Elle - From what I read, I think Frankfurt will take place in a reduced capacity, but sans some of the biggest publishers. So says The Bookseller, anyway. I certainly don't get the vibe that it will be cancelled.
Sonya - That sounds like a toxic kind of person! I hope you're able to enjoy your weekend regardless - breaks can be very productive. Yay for no new virus cases in your state for 8 days! My brother in law lives in Melbourne and has not been a happy bunny. And if I'd been called Tony Blair by my parents I would legit be going by my middle name!
Putputt - I hope your beta is both positive and helpful with your draft! A private tutor sounds SUCH a good idea, for your sanity but also the kids. One thing I've realised since March is how (weirdly) unnatural it is for parents to be with kids ALL THE TIME. Even though my kids aren't at nursery loads, the breathing space has been so beneficial for all of us.
aceafer - I often pick surnames for characters taken from people/characters of programmes I happen to be watching at the time. My MC in the sub book shares a surname with one of the Eggheads (quiz show).
Carrie - Welcome to the thread! Like you, I didn't have many writers to talk to prior to coming on here, and this community has helped me a lot. I'm someone on this thread who has parted ways with an agent and found a new one. It's actually not uncommon to move agents, something I discovered after I joined AW. Before then I felt like somehow I'd failed, like the onus was on me to make an agent relationship that was breaking down good again.
In my case, my first agent sold three of my books, but in the years after that things shifted (she moved to mostly repping MG, the YA I was writing moved into older-YA territory) and she became lukewarm about what I was writing, and wouldn't submit what I wrote to publishers. Not a good situation, so after a phone conversation I sent her an email explaining that I was moving on. She was fine with it, all very amicable, and she guessed it was coming anyway. Since then I've found a new agent more aligned with my current writing interests. Still on good terms with previous agent.
What I learned from that experience is there's no point sticking with an agent who isn't passionate about your work just for the sake of having an agent, even if you've worked well together before. Things and people change. Also, an agent can be a good agent on paper (sales, clients etc) and still be a bad agent for you.
Does your current agent know you're querying? If she doesn't, I's suggest you need to have a conversation with her asap - agents chat to each other and it wouldn't be the best situation if she found out from someone else. It does sound from what you say like she's no longer the best fit for what you want to do going forwards.