Carefully!
Okay, well this is a blog I never expected to write. And somewhat different from the tone of the last one. For many, many years I have been desperately trying to get an agent, and in 2015 – I got one.
Whoops of glee did, in fact, abound. I even blogged about. I was so happy. I knew not to expect miracles, but I figured I’d get a publishing deal in a year or two.
Only I didn’t. And when I asked my agent about it, he was saying that a lot of the big boys were cutting their commissioning editors, especially in crime, and that until they appointed new editors, it was unlikely that they would take on any newbie writers. Not good news for a newbie writer.
And yet, I know so many authors who are getting published, admittedly by the smaller press, but they are getting published. The small press are guys my agent wouldn’t touch because the margin just isn’t there to make it worth his while. Well, sitting around forever and earning nothing isn’t worth my while either.
I have a load of friends who are full-time writers, and a few of them were giving me the same advice all the time – Ditch the agent and self-publish. I knew they were right, sort of. But it still took me six weeks from admitting that to actually doing the deed. Saying goodbye to an agent after so many years of trying to get one was without a doubt the scariest thing I have ever done. (And I’ve jumped out of a plane. And had two kids.)
So I sent an email, acknowledging what my agent had done for me, but also recognising how the industry is and admitting the fact that I don’t want to be in my 50s before I get a book published.
Yes, I have self-published, Last Cut Casebook (LCC) is still out there. And that’s one example of why self-publishing is not great for me. I don’t have the know-how that is needed for marketing – nor the contacts. I wish I did. That’s why LCC, good as it is – and it is – I have the 5 star reviews to prove it – has only sold in single figures.
I didn’t just send an email and forget about my agent though. I followed the email with a call, and spoke to my agent. It was actually a lovely, reaffirming conversation, reality accepted and no blame laid on either side, because frankly, there isn’t any. We’d have both sold the book if we could have.
And that’s really the point of this blog. If you are going to ditch your agent, accept that as much as you want the book sold – so does he/she! Agents only make their money by selling their clients books. So if saying goodbye, recognise the professionalism of your agent, appreciate any work he or she has done. And be honest. Being honest is something I went on about when giving advice on how to get an agent, well it’s just as important for ending that relationship. And don’t forget – read your contract and be clear on what you need to do from a legal standpoint – chances are there is a contract end period.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, once the relationship with my agent was – sadly – over, I sent off my manuscript to a publisher. Within 8 days I had a publishing contract. Not just for one book – but three!
A three book deal!
I can hardly believe it. Such a happy bunny. All I have to do now, is write book three. Which I’m off to do. Ta-ta for now.
The Write Route 