On Saturday, two agents from the Knight Agency, Elaine Spencer and Deidre Knight, came to the Atlanta Writer's Club. I was one of the lucky ones to get to do an agent pitch. Basically I got eight minutes to interest the agent in my novel.
I was terrible, absolutely terrible. I tried to follow the advice of Miss Snark and play it cool, engaging the agent in conversation instead of droning on and on about my novel. Didn't work, at least not for me. Maybe someone who is more outgoing could pull that off, but I was too intimidated. Elaine was as nice as she could be, and listened politely as I went on and on about my novel. Of course, I know the damn thing (The Church of Hooks and Lures) too well, so well that I cannot read it anymore and be surprised.
She did ask a couple of questions about a couple of the characters, and once again, I went on too long. I barely wrapped things up when time ran out. I fully expected her to say that it wasn't for her, or the agency - the usual polite way to say no to an author, and I would have understood. I certainly didn't think that I had made a good impression. But she surprised me by asking to read the first three chapters.
Later in the day, Deidre Knight gave a seminar on submitting to agents and her side of the business. Very informative. She is high-energy, engaging, and very funny. I could do a lot worse than to be represented by her agency.
But I refuse to get my hopes up. Partials usually take nine to twelve weeks to work their way through the Knight Agency, so it will be Thanksgiving before I hear anything good, I'm sure. Of course, I could hear something bad much sooner than that. It only takes a few pages for me to decide if I don't like something - I'm sure they can do the same trick.
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