(This letter from RC)
"Dear Chris:
So, where's Chet? (He's asking about a character that disapeared in the pages, to later reappear). I'm intrigued, after having read about 79 pages of your manuscript. Diane, BiBi, the massage therapist, the suit, the characters are vivid, the story moves at a good pace and the writing is highly skillful.
That said, I'm not going to read any more of this ms. on the screen. It's damn inconvenient and uncomfortable. And, I'm not going to use my printer to print out over 300 pages. As you know, our policy, and that of most agents I know, is to ask for hard copy for both reading and marking up.
If you'd like us to proceed, we're willing to e- mail the manuscript to our local Staples, as an attachment. They will print it out, we'll pick up the hard copy, and it will cost you $32.00. It's, again, an accommodation, but given your current circumstances, we're willing to do it.
We're also willing to do this because the work seems to have real potential. We've already identified a few people we think would be responsive. BUT -- and this is important -- I would like you to tell me who is reading it now or who, in the past, has seen it and passed. It would seem, given your writing credentials, and the quality of this work, that there's a history here.
So, until we hear back from you, "Diane Nine" will remain in the desktop file here"
I'm really not to worried about his offer to make a copy on his end, since this would save me about 12 bucks on a hardcopy send. This was a special circumstance deal that we talked about. Then again, he could actually accept and cash my check and still use his printer to print it out, without telling me. But I think he's on the up-and-up with this arrangement. Eh, I think.
What makes me a tad suspicious are his glowing comments on the first 79 pages, with a declaration that he knew a few sources that might bite on it. I would think he would want to get through the whole manuscript before making such claims. Kind of goes with that comment upstream that mentioned excitement over 100 pages.
On the one hand this letter is positive and certainly complimentary. It made me feel good. On the other hand, something is a tad off. BTW, this book is doing extremely well, with eight fulls and ten partials out, so I had to admit that, along with to whom they went. The other agents who've read partials and half the manuscript, do mirror his comments, so I know he's not blowing smoke up my keester.
I wish there was more on J*A*C*K out there. I'd love to know sales. He is right about one thing--many, many agents require hardcopy up front. My last agent did. I just balked and tried to get around it. I was going broke sending out hardcopy fulls and partials, only for them to end up in the dumpster. He did ask me to send the full via email (after my request), saying it was okay. Then he changed his mind, as witnessed by his frustration reading it on screen, with this third letter to me.
I've gotten over 760 rejections on 15 books in the last 23 years. But I haven't got one quite like this one.
What say the AW masses on this one? Is this a feel-good letter, or is something a bit wonky here.
Tri