Need Advice

I don't think anyone here will be able to give you specific agents to query. I reckon your best bet is to do lots of research so that they're not just 'random agents' but agents who rep books similar to yours (and who are open to an MC called Shit!). Your post comes across like you're basically saying you don't want to do the hard work required to find an agent but are happy to use someone else's effort.

Starchaser3000 said:

I already self published the first debut novel of my multiple volume series through Createspace. It already has received decent reviews. So is it still possible to have this already self published book represented by an agent to get the other unpublished volumes picked up in trade publishing? If so, could someone list specific agents that might work with me on this? Sorry I just do not want to waste countless hours of my life submitting to random agents that will not accept me for already being self published.

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Sorry but no one is going to do the work for you. If you want a list then you're going to have to do the research yourself. And it may take countless hours.

I suggest looking up agents that represents books similar to yours and then taking a look at their blog, or other social media they may use and/or their submission page to see if there is any mention of self-published books. Some agents expressly do not want these, others are more open if some specific criteria is met.

Good luck.

No one's going to be able to answer this question for you. Your book is previously published, which puts it into a category of books that only a handful of agents will even consider. To get that consideration, all you can do is query until you find someone will to give it. And you still have to demonstrate that your novel/series has an audience. If your sales are huge (at least in the thousands), that's going to be a difficult point to make.

The top flight trade press will only publish the next book in a self-pubbed series if there's evidence of substantial sales (usually around the hundred thousand sale mark for self-pubbed authors to grab attention of the big publishers, as you'll see from Amanda Hocking example below).

An agent will be aware of this fact and as their aim would be to get you a publication deal, it's very unlikely you'll get an agent for this series unless, like I said above, you've had massive sales and substantial buzz (a few good reviews mean nowt to the industry, sadly).

FYI, it's usually advised not to self-publish a book before trying to hook an agent. You'll have a much better chance of doing that now if you write a brand new book and series, and try hooking an agent with that.

Or, of course, you could really focus on getting your self-pubbed novel loads and sales and buzz and who knows, you might be one of those rare self-pubbed authors who attract the attention to agents and publishers. It's very rare but you could give it a go. Here's some advice from Amanda Hocking, a self-publishing success...

Amanda Hocking

Starchaser3000 said:

I already self published the first debut novel of my multiple volume series through Createspace. It already has received decent reviews. So is it still possible to have this already self published book represented by an agent to get the other unpublished volumes picked up in trade publishing?

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It is possible that you'll find an agent willing to take your self published book on, but you are going to have to look harder than you'd have had to if you'd not already self published it.

I think it's extremely unlikely that you'll find an agent willing to try to sell your subsequent books in this series, and it's even more unlikely that you'll find a publisher willing to publish them. Publishers don't want to publish a bits of series (serieses?), they want to publish complete series or none of it.

So, your first step here is to try to find an agent willing to try to sell the first book, with a view to selling the subsequent books. It's possible but it is going to be difficult.

If so, could someone list specific agents that might work with me on this? Sorry I just do not want to waste countless hours of my life submitting to random agents that will not accept me for already being self published.

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As others have already pointed out, no one reputable would provide you with such a list. So much depends on your book, how you work, and what you want out of your writing career: you have to do all the research yourself, I'm afraid.

My question would be how well it sold when you self published. And why you wouldn't want to self-publish again.

Jeff

Starchaser3000 said:

I only did it because I was told that my story concept has no commercial value, hence querying to agents would be a waste of their time and my time.

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I'm curious--who was it who told you this?

I think that unless you get this sort of advice from professional writers and/or publishing people--and even then--you should take it with a grain of salt. All you lose by trying is a bit of your time. Let agents worry about wasting their time. After all, if you don't try, you'll never know.

- Victoria

Starchaser3000 said:

My work is intentionally non traditional with it being a more artistic expression of satire. So I was under the assumption that agents are not looking for artistic expression. They are looking for something that sells...right?

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Of course they're looking for something that will sell (to a publisher). But marketability and artistry are not mutually exclusive (except maybe in the minds of bitter rejected writers or cultural cynics who believe the world is going to hell in a handbasket). Major literary writers have agents too.

Maybe your work is indeed too artistic or quirky to sell. But there are many, many different kinds of publishers, and many, many different kinds of agents. Perhaps somewhere out there, there's a good fit for you. Again, you don't know unless you try.

- Victoria

There are satire/parodies out there. Look at Christopher Moore. Look at Andrew Shaffer.

Those are just off the top of my head; I know there are more.

Have you posted in SYW? It might help us to know more about your project.

Starchaser3000 said:

I have decided to query out my new sci-fi idea instead, which I intend to make it more mainstream commercial.

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Just wanted to point out that most agents prefer that your novel is finished before you start querying. Would hate to see you burn any bridges before getting your new idea off the ground by querying agents too soon.