she emailed me once during that time period to apologize for taking so long and to ask for more time.
 

Manxom Vroom

A proper fool
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 18, 2006
Messages
122
Reaction score
6
Location
Detroit
Website
jvalka.blogspot.com
I'm still waiting to hear back from her, and starting to think that if she had any real enthusiasm for my work, I would have heard something from her by now. To wait 8 months for a response, and then another 3 only to have your rewrite rejected...I'm just not sure that this is the kind of agent I want.
 

nicolesingslave

AW Addict
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 18, 2009
Messages
322
Reaction score
3
Location
Singapore
Website
nicolesingslave.buzznet.com

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
Just FYI - one gets better results on Google Books, with the search string "agent [name]", with quotes. E.g., "agent valerie smith".
 
Last edited:

eqb

I write novels
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
4,680
Reaction score
2,055
Location
In the resistance
Website
www.claireodell.com
Just to keep things up to date... While this agent apparently still accepts queries, I would strongly advise *against* querying her. For details, feel free to PM me.
 

Pegster

Girando e fuzzicando
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
164
Reaction score
19
Location
Winter Park
Valerie Smith Agency still Viable?

Anyone know if she is still out there? I checked PM and got nuthin, and forget Google. QueryTracker uses snail mail, but before I commit the postage, I was wondering if anyone had any deals.
 

CaoPaux

Mostly Harmless
Staff member
Super Moderator
Moderator
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
13,952
Reaction score
1,746
Location
Coastal Desert
I'm not finding any activity after '14. Anyone else?