28 Comments
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Holly A Brown's avatar

Hello! Thanks so much for sharing all your wisdom. I’ve loved reading your posts! Do you mind if I DM you to ask your advice on my current agent situation? I’m not in a position to share publicly but I’d appreciate any insights you have.

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Yes, feel free to, Holly.

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Hilde S. Palladino's avatar

This is so interesting, in Norway we don’t have agents (it’s a small country) but I have an agency for my abroad sales. I’m fortunate enough to have an editor that I have a fantastic relationship with, but I do know fellow authors that wants to swap editors (or the editor retires, etc) and they have no one to turn to.

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Very interesting! Thanks for reading!

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LiteraryLeaks's avatar

Navigating the path to securing an agent can be daunting. I've come across mentions of R. Solace, an agent with a reputation for unconventional approaches. Does anyone have insights into their methods?

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Hmm not aware of this personally, I’m afraid! Others might be :)

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LiteraryLeaks's avatar

R. Solace is no ordinary agent — they say he operates outside the usual rules and often chooses projects that go beyond the conventional. His methods remain a mystery even to most who have crossed paths with him. If you get the chance to learn more, it’s sure to be something different.

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Bernice P Venable's avatar

Very much appreciated. Extremely insightful!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Thank you!

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Ruth2Day's avatar

Thank you, Phoebe - food for thought indeed.

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Thank you for reading!

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Jason Ward's avatar

This is great - when is the podcast?! In terms of genre, is there a 'general fiction' section for those who don't fit into YA, sci-fi, crime etc?

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Yes! Definitely. I work in pretty commercial fiction so it tends to be genre-led but we also have a more literary list and we also publish general, book-club fiction on the commercial list.

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Catherine Balavage Yardley's avatar

Great post. I will be sending this to my querying friends.

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Thank you and please do!

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CAROL GRANT's avatar

Fantastic advice as always Phoebe thank you!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Thank you x

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Katie Holloway's avatar

Super helpful, thank you! And perfect timing for me as I'm just starting to research agents and start drafting my query and synopsis!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Exciting good luck!

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Fran Hill's avatar

Hi Phoebe - your series is fabulous and I'm really enjoying your expert perspective. My question is, I've contacted 3 lovely agents so far about whether they would take on someone (as in, me!) who's already published books 1 and 2 of a series with an indie publisher (sans agent). I'm now writing Book 3 but feel I need support with this as yet uncontracted novel & with my career in general from this point. As you'll know, things get more complicated once there's more than one book. Each of the 3 agents have been really positive about my work and have offered to read a manuscript but only when I have a new project. They're not keen mid-series. Do you think this is likely to be a general view? Should I change tack?!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Hi! Thank you for the kind words. Hmm - honestly yes I think you’d have more luck securing a new agent with a new stand-alone novel. An agent will want to go out widely with a new book, to new (and possibly bigger?) publishers, and it’s much harder to do this with book 3 in a series as opposed to something new that the agent and a new publisher can put their stamp on. There might be some agents who feel otherwise but coming in mid series means they might struggle to guide you - your existing publisher will already have a jacket look and a strategy for you, and so it’ll be tricky for the agent to really add value with a third book. With a new book they stand more chance of success (and of making money too). They wouldn’t get commission from your existing books sold but with a new one they would - and it makes sense that selling a new book (start of a new series or a stand-alone) is more likely to be successful. I don’t know how well your first two in series have sold, but if the sales are modest then it’s safe to assume the sales of a third book in the same series might be modest too, making it less attractive a proposition for an agent. Does that make sense? I’m not saying no-one will feel differently or that you shouldn’t write the third novel if it’s what you want, but yes I do think if you want to secure an agent and take a next step in your career, you’re more likely to succeed by changing to something new! But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t revisit the series later in your career! Or write it first and then write a new book to go out to agents with. Hope this helps :) and good luck!

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Fran Hill's avatar

That's such a generous and detailed reply, Phoebe. It puts flesh on the bones of what I suspected to be true and it's so helpful to see some of the reasoning behind an agent's stance. A huge thank you!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

You’re so welcome x

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Fran Hill's avatar

And I didn't know what TL:DR meant before either so that's another win!

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Ceri Jones's avatar

Thanks for this some useful tips, and am working my way through your v useful archive. A question if I may? I didn’t haven’t an agent for book 1 (a cookbook) as got deal direct with publisher (whilst I was being simultaneously turned down by a handful of agents). Pluses and minuses to this for sure. Would love to work with an agent on book 2 (which is currently just a list of ideas). But also wondering if that is now tricky as didn’t have one for book 1. Have been told it will be and am confused! Thanks!

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

Hello! Thanks for reading. I think in that case an agent would definitely still take you on for a second book, but am pretty sure they wouldn’t get commission for your first book, but if they sold your second book they’d take a cut from that. So it’s not really a big problem! They’d just be more invested in selling the second book (and any future books) really. Does that make sense? They can help discuss publishing things re the first book with you, but they just won’t make money from it. But that’s ok! And this happens fairly often I think, so I wouldn’t let it stop you from approaching agents! Good luck :)

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Ceri Jones's avatar

That’s really helpful advice thank you Phoebe

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Phoebe Morgan's avatar

No problem!

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