A Thoughtful Journalist from a National Newspaper

Our efforts to contact like-minded authors have not all been for vain, and unlike the famous libertarian author who snubbed us, some have actually shown interest in our project.

Here was our email:

My brother and I have spent the past 4 months writing a book about the significant challenges for the young generation. As you can imagine, we have had significant trouble finding an agent to represent us in the liberally-dominated literary world. I figured that it might be worth asking you if you had any advice since we seem to share many of the same beliefs, conservative with libertarian leanings. I have read many of your columns on Reason, in the Post, and recently enjoyed your appearance on the Fox Business Network.

I have copied our query letter that we have sent to many agents below. It would be greatly appreciated if you could read it and give us any comments as to how me might improve our search for representation.

Next morning, a response!

Thanks for the kind words. I'll take a look and get back to you in a few days.

Unlike our last contact, this shows at least the willingness to entertain us, which is all you can ask for these days. Even if he now comes back with "sorry, there's nothing I can do, but you're onto something," we will feel as though he has put some thought into our project.

Its odd how the small things make a big difference when you're looking for a literary agent. You get so used to simple rejections, like "Sorry, not for me," that any personal response really makes you feel like someone cares about your hard work.

Maybe this is more a lesson in life than in publishing a book. Just a few simple words can make a positive impact on someone's life. He may certainly not be able to help us at all, but those two short sentences will be remembered by me for a long time.

Anyways, we got some other responses from published authors and journalists last week that I'll be posting later. You'll be blown away.