Okay, so I reread the email and she worded it much better than I did, so maybe it's not as bad as I thought?
Here's a quote from her email:
I'm going to test the waters and submit your book to a couple of editors. If there is any interest we'll discuss a contract. I don't want to sign anything until I feel I can find a home for your book.
So is this as bad as I made it originally sound? I still don't feel comfortable with it and I still have not received any information on the editors she is subbing.
Anyway, does knowing the wording change anything?
Oh, SG. {{Hug}}
No, it doesn't change anything. What she's doing/trying to do is, as Cyia says below, is put all the risk on
you. She'll submit your work without agreeing to rep you, so if an offer comes in she reaps the benefits but if an offer doesn't come in she's not left with a client who has an unsold book. And you? You're left with a book you can't submit anywhere else and no agent who help you/guide you as you start another project, and you're left having to query agents again; start all over.
Normall, I agree with Barbara and think she's a sharp cookie. But I have to disagree with this:
I have a somewhat different take on this matter. I think the agent HAS already taken you on. Saying that she'll deal with contracts if the book sells could simply mean that she doesn't require a written client agreement (plenty of agents don't), and will formalize your agreement with an agency clause in the contract if the book sells. It may also mean that if she can't sell this one, she doesn't want to continue as your agent: hence no contract. In either case, if the ms. is already out with publishers, you want to try to rescue this relationship, because as others said, every submission through her makes it less likely that another agent would take this book on.
I think if that were the case she wouldn't have used the phrase "testing the waters," and I think it's clear that if this book doesn't sell she's not interested in having SG as a client.
The fact that she's doing this and not really explaining herself makes me doubt her effectiveness as an agent and her commitment to protecting authors--which is the job of an agent, after all.
It is very unusual that she wouldn't have a conversation with you first. But you submitted, revised according to their specs, and resubmitted--they may feel that you already have a deal. Your emails to her requesting information on submissions would seem to acknowledge that relationship as well.
I think you're correct that she may think she has SG's approval to do this, but I do disagree that she thinks SG is her client.
Anyway, the most pressing question is whether she has indeed started submitting, and to that you are entitled to an answer. I'd suggest one more email, asking that question and confirming that she is indeed acting as your agent for the usual 15% commission. But you should mention that if the answers are yes, you are now going to back off and let her do her job.
I would definitely email to ask if she's started submitting, but I've got a very different idea what the email should say.
See below.
Barbara[/QUOTE]
That was my first thought, too, but the OP cites a female owner for the unnamed agency. The one in your link is owned by a man.
The OP has informed me of the agency, and having read their BR&BC thread, I have to say it's not really impressive (but not a scammer per se, so don't worry, folks). I mention this only because:
Yes, it's still as bad.
Normally, an agent will have editors in mind when s/he signs an author/book. If the agent can't think of editors who would read and potentially buy the book, then they don't sign it. You get a lovely "not for me," or "I'm not sure how to pitch this." semi-form rejection.
When a book goes on submission, there's a list of (usually) more than "a couple" of editors, and it's definitely NOT "testing the waters." The idea is to get as many editors as possible interested in a project so that you can either trigger an auction or get a serious preempt.
After reading the thread and looking them up on PM, I am not convinced they will be submitting to the right editors. Submitting to the "wrong" editors--which doesn't mean they'll submit to PA or something, it means, say, Editor A at S&S loves subplots about missing persons but Editor B doesn't like those, and the agent isn't familiar enough with either so submits your missing-person-subplot story to Editor B and it gets rejected--is worse than not submitting at all.
As is submitting with poorly written or amateurish letters or whatever else, which will put your mss to the very bottom of the pile.
I'm not suggesting this agency regularly does these things, just that I wouldn't be surprised.
Now every sale is different, but they can happen in as little as a matter of hours if an editor is really interested. So what's this agent going to do? Tell the editor to hang on while she goes and signs you as a client?
Yes, this. Now, my agent is a contract man, so he had me sign that puppy the night he offered representation. I know some agents still go by "handshake." But even in those cases, an offer to represent you should be extended and accepted before the mss is submitted. Quite frankly, it's very poor business sense on the agent's behalf, too; what if you got an offer from an editor, said "Great!" and then called the editor to make your own deal? And contacted another agent to handle the contracts etc.? That would be unethical of you, and I don't think the editor or other agent would appreciate it, but the fact remains that without at last an agreement to rep she is just as unprotected.
What if you're offered a large advance, and then turn around and say "Okay, you can rep me, but you're only getting 10% or I won't sign the contract?"
Again, not hugely realistic, but still. Agents are supposed to be making sure things are airtight.
QFT:
Publishing is a risk, but it's a joint risk. Agents take on part of it when they sign a client. In your case, the only risk is on your shoulders, and it shouldn't be.
Every two weeks is not unreasonable. I check-in with my agent every Friday if I've got something on submission, just to see if she's gotten any rejections. The only "unreasonable" contact schedule is one that you don't discuss with your agent ahead of time. Anything that can be agreed upon is "reasonable."
Yes. Conversely (ha), there's me. I don't want to know to whom my agent is submitting my work. I don't want to know when he's sending it. I mean, he tells me when he's started submitting, and he'll update me when something happens or drop me an occasional "No word yet. Early days" type email, but I don't want to know. I just don't. It freaks me out and I know myself too well; I'll start twitter-and-Facebook-stalking the editors in question, or obsessively hunting down their authors to see how I "fit in," or whatever else.
My agent thinks this is bizarre of me, but he complies.
The point is that I've requested it and he's okay with it; it's reasonable for us although it would be unreasonable for many others.
She is clear on all the bewares, I looked her up first. Is this really something I should report? I guess I am more naive than I realized. Now I'm nervous.
Yes, you should. Please do. And honey, she is not as "all-clear" here as you seem to think. Sales and track records are what matter.
What you said makes perfect sense, even if she were my agent, she should discuss who she is sending it to with me. Gosh, what was I thinking?
You were thinking "An agent wants to submit my book!" You were thinking "I guess that's how it works..."
Both of those are perfectly natural and normal things to think and feel. Please don't blame yourself for that. It's EXCITING when an agent shows real interest. And honestly, it's difficult sometimes for even the most savvy author in the world to resist having someone finally show interest in their book. Reason can sometimes go out the window.
I certainly should have known better than to sign with a particular publisher I gave a book to early in my career. By that time I'd been here for a while. I knew what to look for and what not to. But man, I got "print book" stars in my eyes and ignored all the bad signs, all the potential bewares--of which there were OMGsomany--because of those stars.
Point is it happens. Don't beat yourself up.
So, is the consensus that I should write the agent, ask her not to sub my work because I'm not comfortable having an agent who doesn't represent me subbing my novel? And that I'm fine with her still considering it but I will be sending submissions to other agents.
Yes. Say something like, "I'm a little concerned about the submission policy you're planning to follow with my mss. To be honest, I'm not really comfortable with the idea of having my book submitted to editors by an agent who doesn't officially represent me. I'm looking for an agent to guide my career, not just submit one book for me, and I'd rather you not proceed with submitting my work to anyone until we have discussed this, and until we have discussed where and to whom you plan to submit. Could you please let me know what you'd like to do?"
That's not perfect, but you get the idea. Just be polite and honest.
Here's my worry. You know it is a small world and I'm worried she will bad mouth me to other agents, editors, and such. I think I might just have to write her and tell her my concerns and she seems like her moods shift quite a lot, so I'll have to hope I catch her on a good, reasonable day. Should I also write the head of the agency, the one who liked my work in the first place, the one I'd actually heard of, and see if this is protocol for her agents?
Sorry about my rambling questions. I am just a bit flabbergasted now.
To be blunt? Publishing is a fairly small world. I have seen no real indication that she is much of a part of it. Don't worry about that, really.
What is she supposed to say, anyway? "I tried to submit Author A's book before I agreed to represent her and she asked me not to?"
I wouldn't write to the agency head. Just see what this woman says.
Again, I'm sorry this is happening to you. You're right to think it's weird. You're not right to blame yourself for not "catching on" sooner. {{Hugs}}