As an author in the UK, what are the rules - if any - about having a US Agent? Is it a stupid idea? Are there any benefits?
As an author in the UK, what are the rules - if any - about having a US Agent? Is it a stupid idea? Are there any benefits?
Hi, Debbie. This is something I have a lot to say about, but most of it boils down to - it's fine, no matter where you are. See, I'm a Brit, living in the U.S., and my agent is American, living in the UK. On top of that, her agency also has a New York office, which I don't deal with. Complicated, but wonderful. With e-mail and Internet, the fact I don't live in the same country as her doesn't really affect things.
As for spelling - I did have to make two versions of my ms. when it came time to submit to editors, and that was no fun - especially since even quotation marks had to be changed!
Oh yes, I didn't think about the spelling. That would be annoying.
Thanks for the help :)
I think you can have an agent anywhere but there might be a few things you want to think about.
On a plus, the US is a huge market. My non fiction sales are much bigger in the US simply because there are more people to buy!
However, there might be a language barrier with the spellings (I think I'd cry if I had to turn all my colours into colors to submit!) and it would be difficult to attend face to face meetings with them or the publishers they are selling your book too.