[Agency] BAM Books

[ra_april]

Wowza. Bad day to be busy and not able to check this page for a while...

The MS is absolutely polished. I had 2 beta-reads--obviously I could always use more, but those two readers said the novel needed very little work and they both liked it. They also both said "you might want to get a sensitivity reader" but not because of anything specific - just because I had POC characters. So while I agree that a SR would be great, it IS expensive ($0.01 per word is what I'm seeing online) and I just can't afford to invest that much into it, seeing's how very few novels out there will actually be published...

I'm also trying to be sensitive to Mindi here. This is a public page and she very well could find it, and I'm trying to ask for generic advice without throwing her under the bus. Yes, she's new and inexperienced, and I see how this could lead to issues. But I'm also trying to give her the benefit of the doubt until I have more solid reasons not to. I think she genuinely likes my book and will do her best to represent me. I think the only reason she suggested a SR was because I mentioned it during our previous phone call.

Anyway, I really do appreciate all the feedback. I haven't read it all yet (like I said, super busy day!!!) but I certainly will.

 

[ra_april]

All this. Being badly agented is much worse than not being agented. As with any business-dealings, experience counts for a lot. In publishing - more perhaps than many other forms of business - contacts, which take time to form and foster, also count for a huge amount. Credibility matters.

The onus has to be on the writer to have all that research done before they start querying and certainly before they sign.

ETA: I always feel that a new writer with a new agent is not the best way to go. A debut author is in a very strong position - agents love to discover a debut author. Also, an established agent knows the ropes, and will protect their own stable's integrity. They won't go dodgy - they'll know where the boundaries are - and they'll work towards maximum efficiency.

That's why it's always good to start querying from the top - but it's also why you don't start querying until you've already polished your book up to the highest level you can. It probably doesn't apply to the OP here, but if an author thinks that requires a sensitivity reader, it's wiser to invest in that before they start querying.

Honestly I did not query super widely; I sent out 8 queries for this MS. So I probably could have tried harder, but...I'm honestly not in a huge rush to publish this thing. It is super polished, but it's also something I still go in and constantly tweak to make it better--and I'd probably do that until the end of time if it never gets published. I've been working on this thing for years. YEARS!

But I did try some more experienced agents, and all turned me down. The notion that "agents love to discover a debut author"--me being that debut other-- still seems like a one in a million odds considering all the writers trying to break in.

 

[ra_april]

Also Ex 4:


W: Here's my book
A: I've read it, I love it, I think it's ready to go on sub. Sign here and we'll send it out.
W: Signs
W: *starts post-signing frettage* because omg! my book!
W: Do you think this bit is ok?
A: Yes, of course, or I wouldn't have signed you
W: What about this bit?
A: Yes, it's fine.
W: What about this bit? They might hate this bit. I'm not sure about this bit, I agonised for ages ...
A: Listen - listen. Breathe. If you're worried, we can have a sensitivity reader go over it. Would you like that? I know an excellent person, but you'd have to pay her...

It's not always a red flag.

ETA: *I invented it. You're welcome.

^^^^ this is mostly how it went. Sorry I wasn't super clear about the details before.

 

[Brigid Barry]

Thank you for clarifying, ra_april!

 

[mccardey]

^^^^ this is mostly how it went. Sorry I wasn't super clear about the details before.

I swear I'm psychic... (Actually, I'd just come off reading the QT thread where all the writers *cough @Brigid Barry * are having what sounds like terrible frettage. )

 

[kaitie]

Honestly I did not query super widely; I sent out 8 queries for this MS. So I probably could have tried harder, but...I'm honestly not in a huge rush to publish this thing. It is super polished, but it's also something I still go in and constantly tweak to make it better--and I'd probably do that until the end of time if it never gets published. I've been working on this thing for years. YEARS!

But I did try some more experienced agents, and all turned me down. The notion that "agents love to discover a debut author"--me being that debut other-- still seems like a one in a million odds considering all the writers trying to break in.

You sent 8 queries and got an offer. That's amazing!

 

[ra_april]

You sent 8 queries and got an offer. That's amazing!

to be fair...this was a complete rewrite of a novel I originally wrote 10 or so years ago, sent out around 50 queries for, got 2 full requests, and no offers, so....don't be too amazed.

 

[kaitie]

I'm amazed anyway. Any draft that gets that kind of response is doing something right.

 

[sarahainslee]

Deep breaths, everyone.

It's reasonable to have questions if an agent raises the possibility of a service and refers the writer to someone who performs that service for a fee. That doesn't mean it's a scam in this instance, but it's not unreasonable to have questions about it. Knee-jerk defensive reactions aren't helpful, though if you have a good opinion of the agent you can by all means express it.

On the flip side, citing "money should flow to the author" as though it's an iron-clad rule that automatically makes a scammer out of anyone who ever suggests an author pay for anything is also a bit of a knee-jerk, and it's unhelpful to wield it as a cudgel.

So, carry on with a substantiated discussion of this agent and agency, but please try to stick to facts and experiences, rather than aggressive or defensive reactions.

Appreciate this take. And apologies once more if I (read: totally did) come off too strong toward everyone. Just wanting to see the situation from a fair perspective, and not one that assumes the worst.

I think we all want to see everyone win. Hopefully that's where all this passion (read: frequent screaming and crying) comes from.

 

[sarahainslee]

So, six months ago, I said (paraphrasing): "If I had good reason to say otherwise, I would."

...this is the part where I walk in with eggshells all over my face and extend some to all the people who were trying to warn me then. But I decorated them with paint and glitter to feel better about it, so THROW AWAY. I'M READY. 🫠

I won't be getting into details because I want to take the high road as much as I can, but I will say that Mindi and I have parted ways and that I do not recommend her as a literary agent.

::slips into egg-safe hazmat suit::

 

[sarahainslee]

Thanks (and a huge apology) to everyone who tried then. <3

 

[lizmonster]

Thanks (and a huge apology) to everyone who tried then. <3

I’ve been down the bad agent path, twice. No apology necessary. I’m sorry for what you went through, and I hope you’re in a better place now (or will be soon).

 

[Unimportant]

Thanks (and a huge apology) to everyone who tried then. <3

Thank you for coming back to share your experiences! Your willingness to talk about your personal interactions with this group will surely be of help to lots of folks down the line, both members and lurkers.

 

[Chris P]

Thanks (and a huge apology) to everyone who tried then. <3

You should have been here about 12 years ago when a start-up publisher who had been an active member of this board got probably a dozen of us, me included, to sign contracts. Wiser voices warned us, but we went ahead anyway amid hard feelings. Well, you can guess the result. A couple of us took our lumps and came back, but others did not. I'm glad you're back after this one.

 

[mccardey]

You should have been here about 12 years ago when a start-up publisher who had been an active member of this board got probably a dozen of us to sign contracts. Wiser voices warned us, but we went ahead anyway amid hard feelings. Well, you can guess the result. A couple of us took our lumps and came back, but others did not. I'm glad you're back after this one.

Oh god that was a sad time. I joined up here just around the time it was happening, and everyone was trying so hard with so much goodwill on both sides, and then it went boom because you can't just say you're an agent or a publisher and hope it takes off. No matter how hard you work at it, or how pure your intentions are.

 

[ra_april]

So, six months ago, I said (paraphrasing): "If I had good reason to say otherwise, I would."

...this is the part where I walk in with eggshells all over my face and extend some to all the people who were trying to warn me then. But I decorated them with paint and glitter to feel better about it, so THROW AWAY. I'M READY. 🫠

I won't be getting into details because I want to take the high road as much as I can, but I will say that Mindi and I have parted ways and that I do not recommend her as a literary agent.

::slips into egg-safe hazmat suit::

dangit!!!! can you DM me?