Actually no, I am not.

14 years.

My first book deal was amazing. I will never forget it. I didn't celebrate it at the time, I had to keep plucking. But every year since, I celebrate it by remembering what it was like, how happy and hopeful I felt, and that it laid the foundation of #TeamTriada. Gratefulness.

I can only speak for myself, but between Thanksgiving and January 2, I am probably the most picky during a year.

Depending on my schedule, which is getting tighter and tighter every day, it will take me longer than it used to. I will say YES to a manuscript when I can't stop reading it, even if it means I don't sleep at all.

Update on queries: laurenspieller.com/literary-agent/ #amquerying #askagent

Hi Michelle, the #TMGTalks have closed until next time. Not clear on your Q. Are you asking if I always respond to queries w/ a full MS request? Then the A is yes. Hope that helps. Otherwise stop by the next #TMGTalks thread.

I Can't really say. Right now, I have a lot of client PBs I am focusing on, so my selection process may be even tougher than usual.

#TeamTriada has many authors who have different publishers for different books and genres. It all depends on the circumstances.

I think the author should ask questions about it and make sure the answers are true. Hey, I started with absolutely nothing, and people gave me a shot, so thete. But it depends on the person.

An agency usually works with a network of foreign rights agents or scouts.

To a degree, yes, it is ultimately the publisher's decision, BUT consultation should be in the contract. And it would be insane for a publisher to publish a book with a cover their author despises.

If you believe in your project, keep querying. If you don't, you should not have queried it to begin with. Keep going until you are out of good options. But querying does not prevent you from writing something else while you wait for the YES.

No.

I don't care about age, race, gender, sexual preference, disabilities, looks, weight, size, health, whatever. I never Google potential clients until after I love a project. Then, if I find they are under indictment for serious crimes, I will pass on them.

Anything can happen. I don't know , find another agent for the other books, or consider the possibility that the agent is correct. Then just write better projects.

I don't hate them, but usually they are avoidable by just telling the story right and well.

Well for *them* it is a faux pas. For *me*, it is not, not at all. It is a subjective business. One of my most successful books I pitched as Werther meets Dead Poet's Society. Or don't use comps at all.

Both, your query needs to tell me the important parts of the book and POV is important. I don't like surprises and question myself why I asked for this. Word count, depends, but 75-100 K give and take .

Ingo Siegner.