Worley Shoemaker Literary Management (Jo-Lynne Worley)

A websearch on the agency turns up a few sales to solid publishers--though not enough to make it really feasible to evaluate the agency's track record--as well as a number of references to Worley Shoemaker as a "management" company. If you get an offer from this agent, I'd ask for a list of recent sales--say, within the past year--so you can be sure that she's actually selling stuff on a regular basis, and has experience selling books like yours.

- Victoria

It's very strange for an agent not to have a website in this day and age, but there still are a few...

Mine doesn't. Though he does have a fairly big layout on agent query, with book covers deals done etc. I wish he did though.

Whatever you do, don't wait around to hear from this agent. Make sure you send it to multiple agents or you could be waiting around until you're old and gray to sell your book. The best advice I got from these boards was to send your queries out in waves (about 10 at a time). Wait for some responses, which may contain some feedback. Revise your query and send your next batch. Good luck!

Hi Dude. It's usually not a very good sign when you can't find them anywhere. I looked on other agent sites and can not find them either. I also can not find them in the Literary Agents Guide. I would submit to other agents. Agent Query has great agents listed. Also, Publisher Marketplace and Preditors and Editors give you background on agents. Even if they are legit - they must not have any sales records or no doubt you'd be able to find them somewhere. At least on google! Doesn't sound good to me at all. P&E lists most all agents - if they aren't even there - I would run. No agent is better than a bad agent.

Here's a mention, on Harriet Lerner's website.
"[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For any non-appearance related questions or comments please contact Dr. Harriet Lerner’s literary agent and business/personal manager, Jo-Lynne Worley. You can reach Jo-Lynne at Worley Shoemaker Management (816) 444-9996 or email [email protected]."

From the Simon & Schuster website, Susie Bright thanks her:
"[/FONT]My managers, Joanie Shoemaker and Jo-Lynne Worley (favorite stories: "Horse Heaven" and "Quiet Please"), are always the first to report that BAE is selling at a new small bookstore in a town ordinarily known for selling more Bibles than erotica. They've negotiated with six different editors and two publishers since the series began, and they've taken BAE to places as far-flung as Beijing (where I hear I have quite a following if I ever want to make an appearance). Their experience in every facet of publishing and the entertainment business has meant all the difference in how my editorial work has developed -- and their loyalty and insight have kept me going through every political and artistic hurdle."
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Another, from Henry Holt's children's booklist:
[/FONT]MY TRAVELIN’ EYE by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Editor: Christy Ottaviano
April 2008; 0-8050-8169-0; $16.95/$21.00; 9 x 11; 40 pp.; Ages 4-7
Jenny Sue’s eyes are different from other people’s eyes. Her right eye looks in one direction, while her left eye sometimes wanders. Jenny Sue has a travelin’ eye—often known as a “lazy” eye. Although it makes her different, it also helps her see the world in a special way. Here is a charming story about one very inspiring little girl.
JENNY SUE KOSTECKI-SHAW is a freelance illustrator who studied at the Kansas City Art Institute and The Illustration Academy. She lives in the mountains of Northern New Mexico with her husband, Patrick, and their dog, Oso. This is her first picture book.
Holt: First Serial, Second Serial, Book Club, Reprint, British, Translation
Territory: World
Agent: Worley Shoemaker Management (816) 444-999

According to this list, Ms. Worley donated $500 to John Kerry's campaign, and more to the agenting point, is/was in partnership with Holly Near and Redwood Records. Is also thanked in the credits for this cd.

Worley shows up more as producer for cds than anything else.
-Barbara

Query sent

Sent a query to this agency today. Will post again with their response time and decision/feedback.
Bryan

pavtbr said:

Sent a query to this agency today. Will post again with their response time and decision/feedback.
Bryan

Click to expand...

Well, that was a quick response. Rejection in less than 24 hours. It wasn't a form letter either, but a personal response saying that they are not taking on new authors at this time.
Bryan