Joseph Wallace Literary Agency

king1042 said:

If worst comes to worst, is POD a viable option or vanity publishing in disguise?

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Depends. The ones who are really shady, as in aren't clear as to what they do, avoid at all costs. Self-publishing could work, but I side with the opinion that self-publishing should only be considered if: a.)you're publishing poetry, b.)you have a niche or very small market for your subject, or c.)you've exhausted all commercial avenues.

king1042 said:

The agency is Joseph Wallace Literary agency in London - I'd be interested to hear from anyone else on his books. He seems like a regular guy, but who knows?

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There's almost no info about this agency online, other than a few online listings such as this one. It reveals that the agency has been in business since 2004, yet I can't find a single sale for it.

Has it charged you any fees? At any rate, the apparent lack of sales plus the submission to Schiel & Denver (which is so obviously not a commercial publisher that I have a tough time imagining that an established agent would consider it) suggests to me that this is an amateur agency.

- Victoria

I can't find out much about this agency. Companies House doesn't have any listing for it. But I did find this, which gives an address, and coincidentally, I used to live on the same road: it's Willesden High Road, in north-west London, and I lived a little higher up, nearer the bus station. It was a pretty run-down area and not exactly notorious for its literary agencies. It isn't the sort of place to have an office if you want to impress anyone.

Authors include E Smith, A Daniel

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Who?

And if you scroll down, you'll see this editing service edited a book for an author represented by Joseph Wallace. No sign the book in question was ever published, though.
http://www.alphaediting.com/gallery_of_stars.htm

Not sure if this is a UK thing, but only one agent out of the many I've dealt with ever had a yahoo email address. In her case, it was ok because she's old-school and has no online presence. However, she's been in the business since the beginning of time and has easily-tracked huge sales under her belt. A yahoo email account + no tracked sales = question marks.

Agents' sales are their business cards, and I've never known them to be shy about blasting their successes across the internet.

Literary agency

king1042 said:

The amount offered was £15.00 ($21.00)!! So thoughts of retiring to a remote cottage in Provence for 6 months to put finishing touches to the book soon evaporated... The agency is Joseph Wallace Literary agency in London - I'd be interested to hear from anyone else on his books. He seems like a regular guy, but who knows?
If worst comes to worst, is POD a viable option or vanity publishing in disguise?
As an original Sixties Mod, I'd appreciate the opinion of a Mod Squad member like yourself!
KIng1042

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Hi KIng1042. Just recently came across this forum and your posting. I signed with the same agency in January this year who said he had submitted my book to several publishers. (He had had a copy of my work for 11 months prior to this.) Haven't heard anymore but I do realise that everything takes time. Will gladly let you know if I should hear anything.
Jimmymac.

Hi I hope someone can advise me on this problem with Joseph Wallace Literary Agency?
who has disapeared with the whole manuscript I sent him as he requested on CD in Jan 2009. My book has answers and solutions to weight issues, there is nothing like this book on the market shelves today.

Reading this thread, I am getting a strange sense this agent may not be what he says. As every new writer on here has submitted to this agent in Jan 09 and I know things take time but why take on so many authors at one time?

I share your concern about this agent.
What is Mr Wallace's background that qualifies him to be an agent?

Wallace

I too am concerned about Joseph Wallace. It was my girlfriend who approached him with her book and he showed some real interest, although at only 30,000 words he thought it too short. At his request, she re-wrote it and sent the complete manuscript of over 60,000 words on a CD-Rom. She received a letter back in December 2008, stating that she would have a decision within 4 weeks, but has heard nothing. We have emailed him, but had no reply and his phone number no longer works. Anyone got a current number?

This all started back in April 2008, so don't hold your breath.

Is it me, or is there a pattern forming?

I sent JW three chapters and had a reply within three months asking for a full submission which I sent on CD and a full print manuscript.

I have not been able to get a reply from JW in over 1.5 years.

I would appreciate anybody who has actually had a succesfull publication with this agent

Cheers Guys

Donald

Donald, Joseph Wallace does not have any sales that anyone can discover. He has attempted to steer clients to a fee-based "publisher" (Schiel & Denver). I think that's all the info you need...

- Victoria

Thanks for that Victoria

Appreciate the imput

There will be a glass of chilled something for you next time you cross the pond

Cheers

Donald

Adding agents email address [email protected]

Why put the agents email address on?
I've clicked on the writersservices link (2008) but it is dead. Also noticed that the latest list available (2010) from writersservices does not have Joesph Wallace on the page now.
Is he still an active agent?

I don't think he was ever an active agent in the sense that active agents make money by selling books to advance-paying publishers

Stay well clear of this agent I don't think he is even in circulation now.
I have sent a letter to basically say I feel I would be better represented elsewhere and have heard nothing in two months, regards a reply by either snail or Email.