Finding An Agent

Finding a good agent is like a marriage, I think. You have to find the right match, someone who ‘gets’ what you want to do, who feels passionate about your writing, who you feel you can work with, liaise with and trust to have your best interests at heart. I should know because handing over a manuscript as it goes out on submission is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.

I had an agent when I self-published TAUNTING THE DEAD in December 2011 but I decided to go it alone a few months later. I felt passionate about self-publishing my series, THE ESTATE, too. I wanted to see what would happen, what their potential were as these books had been turned down by a few publishers for being cross genre women’s fiction/crime thriller.

If the series sold well, then I was going to look for an agent this year, 2013. But during the latter part of 2012, when my books were topping the charts and getting good sales and reviews, I had five agents contact me. I met with three and chose Madeleine Milburn.

I’m often asked why I would need an agent after self-publishing. Wasn’t I doing all right on my own? Why would I want to give a percentage of what I earn to another, hand over the control to someone else? Well, for me, the reasons were simple. Madeleine deals with the business side of things while I get on with the writing.

My ultimate dream was always to get a book deal and my agent helped me to do that. She can pitch my books into foreign territories, show them to TV and film companies. She has all the connections and the know how to take me to another level.  Perhaps I could have done some of this myself, given time, but I would rather dedicate my working hours to writing. That is what I’m best at.

Madeleine Milburn is my third agent, and it really was third time lucky for me. What I especially liked about her was the fact that she had researched me, read all of my self-published books and looked into what she could do for me long before she contacted me.

She already had a plan when she approached me. For me, after having ultimate control for nearly a year, that was the clincher. I didn’t want to do this alone forever, but I did want someone with the same energy and passion.

When I first met Madeleine, I had only written 15,000 words of WATCHING OVER YOU (out Jan 2014) which then allowed her to be there from the beginning once the first draft was completed. This is where I felt she came into her own. Once I’d completed the draft, she read it within a matter of days, she got someone else to read it too and I had an editorial report to work through.

Once that was done, she line edited it with me before it then went out on submission the week before London Book Fair. We made it the best we could before it flew our nest. I think self-publishing taught me how to edit better, making each draft tighter, but I still need a fresh eye. With each book, I learn something new. But now I have Madeleine to help me too. And it shows – two weeks after it went out on submission, I had a pre-emptive offer of a two book deal.

I love the control element that comes with self-publishing and I shall continue to do it alongside my books that are being published by Thomas and Mercer, but often there were times when I just wanted to write and not worry about cover designs, and getting PR opportunities to market myself and my work etc.

Getting a good book seen is one thing but also maintaining visibility is another part of the job – whether that is through social networking, blogging or writing articles. Luckily, I enjoy this side of things but when I’m drafting or editing a new book, it tends to fall by the wayside, and I get stressed that I’m letting people down. I work long days, often with no breaks for weekends, to fit everything in. The paid work has to come first now.

There’s no doubt that as publishing evolves publishers need to change with the times but so too do agents. I’ve spoken to a lot of them lately, at various conferences and festivals. They are facing the challenges with relish and it’s exciting to see. Last week, I was asked at a talk I did for a local writing group whether the role of the agent will become an unnecessary one and for me that answer is no – for me. I do think it is up to each individual to choose what they see right for them.

But right now, I feel very honoured to have a fantastic agent, editor and publishing team looking after me.

 

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Tags: Mel Sherratt, Taunting the Dead, women writers

Category: Contemporary Women Writers