Comments on: Before You Hire a Literary Agent

By: christine Barbetti

christine Barbetti — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:21:15 +0000

What an unbelievable resource your web site is for wannabee authors! I've printed about everything you have written, I bought the "Killer Proposal" and have used it as a reference and now I'm looking for a Christian Agent and using the wonderful list you have provided. I've checked out a lot of publisher's web sites and no one gives the help you provide! One would think you actually hope we all get published! Thanks so much for all the good advice and here's hoping it will get my missionary book on Haiti published quickly! chris barbetti-feamster

By: Peter_P

Peter_P — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:54:46 +0000

So… I was wondering… since you have a list of literary agents who represent Christian authors…

Does your list include the ones about which you would say "You’ve got to be kidding! Of all the agents out there, why would you pick THAT one!" ?

By: Writers’ round-up « Aspiring Author

Writers’ round-up « Aspiring Author — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:02:10 +0000

[...] Before You Hire a Literary Agent, you should call their references, says Michael Hyatt, who heads up a large publishing [...]

By: Kyle L. Olund

Kyle L. Olund — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:12:15 +0000

How gracious of you, Mike. Thank you. I'm starting off small, through referals right now. When I'm ready to publish my information (probably in a month or two), I'll send it your way.

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:45:22 +0000

It's not a silly question at all. I would ask for references after you are both interested in getting into business together. Think of it as you would in interviewing anyone for a job. It's the last step before you agree to work together.

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:02:41 +0000

If I may ask a silly question, should I ask an agent for references before or after sending a book proposal?

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:44:05 +0000

Sue, again, this simply isn't the case. We do only publish Christian authors, but many, many of them write content intended for a general audience. You don't have to be a Cristian to understand the content or to find it relevant. (A cook book or personal financial management book would be a good example.)

About 34% of our sales come from the Christian (CBA) marketplace. The rest come from the general bookstore market, mas merchants, specialty outlets, or non-profits.

By: Michael Hyatt

Michael Hyatt — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:40:23 +0000

I would say something like this, "It sounds to me like you view the agent-author relationship as a partnership, and that's exactly how I am approaching this. In any kind of partnership, it is critical to know about the people you are getting into business with. I am happy to supply you with a list of references if you like. And if you don't mind, I would like to get a few from you. That would be very helpful to me." Then pause and don't say another word.

By: Sue Dent

Sue Dent — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:36:43 +0000

Bringing up the narrowness of any market shouldn't have to be qualified IMO. They serve who they serve. And you indeed have a tough road ahead of you because unless you write for that very narrow market of Christians CBA and ECPA serve, there aren't many publishers who'll take narrowly targeted fiction. I'm guessing that's one of the reasons CBA formed in 1950.

By: patriciazell

patriciazell — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:01:59 +0000

I agree about the narrowness of the CBA's market. (Please know I am not being critical when I say this.) I was recently told by an agent that none of the publishers she queries would be interested in my book proposal because my subject matter included "universal salvation." As I write, I intend to share Isaiah 25:6-8 which simply says God is going to remove the reproach of His people, to wipe the tears from all faces, to make a feast for all people, and to swallow up death forever.
Now, since one of my philosophies in life is if I can't go in the front door, I go in the back door, I'm putting the book on the back burner and concentrating on setting up my blog and writing articles.