Books going directly to publisher without agent

sharonsharon

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I know this is very rare. Through a series of what seem like miracles to me, my book is now on the desk of an editor at a major publishing company in NYC. One of the executive editors read it, and then did copy edits for me to fix (which I did). I got a letter this week saying he dropped off my edited version on the desk of an editor this week in Children's book department.

I am amazed. I have no idea what will happen at this point, but even that this ended up on the desk at this place is a miracle. I sent this book to a top agent in NYC who loved it, but was unable to take it due to a conflict of interests. She told me to give it to a friend's agency. They told me they were not accepting anything. I sent Query letters to many agents. None even asked to look at the manuscript. Now, It is on the desk of the top publishing company. How this happened is beyond me, but it did.

Has anyone ever heard of things like this happening in the publishing world? I had started a thread a month ago here saying how an editor in this company loved it. The people in the thread thought it was a scam and nothing like this could happen. I am here to say it did. I also got the most amazing edit on my work (for free). I had paid someone months ago to edit. The edit was awful and her advice even worse. Then, one of the most talented editors edits it for free.

I have no idea what will happen next, but it has given me faith in this process. It has also given me an incredible editing job on my work.
 

sharonsharon

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thank you. He said the editor he dropped it off with said it will take time to look at it as she is so busy. I had given up on this book because no agent would even look at it. Now, it bypassed the agents. It is out of my hands now, but quite an interesting turn of events. thank you.
 

ryannj5

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Keep us posted on what happens. It is definitely a unique situation you've found yourself in. Good luck!
 

sharonsharon

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It will take time to hear anything, but will write back when I do hear. It is unique and so that is why I was asking.
 

Jamesaritchie

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Agents would like you to believe it can't be done, but it isn't rare at all, and never has been.

Editors buy good books, they do not buy agents, and they can usually get the same book cheaper if no agent is involved.

Publishers like agents because it means they don't have to employ first readers to separate the trash from the treasures, but a treasure is a treasure, even if no agent is attached.
 

Miss Plum

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congrats, sharonsharon!

And please let me give you my $.02 in case you haven't thought of this: you may not need an agent to get a read, but you should have a professional oversee or negotiate any book deal. There are lots of lawyers who do this type of work.
 

Snowstorm

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Well congrats sharonsharon! And best wishes for the next step.

And inspiration to all of us slogging through the querying process.
 

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When you have an offer in hand (don't sign yet!) it makes it much easier to find your dream agent.
 

sharonsharon

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HI all- thank you for the input. No, believe me if they did accept it, I would have a lawyer or get an agent. I do know they have entertainment lawyers that specialize in this. I actually met the lawyer who did this years ago when a family member needed them.

It is just such an amazing turn of events- As I said no agent even wanted to see my manuscript after my first initial good response from that one agent.
It was frustrating beyond belief, as we all know.

Then someone reads my book, who happens to know this top editor at this publishing house. They both like it, and it gets on the desk of an editor in that department there. If it ever was accepted, it would make for an unusual story. I am still cautious as I know what this business is like.
 

janischa

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congratulations

congratulations; this is what gives us hope !!! i hope you'll let us read a fragment of what your book is about !!!!
 

Angela James

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If you do hire an entertainment lawyer, please make sure they actually have experience with current book contracts. There's seriously nothing more frustrating than negotiating a contract with someone who has no idea how the book industry works. Look for someone who specifically identifies themselves as a literary attorney (Elaine English is an example of this) and has a current resume in looking at publishing contracts--and not just any publishing contracts, but contracts within the field you're publishing. Publishing contracts aren't created equal. There's a big difference between an adult fiction contract, a textbook contract, a non-fiction cookbook contract and a children's book contract, because each type of book requires different clauses. I may know a lot about adult fiction contracts, but I'd never presume to be able to negotiate a non-fiction contract!
 

sharonsharon

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yes thank you for your input. The lawyers office I was in had all of those "YOU- The Owner's manual" books up on his wall. He had done the legal work for a relative who had a book. But it is a good reminder if needed to hire a lawyer to get someone who deals in that genre.

I have not heard back, but it has only been a week, and the editor did say she was up to her ears.

If I am lucky enough to get to the position of having to find a good entertainment lawyer, I do know of the man who this relative used. I also live in manhattan. Like LA, there must be many choices. I can only pray , and I am, that they like it as much as the editor who got it there.
 

Torgo

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Good luck to you! Just to echo the advice that you want as specialised advice as possible. There's nothing quite so irritating as dealing with an agent who mostly reps TV, for example, or sports. If you get an offer, find yourself a literary agent who deals with children's books.
 

sharonsharon

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yes it is. I am the writer, so no illustrations now. It will take awhile for them to look at it, but will tell you all when i do hear either way.
 

IceCreamEmpress

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Sharon, have you checked out the boards at VerlaKay.com? That's another great resource for people who are writing and illustrating for children.
 

M. Scott

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Agents pass on a great many publishable books. The amazing part is how the editing came in :)
 

bobcat22

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That's AWESOME! Woo hoo!

I agree with everyone else....if you get an offer...you have a lot of pull to find an amazing agent. That's what I did and my agent fought and got some great items put into my contract and got me an advance that was a lot better than what I had first been offered.
 

sharonsharon

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thank you everyone. I have not heard back yet, but she did tell him she was very busy and It would take awhile.

Yes, I think the most magical part of it is that I got such a professional edit for free. As i had said, I sent it to an editor who has a website for children's book editing, and she did an awful job. So, to even have this professional edit my book for free is a gift.

Bobcat, did you have a publisher accept your work first, and then you got an agent? Congratulations.
 
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