Esther Newberg Says the Sky is Falling on New Authors

[Eric Christopherson]

This is the second time in a week I've run across a quote from uber-agent Esther Newberg in some article on the current state of publishing that suggests it's a bad time for writers (and presumably others) to be breaking into the business: “It is seriously going to be a time for known commodities ... I would hate to be starting out in the business.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/books/26rich.html?_r=1&ref=arts

Sounds a bit self-serving to me. Guess who primarily reps known commodities?

I'm happy to report her opinion can't be shared by all uber-agents as I've recently found two others who've asked to read the full manuscript I've just completed along with my co-author, two authors unpublished in fiction. Ms. Newberg ignored our query, so at least she's being consistent from what I can tell.