I suppose I am disagreeing with the idea that despite what they say on their own website it could take "years" to hear back from them. Now it is possible they would take more time than they say on their site, but that is their problem, not the author's. I think the idea of "who knows how long they could take" when they state clearly how long they would take, is putting way too much power in their corner and implying that had Annie not had an offer from a publisher she should still not expect to hear from them in the time they state. If an agency says they will get back to you in a certain time, and they don't, it is well within the author's rights to ask what's up.
Your point, that it could still take years was off for me because it shouldn't if the author checked up with the agency after the passing of the due date.
I wasn't actually talking about the subject at hand, but more your suggestion that the agency was allowed to take years despite saying otherwise on their site. If you are going to post timelines on your site as an agent, you had better either live up to the promise, or expect to be called on it.
At any rate, it's no big deal, and of course we agree on the notifying the agent thing about the publisher. I guess I just sort of wanted to comment on the agency taking years thing despite the claim on their site. While I am a huge supporter of agents, I do think they have to be held accountable for their promises. But still . . . a bit of a digression and I apologise!
