Agents in my sights.

Ah yes, I have recently been asked to look into literary agents that I might find interesting or feel comfortable with using.  It is kind of like asking someone to decide who will be the first to behead you or sing your praise throughout the centuries.  If you happen to be Joan of Arc, you get both.

 

Every time I have thought about this particular part of the being published process, I try to be optimistic.  I imagine that my future agent comes in from a dreadful commute to the office.  It is raining, or snowing, or whatever bad weather outside.  They sit down at their desk and see my query letter.  They take a deep sigh and, just wanting to get the pain of the day over with, they open up my first ten pages and start to read.  The angel sing, the clouds part and rainbows fill the sky.  They smile as the words flow from the pages painting a beautiful picture in my mind.

 

But then there is my realist side that imagines it going a lot more like this

Then, if they do read it, they look something like this:

I am sure that my plight has been felt by many aspiring authors.  Of courseI may be thinking a little on the dramatic side fo things(or perhapsI am underestimating the true reaction of hysterical laughing and plots of my demise).

So I guess the plan that should be taken is go with the one who best fits what you think you aare going for (or be close personal friends with Stephen King and ask him to put a good word in for you.)With that said I have chosen three agents that have me interested.  Let's see if they are itnerested in me one day.

Jennifer Jackson:

Jennifer Jackson is the VP at Donald Maass Literary Agency in NYC.  She is particularly fond of Science Fiction and Fantasy pieces and one of her clients is Jim Butcher, the author of the Dresden Files.  Since she started working as DMLA she has workedto build the company and spread their interest into other genres of literature.  She seems like a good fit because it sounds like she is an open minded agent who likes to see more than the typical story roll across her desk.

Russell Galen:

Russell Galen of Scovil, Galen, and Ghosh Literary Agency is my second choice.  In his write up he mentioned that he enjoys reading Fantasy stories that take him to places he can't get to via a car, and I kind of feel like this is the way I like to right.  He represents Terry Goodkind and Mercedes Lackey, two authors who write in the genre I currently and interested in.  He has 37years of experience and he apparently likes to represent his clients for a good long time.

Eddie Schneider

Finally Eddie Schneider of Awful Agents.  Okay to be honest, this guy fits my style like a glove.  He seems very passionate about Sci-Fi and Fantasy books, as well as non-fiction science, which by the way, is my bag also.  He also stated that he is willing to fight for an author who wishes to keep their stories true to their visions and takes a stand against those authors who have been discrimnated against based on their sex, ethnicity or political views.  In truth I am sometimes worried about the so called "white washing" of my characters as I believe in a world filled with many people of different origins, ethnicities, sexes and race.  If I write something I want to be put in the book section I wrote it for.

Okay, so there is my stance on agents.  To be honest, I really wouldlike for people to wander by, see my book, pick it up on a whim and read it and put it down and say, "That was a good story."  Money is not my biggest thought when I write something.  It being a good story is however.

From the one who meanders through life trying to find his way, I am out.