Literary Agents Don’t Guarantee Any Such Publishing Deal

It’s been over 30 years since I began taking my writing seriously while hoping over time others would do the same. The “others” in this case would be major publishing houses offering an advance for at least one of my finished novels. Here’s the thing: I’ve not only been a writer all these years, but—believing that it wasn’t only what you know but who you know—I found ways to get to the “who” in the publishing industry. 

(I Got 8 Agent Offers; Then, My Book Died on Sub.)

First, I was the National Event Coordinator for Borders Books & Music in Manhattan. I am not sure if that helped or not, but it was around that time that I managed to score an agent for my first novel. And not just any agent but a seasoned one at a high profile agency. After we met in her office and decided to change the working title I had from Place of Angels to Without Grace, I was thrilled and believed I was going to get that break I longed for. 

However, as it turns out, this particular agent didn’t seem hungry enough to pitch me since she never sent me any feedback, which I found to be odd. When I did dare to reach out, she had one excuse after another, including a back injury and then pneumonia. However, not wanting to be an annoying client, I didn’t press her on it and after months of little communication I decided to move on, which is when another high profile agent wanted to represent me, but first needed to know just what editors had already seen it. 

As far as I knew, no one had, but shockingly, when I informed that first agent I was moving on, she sent a long list where the manuscript was ostensibly sent out and rejected. I say ostensibly since when I’d asked about those rejections, she told me they were all over the phone without any proof. Therefore, the second agent didn’t want to risk her reputation by sending it to anyone on that long list who may have already seen it. 

I knew something wasn’t right, but I also knew I would look like nothing more than a bitter failed writer if I spoke out about this, especially since I was a nobody and new to this game. That didn’t change the fact, though, that I was sabotaged and my novel, Without Grace, would never see the light of day.

Yet, I continued writing.

Eventually, President and CEO of iUniverse heard about what happened to me thanks to some friends who’d felt I’d been wronged and she asked to have her editorial team take a look at WG. They loved it and saw its potential, asking if they could not only publish it but put it in their star program. After some hesitation, due to the negative response toward self-publishing, aka vanity publishing at the time, even though it wouldn’t cost me a cent to do so, I eventually agreed and it went on to win some awards and was even a best seller for a short time in some Long Island bookstores.

Then around the time Borders Books folded, I started my own publishing consulting business, which is still active today. However, I continued to write while trying unsuccessfully to find another agent for my second novel, Of Little Faith. But upon reading it, a very small publisher I’d worked with as their publicist wanted to publish it. I wasn’t given an advance but I didn’t have to pay anything either to bring it to publication. Sadly, unbeknownst to me, the publisher was seriously ill and unable in helping me in my efforts to get the novel in the hands of reviewers and readers and it didn’t go very far.

Yet, I continued to write.

With a growing catalog of instructional writing videos available instantly, we have writing instruction on everything from improving your craft to getting published and finding an audience. New videos are added every month!

I had a third agent take me on for my third novel, The Gathering Brood. Unlike that first agent, she sent me the rejections from editors at the big houses. They were gratifying, but still rejections. After some time, this agent informed me that she was retiring. Who could blame her? Getting a book deal was proving to be close to impossible, even for an agent who had success in placing other author’s works. Presently, that third novel is dormant.

So what did I do? Well, while opening an independent bookstore and then closing it four years later, I continued to write while keeping busy with my own business. But then, to my surprise, an agent, someone I knew from the industry but who didn’t start out as an agent, reached out to me, curious to see my latest work and agreed to represent my novel, Before She Was a Finley, a prequel to Without Grace. Surely, this was bound to be the one to get that book deal!

Meanwhile, I had been working as a publicist for a number of years for Easton Studio Press’s founder and president, David Wilk. I was always impressed with the books he published and his commitment to the authors over his 50-year career in the business. Therefore, when I saw that he started All Night Books, a new imprint that publishes fiction, my wheels started turning. 

I was tired of waiting, especially since two years had gone by with my newest agent that was yielding no return. Remember, I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. So I suggested to David we could perhaps have a barter deal. I’d do publicity for him on my dime and he’d take care of publishing Before She Was a Finley on my behalf. Even though this was unprecedented, he agreed and we signed a contract, with David saying that he was publishing my book because he believes it is a terrific novel. 

Immediately, I got busy and began doing what I hired myself to do and got out there to promote Before She Was a Finley, which is scheduled to be published on September 10. True, I still haven’t gotten that major book deal I’d envisioned all those years ago and may never. Yet, I continue to write. 

Check out Carol Hoenig’s Before She Was a Finley here:

Bookshop | Amazon

(WD uses affiliate links)