Frequently Asked Questions

• Are you a member of AAR or any other publishing organizations?

All BookEnds agents are members of AAR (Association of Author Representatives) and adhere to AAR guidelines. BookEnds is also a member of both the RWA and MWA.

 

• How did BookEnds get started?

In 1999 BookEnds opened its doors as an editorial book packager, and we're proud of our successes. However, as time passed we found we were getting a number of queries from authors interested in hiring us to represent them. The opportunity to help authors develop their own original ideas and work on incredible fiction was just too good to pass up. So in 2001, BookEnds changed its focus from packaging to agenting and we haven't looked back since.

• What is a book packager?

See this post on the BookEnds blog.

• Do you accept submissions via e-mail?

Please see the Submissions page for all our submissions guidelines.

• What is the proper format for submitting my material?

Please see the this entry on the BookEnds blog.

• What is a proposal?

A proposal can mean many things to many people. Fiction writers asked to submit a proposal to BookEnds should include the first three chapters of the book (no more than 50 pages), a synopsis (whatever you already have on hand is fine), an author bio highlighting significant writing experience, organization membership, or anything else that might be pertinent to your work, a detailed query/cover letter reminding us of what you're submitting, and of course a SASE.

Nonfiction writers have a great deal more work to do when submitting a proposal. Since nonfiction can be sold primarily on proposal, nonfiction writers need to include the following:

• Overview—this should include a one-paragraph or half-page summary of your book and what makes it different from everything else out there. Your overview should also include a detailed chapter summary if you aren't planning on submitting the entire book.
• Author bio—since nonfiction is almost entirely about who the author is, it's imperative that you give detailed information on what makes you an expert in the field you're writing in as well as any media exposure you've had relating to the subject.
• Competition/Marketing—how do you intend to market this book for the publisher? Only give information that is actually attainable to you. If you've already written articles for Entrepreneur magazine then mention this; don't mention Oprah unless you can guarantee it! Also include information on how your book differs from other similar books already on the market.
• Writing Sample (the first 1–3 chapters of your book)
• And of course don't forget the detailed query/cover letter and a SASE.

Please note that narrative nonfiction should be submitted as if it were fiction.

For more information, please see our Submissions page. Also see this entry on the BookEnds blog.

• What do you look for in a query letter?

Any materials sent to BookEnds, even if it's been requested, should include a query or cover letter. Whether you are submitting a proposal or simply e-mailing a letter, be sure to include the following information:

• Your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and any other pertinent contact information.
• The book's title, the genre it best fits into, and the length or word count.
• A very brief synopsis of your book. This is the most important piece of the letter since this is the one thing that's going to hook the agent. We don't need to know every detail of your secondary characters, but we do need to know what those key things are about your book that makes it different or special. To use one of our own books as an example:

"Featuring amateur sleuth and wine expert Nikki Sands, Murder Uncorked is the first in a proposed series set in California's wine country. When Nikki stumbles upon a body in Napa Valley, it isn't long before her nosiness gets the best of her. Now she's knee-deep in trouble and must find the killer before he finds her. In addition to a terrific cozy mystery, I've incorporated wine-pairing suggestions with delicious wine country recipes."

• A bio that highlights any significant writing experience you have had.

Please note, even if material has been requested you should always include a cover letter reminding us that we've requested it, the title of your book, and what it's about.

For more information, please see this entry on the BookEnds blog.

• How long should I wait to get a reply?

Each BookEnds agent receives roughly 100 submissions a week. Because of the high volume, you can expect to wait 10 to 12 weeks before receiving a reply on requested partials or fulls, 2 to 4 weeks on e-mail queries. At that time, if you still haven't heard, please feel free to drop us an e-mail with the following information: which agent the submission was sent to, the date it was sent, the title and author name.

• How can I be sure my submission arrived?

The best way to ensure that your submission arrived at BookEnds is to enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard with the title of your submission and the agent you sent it to. We will drop this in the mail the minute your package arrives, and you can be sure we received it.

• Are you available to speak at conferences or writers' group meetings?

Jessica, Jacky, and Kim are all available to speak at writers' conferences and chapter meetings. They cover such topics as contract negotiation, hiring and working with an agent, writing a proposal, manuscript submission, getting the most out of a conference and pitch sessions, and getting published. To get in touch with one of them feel free to e-mail BookEnds@bookends-inc.com. Direct your e-mail by putting the name of the agent you prefer in the subject line.

• Do you represent unpublished authors?

Yes! We are willing to look at submissions and take on representation for unpublished authors.

• Do you edit manuscripts before submitting them to publishers?

Yes and no. That would depend entirely on whether we feel the manuscript needs edits in order to make the sale. Since we all come from an editorial background, we are more than happy to work with an author on revisions to ensure that the manuscript is the best it can be before it reaches the publisher's hands. However, we ask that any submissions made to BookEnds be in the best possible condition. No work should be submitted with the expectation of getting revisions.

• What publishers have you worked with?

BookEnds has contacts at and has made sales to all major New York publishers as well as many smaller presses. Feel free to look at the Our Books pages for more information.

• What book projects are you currently selling?

Feel free to look at our News/Deals page.

• Do you charge reading fees?

BookEnds does not charge reading or evaluation fees as per the guidelines set forth by the AAR (Association of Author Representatives).

• Additional Questions

Publishing questions are regularly answered on our blog. To ask your own question, feel free to drop us an email and we'll answer it on the blog as quickly as we can.