What do I do next?

seun · Mar 3, 2010

I just got this email from a small publisher based in the States about a submisson I made a few months ago.

Luke,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We just added a new editor to handle most of the work on book-length manuscripts so we can catch up on the back-log of work. We are very interested in publishing 'SET. I, or our new editor, will get back with you very soon concerning your book.

So the question is what the hell do I do next - other than get very drunk? Do I try to find a UK based agent? Do I figure since they're so small, agents won't be interested? This is waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy beyond any of my experience.

Now if you'll excuse me, I must party like it's 1999. :hooray:

Bushdoctor · Mar 3, 2010

The problem is that once u have a contract, an agent wont really have anything to do. I am in the same situation where I have an offer from a publisher, but no agent. The way I have done it is I have emailed all the agents who requested partials and fulls and told them of the offer. I have also notified them that I intend to take it up within 10 working days and if they want to be my agent they can deal with the details. after 10 days I will sign my contract without them.

Cranky · Mar 3, 2010

I don't know, so can't offer any concrete advice. What I can do, however, is offer up a huge CONGRATS!! :partyguy:

seun · Mar 3, 2010

Cranky said:
I don't know, so can't offer any concrete advice. What I can do, however, is offer up a huge CONGRATS!!

Thanks. At the moment, I don't know whether they're talking about e-publishing or 'normal' publishing, but still, it's a good start.

regdog · Mar 3, 2010

Mystic Blossom · Mar 3, 2010

I was once told, many moons ago, by an agent that she would automatically take me on if I was offered a book contract (this was with a reputable publisher). I didn't get the contract, so no agent either, but from that experience I would say query American agents, tell them you have an offer from a publisher based in the states. Don't send them your book unless their submission guidelines specifically say to.

Oh, and of course, CONGRATULATIONS! This is excellent news!

heyjude · Mar 3, 2010

Seun, no advice but congratulations! That's wonderful!!!!

seun · Mar 3, 2010

Mystic Blossom said:
but from that experience I would say query American agents, tell them you have an offer from a publisher based in the states.

Interesting. I didn't think of doing that.

Mystic Blossom · Mar 3, 2010

seun said:
Interesting. I didn't think of doing that.

You could try querying agents in the UK as well, and I wish that someone with actual experience could back me up/correct me, but I believe that a US agent would be your best bet, since he/she would be more familiar with the markets on this side of the pond.

Jess Haines · Mar 3, 2010

Find an agent who you'd like to have rep you, and tell them you have a contract in hand and are looking for someone to represent/help you. That, most times (per what I recall from the Miss Snark archives), gets attention faster than anything else on the slush pile.

brainstorm77 · Mar 3, 2010

congrats

astonwest · Mar 3, 2010

Wish I had that problem...but don't have the first clue on how to work it. Sounds like a good plan from what I see of the replies here...

Little1 · Mar 4, 2010

Jess Haines said:
Find an agent who you'd like to have rep you, and tell them you have a contract in hand and are looking for someone to represent/help you. That, most times (per what I recall from the Miss Snark archives), gets attention faster than anything else on the slush pile.

I would say do this. It sounds like the best idea. I would send them a normal qurry as in a sanopses of the book but I would also make it clear that you HAVE a publisher willing to buy the book that you just wish to have some help.
:hooray:

CONGRATS! And I so wish I had this problem

Susie · Mar 10, 2010

Wishing you much good luck, seun! Hope it works out great!

Perks · Mar 10, 2010

Luke, it'll be interesting to see how you decide to handle it, but in the meantime - congratulations!

seun · Mar 11, 2010

Perks said:
Luke, it'll be interesting to see how you decide to handle it, but in the meantime - congratulations!

I'm going for UK agents at the moment. Most of the replies I've had from email queries have been to go for the standard 'send in the post and wait for it to get lost'. One reply was definitely friendlier and more personal than the others, so I've posted a sample to them and am emailing a load of others.

AmyDoodle · Mar 11, 2010

I don't know what to do either, but I think PARTY should definitely figure in there somewhere. Congrats!

illiterwrite · Mar 11, 2010

I would wait until you hear what the publisher says. Once you have an actual contract in hand, THEN email your top agent picks in the UK and tell them you have a contract and ask if they would like to see your book. And I would put "Contract from ___" in the subject line.

seun · Mar 11, 2010

illiterwrite said:
I would wait until you hear what the publisher says. Once you have an actual contract in hand, THEN email your top agent picks in the UK and tell them you have a contract and ask if they would like to see your book. And I would put "Contract from ___" in the subject line.

Nice idea. Depending on how my subs go over the next two weeks, I'll definitely bear that in mind.

What do I do next?

seun

Horror Man

Bushdoctor

Cranky

seun

Horror Man

regdog

The Scavengers

Mystic Blossom

My heart's a battleground

heyjude

Making my own sunshine

seun

Horror Man

Mystic Blossom

My heart's a battleground

Jess Haines

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

brainstorm77

practical experience, FTW

astonwest

2 WIP? A glutton for punishment

Little1

Hakuna Matata

Susie

Thanks, special friend for my avi!

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

seun

Horror Man

AmyDoodle

I'm a Bajaffe!

illiterwrite

seun

Horror Man