Rachelle, I can understand an agent having an “Oh well” attitude about letting a best seller slip away. Agents talk about subjectivity and books “not being the right fit” all the time.

I’m curious to know how an agent would remember everything they’ve read. Publishing moves at a turtle’s pace and it can take years to go from an agent offering representation to a book actually getting on the shelf.
I scarcely remember interviews I did two weeks ago at work.

How does an agent even remember something they read and rejected so long ago when new projects come across their desk everyday?

V/r
Rhonda(Rkh)

– Re-evaluate if necessary
– Don’t regret
– Keep moving with confidence
– PRAY for wisdom
– Pray for others

If we trust that God is with us, then we must also trust in His timing and foresight. Sometimes what we perceive as a failure or missed opportunity is as simple as Him knowing what we can handle and what we can’t. He can see a lot further down our road than we can.

And Richard, I’ve gotta ask: how do you come up with all your little sayings? You have more sayings than Confucius…

I’ve read a fair number of agent blogs, and most of them, if not all, say that they get behind books they love. Salability is in the mix, but not as important as loving the book. (of course, if there is no market at all, then they might not buy it, even if they were fully behind it).

It’s a good way to look at it – all best sellers have been passed over. Don’t take rejection so seriously.

If an agent has made a well thought out decision on a book, there should be no need for second guessing.

I think that’s exactly the right attitude. Not that it makes you any less of a good agent, but much of the success of a book is tied up in having the right representation, and if it’s a book you couldn’t represent best, it probably wouldn’t become a bestseller.

Plus, it’s refreshing to know that even bestsellers aren’t universally loved, as taste is subjective, and many went through the rejection process as well.