And it Begins

I've sent two full manuscripts off in the last couple of days. They went to agents I'd had previous conversations with who said they wanted to see the book when it was finished. Those are agents I'd met through nefarious means. (Actually, I met one at Bread Loaf, and the other is the daughter of a family friend). Those two constitute all of my professional agent contacts. So starting either tomorrow (if I have time; I'm packing for a weekend in Austin for the Texas Book Festival) or next week, I will begin sending out cold queries. That is, letters and sample pages to agents I've never met, and have no connection to.

Decent-case scenario: any kind of response at all. Good-case scenario: a rejection with some feeback or suggestions on making the book better. Excellent-case scenario: you are fabulous; sign on the dotted line.

Wish me luck.