Agent Search Update

Unfortunately, I'm not updating to announce that I've signed with an agent. The agent search goes on. For those of you interested or just following the stats out of morbid curiousity, here's the latest:
127 Agents queried (About half were queried the first week of January (email and on-line forms) and half the last weekof January (snail mail))
81 Responses so far
11 Requests for a Full
8 Requests for a Partial
7 Fulls Rejected
4 Partials Rejected
Four of the rejections on the full came with comments and two of the patial rejections with comments.
The thing I find most interesting is that the comments are all over the place. One agent found a key element to be 'too convenient'. Of course, that was a part that I'd labored over. One agent, who read a partial, didn't like much of anything. A couple of agents wrote a LOT of comments and one of them made notes on the manuscript and returned it at her own expense. I'm so impressed with someone that dedicated to his or her profession.

The entire experience shows me just how subjective it all is. One agent thought the pace was slow and the text overwritten and uneven. Another agent thought the writing was whip-smart, the over all pacing good, characters well thought out and the narrative clipped along at a good pace.

So, when you get those rejection letters that say no and then tell you that this is a subjective business and another agent might love it -- well, they're right.

Sucking up to Booksellers
Yes, I'm all for it! In fact, I'm doing a bookseller "basket" for the Romantic Times Convention. The RT people suggested stuff like tote bags, chocolate and (of course) autographed books. They also suggested something in line with the main character(s) of your book(s). My main characters so far are spies and PIs. So, I'm thinking of using a aluminium briefcase for my "basket", and of course I'll include several autographed copies of both books that are out now. Any other suggestions? I'm thinking of totes or coffee cups with my book covers on them but really, does anyone want to walk around with a tote that has a red veiny skull and the words BREEDING EVIL on it?
My friend Bobbie Cole/Lyn Cash suggested a maternity tee-shirt with that book cover. She's a sick woman, therefore a very close friend of mine.
It's really a shame that my next book isn't out yet because then I could include a camera. That book is a cozy mystery and the main character is a photographer. If you want to read an excerpt, go to my web site. www.lizwolfe.net.
Oh, and I'm waiting for those suggestions!