An agent asked for MS but doesn't rep that genre

Congrats on the request! It could be that she's looking to expand or occassionally reps other types, or just hasn't updated her rep list. Just send it!

Send it. The worst you'll get is a no.

voodoo said:

I'm just worried that she'll think I pulled one over on her.

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But you said that you made your genre clear in your query. So go ahead and send it in!

If the query was clear, send it! As others have posted, she could be looking to expand. Something about your query made her want to see more. Congrats!

Congrats! Maybe she's been wanting to expand her list, but hasn't announced it yet due to uncertainty. Maybe you've gotten to her before the hordes!

You'll only screw yourself by being rude to the agent. They all know each other.

(In the sense that they're familiar with each other. Reputation and all that. Not implying they're one huge cabal that hang out in a dark lair...)

That said, send it. Be nice. You never know where it could lead because hey, they all know each other.

Just because it's suspense does not mean it can't be MG or YA. Many MG and YA novels are suspense. Were you clear that it was ADULT suspense?

Send it. There's no blacklist for writers who send their manuscripts to agents who don't rep their genres. If she rejects you, she won't hold it against you.

Just be careful that she'll be able to sell your manuscript. If she offers you representation ask where she's thinking of submitting it.

Many agents who "only" represent YA and MG also represent adult projects for their clients, so it might not be that much of a stretch for her.

However, not knowing who this agent is, I would say that "no" isn't the worst that could happen. Should an agent who doesn't have sales in a genre offer representation, do be sure to ask what her game plan for submission is. Does she have connections with editors in the genre? Is she familiar with the marketplace for this genre? Do your own research on which publishers are buying the genre (Publisher's Marketplace has this, or you can browse spines at bookstores). A manuscript going around the block with the wrong chaperone is rarely a good thing.

Good luck!

Just send it without any caveats. You have no way of knowing what the agent was thinking, and for you to ovethink something positive doesn't makes sense.

I think when you say suspense, agents assume you mean adult suspense unless you specify.

JuliaH said:

I think when you say suspense, agents assume you mean adult suspense unless you specify.

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Not if that agent states in her guidelines that she only handles YA, or MG, or whatever. The agent has every right to believe you've read and followed her guidelines. She would be extremely silly to assume it was adult.

SHE has already specified that she doesn't handle adult fiction, so why on earth would she assume a writer completely ignored her guidelines and wanted to submit something she has already said she doesn't handle?

Nothing logical at all in thinking this.