[Agency] Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC (formerly Dystel & Goderich Lit. Mgmt.)

SeymourPats · Jan 4, 2011

lisa17 said:
Would appreciate any insight on this situation.

A year ago Iwas referred to a top YA agent who after a few months said she would rep my book if I did some rewriting. After getting notes, I would rewrite within 2 weeks and then wait 3 to 4 months for a response but she was "the best" so I kept going until after almost a year she was happy and sent it on submission. She sent me the rejections, nine in all over the course of many months.. A few didn't like it, a few raved about the writing but it wasn't what they were looking for, a few more loved it but had a similar subject in the past that stiffed or it was too close to something coming out. My agent told me to keep the faith.

So, I decided to send her the first 100 pages of the new book I was working on. She told me that it didn't grab her and that I needed an agent who could give me more time than she could right now and to call her in a month to see if she had anyone she could refer me to.

My question is: Is my first book now tainted, having been repped by her and rejected. I was thinking of querying Michael Bourret on the first book because I read he was interested in a ya novel with humor but when do I tell him that my book has been repped and rejected?

Ouch! I'm so sorry! That is a real nightmare. I'm honestly not sure what you should do. Maybe continue your work on the new manuscript and query that one? Maybe look at the publisher rejections you received and revise your existing manuscript?

I've heard it's a tougher sell once an agent has marketed a book and failed. I'd guess that she tried the really big presses already (which probably means that a different agent will be less interested because the big money places are off the table). But you can submit to a lot of smaller presses on your own.

Sorry to not have something more cheerful.

waylander · Jan 4, 2011

You need to get from your previous agent a list of all the editors it was subbed to. Any agent considering taking the book on will need this

Vandal · Jan 4, 2011

waylander said:
You need to get from your previous agent a list of all the editors it was subbed to. Any agent considering taking the book on will need this

Good luck with that. Too many agents are reluctant to release editor information once the opportunity for the "quick sale" has passed. I know of several AW writers who experienced this, unfortunately.

lisa17 · Jan 4, 2011

waylander said:
You need to get from your previous agent a list of all the editors it was subbed to. Any agent considering taking the book on will need this

Thanks. I already have that. Also the rejections except for 2 cases paise the writing.

MDavis · Jan 4, 2011

I just got a full request from Jim McCarthy. Yay, celebrating :e2bouncey

It's for a YA fantasy, so I'll let you all know how that goes. Judging by what everyone else has said here, he'll either respond quickly, or there will have been a problem with the email and I may have to SQ in a few months.

Who else is still waiting to hear back?

waylander · Jan 4, 2011

lisa17 said:
Thanks. I already have that. Also the rejections except for 2 cases paise the writing.

You might want to drop over to the Ask the Agent thread where Michael Carr of the Veritas Agency hangs out and run it by him

Sleigh88 · Jan 4, 2011

I have a super-silly question about querying Jim McCarthy, but I can't seem to find a definite answer anywhere--should I included a synopsis with my query? The website says to include a cover letter (which I assume is the query), an outline or synopsis, and sample pages, but I haven't seen anyone who's actually queried him mention the synopsis.

I know some other agencies specify synopses, as well, but some individual agents at those agencies say that they DON'T want to see a synopsis, so I just thought I'd double check.

Yeah, totally dumb question. But, like I say, if anyone has some insight, that would be great!

Anyway, good luck to everyone!

kaitie · Jan 4, 2011

His Agent Query page also says to include a sample chapter and a synopsis, so I'd put it in. If he doesn't want to read it, he won't, easy as that. And you won't get counted off for following guidelines. Good luck.

SeymourPats · Jan 5, 2011

Sleigh and Kaitie: The chapter and synopsis are for snail mail queries. For an equery, his website says to send just the query letter.

I sent an equery and received a full request.

Rowan · Jan 5, 2011

SeymourPats said:
Sleigh and Kaitie: The chapter and synopsis are for snail mail queries. For an equery, his website says to send just the query letter.

I sent an equery and received a full request.

Same here--he's a fast reader (responder) too!

miamyselfandi · Jan 5, 2011

SeymourPats said:
Sleigh and Kaitie: The chapter and synopsis are for snail mail queries. For an equery, his website says to send just the query letter.

I sent an equery and received a full request.

How did I miss that? I hope people don't get counted off for sending the whole package.

C.T. Richmond · Jan 5, 2011

Sleigh,

I have a super-silly question about querying Jim McCarthy, but I can't seem to find a definite answer anywhere--should I included a synopsis with my query?

Jim is my agent so I thought I'd chime in.

When I queried him, I emailed my query and five sample pages (pasted below the query). Best of luck!

Sleigh88 · Jan 5, 2011

Thanks, guys!

I couldn't decipher whether or not the synopsis was only for snail mail or not; you are all clearly smart and awesome. Yay!

kaitie · Jan 5, 2011

miamyselfandi said:
How did I miss that? I hope people don't get counted off for sending the whole package.

You know, I just checked what I actually sent instead of just looking up the guidelines, and what I sent was a query and five pages, so I guess that's why.

In any case, I doubt you'll get counted off for that. Like I said, if it's in their guidelines somewhere, I think they'll understand. Besides, he seems like a very nice and understanding guy. To me it seems obvious that you're trying to follow the guidelines.

Sorry for the mistake.

MDavis · Jan 10, 2011

Well drat. Jim sent a very nice rejection today on my full. Oh well

Query on!

Has anybody else had better luck?

Senora Verde · Jan 10, 2011

Sorry about the R MDavis.

I sent Jim McCarthy a query and 5 sample pages on 1/2/11.
Received a request for a full today. *fingers crossed*

OneWriter · Jan 10, 2011

Senora Verde said:
Sorry about the R MDavis.

I sent Jim McCarthy a query and 5 sample pages on 1/2/11.
Received a request for a full today. *fingers crossed*

Good luck!!!! :hooray:

SeymourPats · Jan 11, 2011

MDavis said:
Well drat. Jim sent a very nice rejection today on my full. Oh well Query on!

Has anybody else had better luck?

Not here! Sorry to hear about your rejection, I got one today too. Very nicely worded, but a form rejection none-the-less.

"Dear Me:

Thanks much for sending TITLE, which I read with great interest. Unfortunately, I’m going to be passing at this time.

Fiction, as I’m sure you know, is just about the toughest thing to sell in the current marketplace. I need to really fall in love with something before I can even think of taking it on. Though there is much to appreciate here, I’m afraid that I ultimately didn’t believe I would be its best advocate.

Thank you again, sincerely, for the chance to take a look. I wish you all the best of luck placing this successfully."

Senora Verde · Jan 11, 2011

Sorry about the R, Seymour.

lisa17 · Jan 14, 2011

Bourret and Email queries

Michael Bourret says he just accepts Email queries. Does one just put "Query" in subject line or more detail?

Krista G. · Jan 14, 2011

lisa17 said:
Michael Bourret says he just accepts Email queries. Does one just put "Query" in subject line or more detail?

Lisa, when I send a query, I usually just put "query: TITLE" in the subject line unless an agent specifies something else.

Good luck!

hillaryjacques · Jan 14, 2011

lisa17 said:
Michael Bourret says he just accepts Email queries. Does one just put "Query" in subject line or more detail?

Mine all went out Query - [Genre] - [Title]

lisa17 · Jan 15, 2011

Krista G. said:
Lisa, when I send a query, I usually just put "query: TITLE" in the subject line unless an agent specifies something else.

Good luck!

hillaryjacques said:
Mine all went out Query - [Genre] - [Title]

Thank you both so much.

leahzero · Jan 28, 2011

Joining the Jim McCarthy full request club.

EQ'd him 01/24, got a full request this morning, 01/28. Giving the ol' MS a once-over before sending.

Jim is one of my dream agents, so I'm pumped. Even if he ultimately rejects, I'm feeling confident I'm hitting the right notes now. Woot.

C.T. Richmond · Jan 29, 2011

Yay, Leah! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Jim is fantastic and I love working with him!

[Agency] Dystel, Goderich & Bourret, LLC (formerly Dystel & Goderich Lit. Mgmt.)

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