An agent has offered representation! What now?

She will send me the contract next week. I’ve looked her up, and she seems legit. Started her own agency when the one she worked at, Hartline, closed in 2022.

The weird things are:

1) She contacted me just a few days after I sent my proposal. Isn’t it a bit crazily quick? She asked for a more detailed synopsis, and then just the day after offered representation, but added a warning that finding a publisher could take up to 18 months.

2) She has no list of clients or referrals. Is that a red flag? Should I ask her for that?

Besides those two things, she seems like a good agent, with credentials and experience. She has written three books herself, one fiction and two non-fiction. The non-fictions were written in the late 90s, and the fiction was self-published.

It’s not a world class star agent, but I didn’t expect that either.

My fear is that this feels too good to be true… and maybe it is?

My plan for now is to read the contract thoroughly, maybe consult someone, and ask her for a referral. Other writers she has successfully represented. Also, once I get the contract and start looking at it, I suppose I should probably send a follow-up email to all the other agents I’ve queried, informing them that I’m considering an offer of representation, right?

Is there anything I’m missing here? Something I must ask, or pay attention to? Are there any pitfalls? Do I risk missing out on other better agents if I jump onboard on this too quick?