Querying snail mail from Uk to US

[Teatime]

Hi all,

I'm thinking of querying US agents by snail mail, but I remember reading somewhere - can't remember where - that there's some issue with the US postal service I need to be aware of when an agent asks for an SASE with the query, given the fact that the SASE would be addressed to somewhere in England. Maybe it's just the fact that I should use IRCs instead.

I'll go to my post office and ask what I need to do, and if there're any special requirements, but if this rings any bells with anyone, I'd be grateful if you'd let me know

Cheers

[Doctor Sax]

I have used IRCs in the past, but it might be best to check with each individual agency what they require, if that's at all possible - do they have websites or e-mail addresses you can access easily?

[John Jarrold]

Agreed. Deal with each agency as they request.

[Tirellan]

Don't use IRCs. It means someone from the agency has to go down to the post office, stand in line and then argue with the clerk who has never seen an IRC before.
I had a friend in the US buy me stamps and send them over, you currently need 90c
I believe you can buy stamps online from the USPS website but I have not personally done so.

[Teatime]

Unfortunately this agent doesn't list an email address. It's Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House, and all she has on agentquery is 'Query with SASE'. There is no general information email address on their website either.

One of their other agents has been very helpful - I emailed him because of the scarcity of information about each agent, asking for suggestions on who I should query, and he suggested Merrilee - but I don't want to keep bothering him if I can help it.

I can guess what Merrilee's email might be, but am hesitant about emailing her out of the blue if she has no email address on the website...

Any suggestions?

[Doctor Sax]

They got a phone number?

[Teatime]

Yes. But I've heard that phoning US agencies is bad form or something... I could certainly give them a ring if this isn't true, though.

[John Jarrold]

Do ring them.

[Teatime]

Righto. I have a respected industry name to blame if it all goes wrong :P

[Teatime]

Done - IRCs are fine, apparently. He basically said to ignore what I read on agentquery. Hm. Well, I'll send it and hope

Thanks for your help all,

[John Jarrold]

You can ask the receptionist what they'd like - most of the bigger agencies have a front desk in their office!

[Scarfy]

Maybe I should do the same thing. I emailed someone at Writers House and they told me that they don't handle science fiction.

There again, maybe the guy who wrote back got it wrong..?

[John Jarrold]

Merrilee and others there have dealt with SF and Fantasy over the years (I used to discuss various authors with her at Worldcons), so unless they have suddenly changed their ideas, I doubt that.

[Scarfy]

The email answer was from someone's assistant, so maybe they were just misinformed

[SJAB]

On Writers' House website it says they rep SF and Fantasy, but I believe not all their agents do. I do know that Jodie Reamer there does. Again it is research. Often you find that one agent at an agency will rep or be prepared to rep genres the others might not. Each agent has their strong point.


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