About 3-4 years ago I was represented by a agent in Florida who was just plain greedy and nasty. At the outset she was extremely complimentary about my mss and called me at 9:30 at night to make sure I would become a client. Flattered, I agreed and signed the contract as soon as it arrived. Then I came to find out that she and her sister and her ailing mother were running the agency out of a bedroom of their house and she confessed she was just in it for the money. Undaunted by her confession, I told her to go ahead and send out my mss. She sent it to all the major publishing houses (it's a new age romance novel) and asked $100,000 and up for it. Of course I was rejected at every major publishing house (some did make nice comments on the rejection letters re: the book) In time, this agent refused to consider any of my concerns and at last became verbally abusive via letter and phone and the relationship was severed. My concern is, if I want to re-market this book, should I change the title, content etc. Did this agent ruin my chances for publication? Thanks for any input.
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Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Sorry to hear it Mary...I do feel badly for you.
As Victoria and the others have told us all here, it's better to have NO agent than a bad one. Publishing houses might take a MS from a bad agent, but they slap it on the slush pile and either they don't read it, don't' read it seriously or read it, but don't give it to much weight.
The agent answering questions on the board told us that if you really do have a bad, disreputable agent who has tried to sell your book, YOU MUST CHANGE THE TITLE when you resubmit it. Publishers log in your book and if it has been logged once, it will not get logged again.
GOOD LUCK! I recommend that you read the "ask the agent" thread above. There is great info there.
Sorry to hear it Mary...I do feel badly for you.
As Victoria and the others have told us all here, it's better to have NO agent than a bad one. Publishing houses might take a MS from a bad agent, but they slap it on the slush pile and either they don't read it, don't' read it seriously or read it, but don't give it to much weight.
The agent answering questions on the board told us that if you really do have a bad, disreputable agent who has tried to sell your book, YOU MUST CHANGE THE TITLE when you resubmit it. Publishers log in your book and if it has been logged once, it will not get logged again.
GOOD LUCK! I recommend that you read the "ask the agent" thread above. There is great info there.
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Change to a pen name and change the book title. Then resubmit.
Change to a pen name and change the book title. Then resubmit.
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Mary, could you please let me who the agent is? If you prefer not to post it publicly, contact me by e-mail: [email protected]. Thanks.
- Victoria
Mary, could you please let me who the agent is? If you prefer not to post it publicly, contact me by e-mail: [email protected]. Thanks.
- Victoria
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Victoria and all others-the name of the agency was Carroll Grace Literary Agency and they were out of St. Petersburg, Florida. The main contact was Pat Jozwickowski and her sister's name was "Sunny." They were, last I knew, in 2001, planning on moving to the midwest and re-starting the agency. Don't know if they're still in business or not in Florida...but I'm hoping not--unless they've changed a great deal...Mary
Victoria and all others-the name of the agency was Carroll Grace Literary Agency and they were out of St. Petersburg, Florida. The main contact was Pat Jozwickowski and her sister's name was "Sunny." They were, last I knew, in 2001, planning on moving to the midwest and re-starting the agency. Don't know if they're still in business or not in Florida...but I'm hoping not--unless they've changed a great deal...Mary
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Mary, I got some similar complaints about this agency, but haven't heard anything for a while (which makes sense if they went out of business in 2001). I don't think the agents had any publishing experience before setting up their agency, and I'm not aware they ever made any sales.
It sounds as if your novel went out to publishers before 2001? Given the staff turnover in publishing, you might not have a problem resubmitting, even under the same title. Just to be on the safe side, though, it might be a good idea to change it.
- Victoria
Mary, I got some similar complaints about this agency, but haven't heard anything for a while (which makes sense if they went out of business in 2001). I don't think the agents had any publishing experience before setting up their agency, and I'm not aware they ever made any sales.
It sounds as if your novel went out to publishers before 2001? Given the staff turnover in publishing, you might not have a problem resubmitting, even under the same title. Just to be on the safe side, though, it might be a good idea to change it.
- Victoria
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Just don't retitle it like a soap manufacture might do: New and Improved TITLE with 20% more Blue Crystals and added Whitening!
I don't think that one would fool them.
Just don't retitle it like a soap manufacture might do: New and Improved TITLE with 20% more Blue Crystals and added Whitening!
I don't think that one would fool them.
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
If it's a killer title, keep it. If not, change it. Odds are slim that anyone will remember it. Do print out a new copy, though.
If it's a killer title, keep it. If not, change it. Odds are slim that anyone will remember it. Do print out a new copy, though.
Re: Bad agent and future of my mss
Thank you everyone for your advice and support...I will make good use of it and, hopefully, one day very soon, my book will be published despite it's initial rough start.....Mary
Thank you everyone for your advice and support...I will make good use of it and, hopefully, one day very soon, my book will be published despite it's initial rough start.....Mary
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There's a hint here that they made one sale in three years in business:
Once again, stay away from the folks who wake up one morning and decide to be agents. They're gormless at best. They won't be able to sell your book.
The other agents to stay away from (aside from the out-and-out scammers), are the Not-Very-Helpful agents.
As it says at Making Light:
Once again, stay away from the folks who wake up one morning and decide to be agents. They're gormless at best. They won't be able to sell your book.
The other agents to stay away from (aside from the out-and-out scammers), are the Not-Very-Helpful agents.
As it says at Making Light:
Trivia: Full names are Patricia Jozwiakowski and Sonuia Mays. The agency was named after their mother.
There's no sign they've returned to agenting.
There's no sign they've returned to agenting.