@Tamela_Murray

Congratulations! You have made a momentous effort to connect with industry professionals at Blue Ridge, and now your ties are strengthened. You’ve shared with others and learned lots about how to take your career to the next level.

And then you arrived home.

And then you slept.

And after that, caught up with laundry.

So now it’s time to get to the work of getting that new book published!

You may be a bit nervous. The agent seemed pleasant and friendly. She said to submit your work. But was she just being nice?

Well, of course agents are nice. But it’s hard to make an accurate assessment of a book in 15 minutes, or even during a conversation after dinner. Your submission that includes all the details the agent needs to make a proper decision will be the deciding factor. The good news is that the agent asked to see your work, and approach the review in a positive manner. While my assistant and I always enjoy seeing new projects, a requested submission where I’ve met and spoken with the author gives that proposal extra cachet.

Now that you’ve earned extra cachet, don’t delay. DO follow up on the meeting.

I realize that authors learn much at conference, so when an author follows up with me and says, “I need to revise,” that’s fine. Don’t be afraid to drop us a quick note to let us know that status.

Take the time you need to revise thoroughly. Always send your best work.

When you’re ready to submit, make sure to abide by the Agency guidelines. Attention to these details can distinguish your submission from less professional offerings. Most agencies post their submissions guidelines on their sites.

After you’ve submitted, waiting can be tortuous. Agent Time moves faster than Writer Time. If you don’t hear from the agent after a couple of months, follow up with a respectful email.

I hope good news soon comes your way!

Tamela Hancock Murray has been a literary agent since 2001 and has been involved in the publishing industry for over three decades. She is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels, novellas, and nonfiction books. One of her short historical romance novels,  Destinations, won an RWA Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Tamela is honored to represent many top authors and she continues to develop new talent. She earned her BA with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College in Virginia. Today she enjoys living in Northern Virginia with her husband of over thirty years. Tamela and her husband are the proud parents of two lovely adult daughters. An avid reader, Tamela can often be found perusing anything from obscure religious texts to the latest bestseller. Tamela loves meeting with authors. Whether you are new to the business, a multi-published author, or somewhere in between, she looks forward to meeting you!