I need a literary agent. If I were to sell my house, I would call a real estate agent. If I wanted to buy insurance, I would go to an insurance agent. Well, although my writing resume is pretty good, there are three (3) main reasons why I need an agent: 1) I haven’t been able to get any real financial returns for my work; 2) I just simply don’t know how or where to sell options; and, 3) I don’t have the time to knock on doors and make contacts from scratch. I really believe that with the connections that an agent can provide, I can make a go of this writing thing I do. My belief isn’t born of naïveté; I’ve worked with a literary agent before and that relationship led to national publication (Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul) and almost led to a major publishing deal. But, as things go, my agent left the game and the publishing world change. I’ve been on my own ever since.

As I said, my resume is pretty decent: I’ve written four (4) books, one was an honorable mention at a Los Angeles book fair (Butterfly Warrior) and one received the 2016 Self-Help Book of the Year from the NM-AZ Book Coop (49 Tips and Insights for Understanding Addiction). My latest book concentrates on what I see is the root cause of New Mexico’s opioid problem, but is really a story about demons, ghosts, and angels. I’ve read and presented my work all over the Southwest and I can say that most good i’ve done in the world has been via my writing life. And although I consider myself richly blessed, I would like to sell options and write and present full-time.

I don’t know where to start. Back in the old days, writers would attend writing conferences and send out query letters, which is how I signed with a literary agent in the first place. However, because of social media and other changes, writing conferences are few and far between. Someday I do hope to attend the Breadloaf Writer’s Conference, but I’m not there yet. I would really like help in signing with a literary agent; if there’s anyone out there who might help, please email me at: juan.blea@jblea1016.com.