- Joined
- Aug 3, 2008
- Messages
- 31
- Reaction score
- 3
I have a question regarding older and newer agents:
A few weeks back, I queried an agency, sending my query letter to the head of the agency. She wrote back and requested a full, which I sent off right away. Then, not long ago, I got an e-mail from someone else in the agency, another agent who is the most junior one on the totem pole (and whose profile states she is looking to build her own client list), saying she enjoyed my book but could not say anything further until she had a chance to speak with her boss who was away.
This reads to me as though the senior agent gave my book to the junior agent to allow her to cut her teeth on it.
Now, I've been the low man on the totem pole (not in writing, but in other endeavors) and I understand that everyone has to start somewhere, but my question is, will the most junior agent be able to talk to the big editors/publisher. I.e. if she says, "I'm Jane Doe calling from the John Smith Agency and I have a book to pitch to you" will people listen to her just because she's from a reputable agency or will they brush her off because she's not the head honcho? (This agency has had Pulitzer Prize winners and best sellers among its clients, so obviously, it's an agency I'd be happy to work with) If junior agents can get meetings with the same big people as senior agents, then I'd be fine having her represent me (if they give me an offer * crosses fingers *), because I would be happy to have someone start off with enthusiasm and drive as a junior agent would presumably have.
Any advice?
A few weeks back, I queried an agency, sending my query letter to the head of the agency. She wrote back and requested a full, which I sent off right away. Then, not long ago, I got an e-mail from someone else in the agency, another agent who is the most junior one on the totem pole (and whose profile states she is looking to build her own client list), saying she enjoyed my book but could not say anything further until she had a chance to speak with her boss who was away.
This reads to me as though the senior agent gave my book to the junior agent to allow her to cut her teeth on it.
Now, I've been the low man on the totem pole (not in writing, but in other endeavors) and I understand that everyone has to start somewhere, but my question is, will the most junior agent be able to talk to the big editors/publisher. I.e. if she says, "I'm Jane Doe calling from the John Smith Agency and I have a book to pitch to you" will people listen to her just because she's from a reputable agency or will they brush her off because she's not the head honcho? (This agency has had Pulitzer Prize winners and best sellers among its clients, so obviously, it's an agency I'd be happy to work with) If junior agents can get meetings with the same big people as senior agents, then I'd be fine having her represent me (if they give me an offer * crosses fingers *), because I would be happy to have someone start off with enthusiasm and drive as a junior agent would presumably have.
Any advice?