Googling authors

As this has no reply I'll put my 2 cents in. I was googled in that period between the agent deciding they liked the full manuscript, and in them emailing me about repping it.

I've heard of some people having such questionalble things in their internet history that rep has been declined. (ie: in jail, cannibalism, hate group - (unless germane to the story)

I don't know if they do beforehand, unless the author has made some large claims as to market reach and celebrity...!

I google as soon as I'm interested enough to want to know more about you.

So like, let's say you say something in your query that seems interesting or improbable (or even just plain awesome) -- I might google you right that second to see if it is as true/awesome as you've said.

If the STORY is what has hooked me rather than your query, and I read your ms and want to call to talk to you about revising or offering, and I hadn't googled you yet, I'd certainly google you at that point. I just want to be sure that there is not something weird that I have to be aware of (like you made a claim of xyz about a previous book and it isn't true, or you have another life as a porn star, or you have a very obnoxious/egocentric/assholish social media profile.)

Having small or no web presence does not deter me. Having a great big web presence does not particularly excite me, either, unless it is HUGE HUGE KARDASHIAN HUGE, in which case, OK let's talk.