My agent thus far
My agency experience is pretty typical, I guess.
I found the agent from a recommendation. A pal I know is represented by this agency and he suggested I email them.
I emailed them, they responded, and then I sent a synopsis plus 3-4 chapters of novel #1. This I did via email.
They like this, asked for the complete novel, in hard copy. This all took about 2 weeks from my first email.
The novel was read and passed around at the agency. They had it about 6 weeks, then sent me a contract!
The agency is a "legit" one, an AAR (Association of Artists' Representatives) and Authors' Guild signatory. They charge no up-front fees, such as evaluation fees or reading fees. Their sole source of income is their standard 15% commission.
My 2nd novel was just sent to them, and they are still evaluating it.
I only signed in November, and publishing houses practically shut down over the holiday season, so my novel only just now being shopped around -- since the beginning of the year.
The contract was pretty standard, 2 pages long, written in plain slightly legal English. It gives the agency exclusive rights to market my novel, and they get 15% commission. If they sell the book, and then I quit the agency, they still get their 15% on any continuing income from sales they made while I was a client. That's standard and sensible.
Either of us can terminate the representation with written notice. If we part company, any new stuff I write is of course none of their business.
So far I haven't heard anything, but any legitimate agency that only makes money from sales can't stay in business for long if they don't get results. They have been in business for 11 years, and prior to that (as it usually happens) the principal agent worked for another agency.
My agent was fairly optimistic that we'd have a sale this spring. I'm excited at the prospects, of course.
