Agent was in process of switching agencies when I submitted R&R

[grover4232]

Hello!

I was really excited about this one agent who seemed excited about my book when he requested my full back in November. He hadn't read it yet when I got some notes from an editor who was also interested in my book (got connected with her through PitDark.) The editor's notes were super great, so I emailed the agent to see if he'd like me to withdraw my submission and re-send it when I completed a revision based on the editor's notes. He responded right away and was again excited about the book/the editor's involvement, and told me to resend my book when I was done.

I just finished the revision last month, and sent it over. I expected that he'd write back to let me know that he'd gotten it (since that's what he did before), and when he hadn't after a week, I checked query tracker to see if he was active. That's when I learned that he was no longer on the agency's website. I posted on query tracker to see if anyone had more info, and someone said that he switched to a different agency, but his info isn't on that website either. No news on Twitter or anywhere else.

Anyways, it seems that I have submitted my R&R to him right as he was switching agencies, and I'm not sure if he actually got my email. Does anyone out there know what happens to emails& email addresses of people when they're no longer employed by the agency? Is there a period when they are still able to get emails from their old address, or do they lose access right away? Would someone else be checking this email address? And, finally, how long does it take for someone's info to go on their new employer's website? It's been 3 weeks or so, and the agent's twitter still says he works for the old agency, and he has been posting. What happens to all of his clients? Publisher's marketplace said he just made a deal through his old agency right before query tracker says his info was taken off his old agency's website.

Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughts!

 

[alexp336]

Does anyone out there know what happens to emails& email addresses of people when they're no longer employed by the agency? Is there a period when they are still able to get emails from their old address, or do they lose access right away? Would someone else be checking this email address?

I can't speak specifically to agencies, but in my experience when someone leaves a company (of their own volition or otherwise) they immediately lose access to that company's systems. It would be so rare as to be a never-happens situation (again, in my experience) for them to have any new emails forward to them. More likely their email would be redirected to whoever was taking on their responsibilities, potentially an admin person, who would then be left to decide what to direct where, and who to reply to.

If the agent is active on Twitter, maybe it's worth @-ing him and asking what's the best way to be in touch?

 

[grover4232]

This is so helpful, thank you! Ok, I didn't even think of this @-ing possibility. I guess I could make it vague enough that I wouldn't be outing his agency change before he announces it. I will have to think on how to word it. I'm afraid he won't remember my name and I don't want to sound creepy or weird or random. I wish I could just send him a message, but he doesn't follow me.

Thank you so much!

 

[Maggie Maxwell]

This is so helpful, thank you! Ok, I didn't even think of this @-ing possibility. I guess I could make it vague enough that I wouldn't be outing his agency change before he announces it. I will have to think on how to word it. I'm afraid he won't remember my name and I don't want to sound creepy or weird or random. I wish I could just send him a message, but he doesn't follow me.

Thank you so much!

Be sure to double-check that he's closed to DMs since there is a way to make them open if you so choose. If he definitely doesn't take DMs, you could @ him with something like "We spoke on [date/season/the most accurate time frame] about a submission but I seem to be having trouble with your email to follow up. I'd like to provide an update. Could you please message me?" Then the ball is in his court.

 

[alexp336]

This is so helpful, thank you! Ok, I didn't even think of this @-ing possibility. I guess I could make it vague enough that I wouldn't be outing his agency change before he announces it. I will have to think on how to word it. I'm afraid he won't remember my name and I don't want to sound creepy or weird or random. I wish I could just send him a message, but he doesn't follow me.

Depending on his Twitter settings, his account might be open to direct messages from people he doesn't follow (if you look at his profile page, it might have a little envelope icon there - if so, that means you don't need to be followed to message him).

Or, as happened a fair amount back when I used Twitter for work, you could @ him with a "Hey, would you mind following me for a minute so I can ask you DM question?" People are pretty used to that now.

ETA @Maggie Maxwell got there before me, and with a better-phrased suggestion

 

[grover4232]

Thank you both!! I'm not familiar with Twitter/office culture, so this is very helpful. Much appreciated!!

 

[GreenThumb]

Hello!

I was really excited about this one agent who seemed excited about my book when he requested my full back in November. He hadn't read it yet when I got some notes from an editor who was also interested in my book (got connected with her through PitDark.) The editor's notes were super great, so I emailed the agent to see if he'd like me to withdraw my submission and re-send it when I completed a revision based on the editor's notes. He responded right away and was again excited about the book/the editor's involvement, and told me to resend my book when I was done.

I just finished the revision last month, and sent it over. I expected that he'd write back to let me know that he'd gotten it (since that's what he did before), and when he hadn't after a week, I checked query tracker to see if he was active. That's when I learned that he was no longer on the agency's website. I posted on query tracker to see if anyone had more info, and someone said that he switched to a different agency, but his info isn't on that website either. No news on Twitter or anywhere else.

Anyways, it seems that I have submitted my R&R to him right as he was switching agencies, and I'm not sure if he actually got my email. Does anyone out there know what happens to emails& email addresses of people when they're no longer employed by the agency? Is there a period when they are still able to get emails from their old address, or do they lose access right away? Would someone else be checking this email address? And, finally, how long does it take for someone's info to go on their new employer's website? It's been 3 weeks or so, and the agent's twitter still says he works for the old agency, and he has been posting. What happens to all of his clients? Publisher's marketplace said he just made a deal through his old agency right before query tracker says his info was taken off his old agency's website.

Thank you so much for reading and for your thoughts!

Something similar happened to me. The agent left the first agency, and took a few weeks to show up at the second agency, at which point I forwarded our last correspondence to her new email address. Hopefully this is the case with this agent too. It may be that he's still getting his bearings at the new agency and is not yet open for queries, so he's not on their website yet.

Good luck!

 

[grover4232]

I did the @-ing thing, and he emailed me the next day. Thanks everyone