Okay, Faritova, let's start with -- are you in Moscow, Kansas (or some other American city with the name) or Moscow, Russia? An agent might want to speak with you if you're from out of the country, because they want to get an idea of what you're looking for in representation in America. (Of course, if you're IN America, disregard this.) Sure, they can e-mail, but you can impart a whole bunch more information in a phone call in a shorter time than a flurry of e-mails back and forth over the course of hours.
So, if the agent is offering representation of the book, here are some the things you want to ask (and anybody else -- please feel free to throw in things I miss.) I pulled this from the FAQ on the Association of Author Representative's site, because it's really good advice:
[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Are you a member of the Association of Authors' Representatives? (Note: If not, WHY not? Often it's because there haven't been sufficient sales to justify admittance.)
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]How long have you been in business as an agent? Have you worked as an editor for a major house?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Do you have specialists at your agency who handle movie and television rights? Foreign rights? (Note: this is especially useful if you're overseas)
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Do you have subagents or corresponding agents in Hollywood and overseas?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Who in your agency will actually be handling my work? Will the other staff members be familiar with my work and the status of my business at your agency? Will you oversee or at least keep me apprised of the work that your agency is doing on my behalf?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Do you issue an agent-author agreement? May I review the language of the agency clause that appears in contracts you negotiate for your clients? (Note: What you're looking for here is what's known as a "perpetual agency clause." This is a bad thing, and I'll bet there's a thread on it somewhere here at AW.)
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]How do you keep your clients informed of your activities on their behalf?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Do you consult with your clients on any and all offers?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]What are your commission rates? What are your procedures and time-frames for processing and disbursing client funds? Do you keep different bank accounts separating author funds from agency revenue? What are your policies about charging clients for expenses incurred by your agency?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]When you issue 1099 tax forms at the end of each year, do you also furnish clients upon request with a detailed account of their financial activity, such as gross income, commissions and other deductions, and net income, for the past year?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]In the event of your death or disability, what provisions exist for my continued representation?
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[font=Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, Serif]If we should part company, what is your policy about handling any unsold subsidiary rights in my work? [/font]
Okay, my additional questions:
1) How many books have you sold in the last 2 years?
2) Are any of your recent sales in the same genre as my book?
3) Do you know any imprints that might be a good home for my book? (Note: asking about publishers isn't nearly as telling as asking about imprints. A good agent will know which lines at a publisher are looking for which type of books.)
Good luck! Let us know what happens.
