Agency advice?

[grendel824]

I just finished my first novel, and it's currently being peer-reviewed by a few trusted and critical friends, after which I'll tweak it for the final draft. I picked up the 2005 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market and went through the agent listings, picking out agencies that seem like they'd be willing to deal with stories like mine.

The subject matter of my book is a little hard to pin down - it's similar in tone and subject matter to John Gardner's "Grendel," so I was looking for agents that would handle action/adventure and/or horror and/or fantasy. I obviously need to narrow it down a bit more, but I don't know anyone who has had experience with any of them.

If I can't get an agent, I'll try submitting it to publishers on my own (so you can expect a similar post then dealing with publishers), and failing that will self-publish and move on to my next project.

Can anyone recommend or dish out anything about any of the following agencies?

Authentic Creations Literary Agency
Marcia Amsterdam Agency
Loretta Barrett Books Inc.
Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency
Bigscore Productions, Inc.
Don Congdon Associates Inc.
Darhansoff, Verrill, Feldman Literary Agents
Jim Donovan Literary
Dystel & Goderich Literary Management
Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency
Farber Literary Agency
Diana Finch Literary Agency
The Gislason Agency
Graybill & English
Ashley Grayson Literary Agency
Sanford J. Greenburger Associates Inc.
Reece Halsey North
Richard Henshaw Group
Susan Herner Rights Agency
Jabberwocky Literary Agency
Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.
Michael Larsen/Elizabeth Pomada, Literary Agents
The Literary Group
Los Bravos Literary Management
Donald Maas Literary Agency
PHH Literary Agency
Pinder Lane & Garon-Brooke Associates, Ltd.
Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency
Jane Rotrosen Agency
Peter Rubie Literary Agency
Russell & Volkening
Victoria Sanders & Associates
Sedgeband Literary Associates
Spectrum Literary Agency
Sternig & Byrne Literary Agency
Vines Agency Inc.
Writers House

[Jasper]

That's a good list to start with. I've heard that a lot of the agents that have their names in the writers market put dummy names. So you have to actually do extra research on them to find out who to send the stuff to or it will go in a slush pile. I'm afraid I've no real experience with the companies or agents to pass this on as facts though.

I've seen some adds for services that might help you in this quest. They basically say that their service is to do research and submit your work to agents. They charge a fee and to be honest I don't know how much it is. I plan to look into it when my novel is completed. (that's still a bit away)

http://www.writersassistant.com/
http://www.wrelief.com

Good luck in your endevors.

[Jaye]

That's a good list to start with. I've heard that a lot of the agents that have their names in the writers market put dummy names. SO you have to actually do extra research on them to find out who to send the stuff to or it will go in a sluch pile.

Wow that sucks.

Thats kind of the point of Writers Market, no?
That you have industry contacts.

I can believe it, but it sucks.
Especially since many people buy WM.

I'd advise checking company websties for contact info for real names.

What a waste of time though.

[Jasper]

Yeah it does but I think it's also their way of ensuring that the author is certain that their writing would work for them.

[grendel824]

Thanks for the advice - I'll definitely look into the agencies closely before I submit anything to them. Good luck with your writing as well. I'm still hoping to narrow that list down a bit before I start going down the line and submitting.

[grendel824]

Not sure if anyone would really care, but I want to give thanks to those who wished me luck - it looks like your wishes might have come true! I've contacted one of my favorite comic artists (one who, IMHO, is one of, if not THE best cover artists working today) and they're interested in doing the cover for my book! I won't name names until I'm sure it's going to happen, but I'm really excited! :D :D :D