First time poster but long time lurker here...

I am nearing the completion of my first novel and intend to send off the ms in hopes of finding a publisher shortly. I am looking for any advice that you wise folks might be able to give me.

Here's a few quick facts about my work:

Genre: Epic Fantasy with strong religious undertones - first book in a series
Word Count: 150K
Chapters: 25, with average chapter length around 6k words.

I don't currently have an agent. My plan is to send out multiple Query Packages (containing the first 3 chapters, synopsis, teaser, etc.), to BOTH prospective agents and publishers and see who shows some interest.

Questions:

Is this a good approach? I've got OSC's HTWSFAF and he suggested the multiple query approach, but that was like a decade ago and things seem to have changed. (Incidentally, my copy of this book was bound upside down and is signed by OSC with his words: "Good luck on finishing your first novel" inside. Kinda quirky, eh? Anyway...)

In your experience, are there any specific agents that you especially recommend? Or, conversely, any that you discourage?

Thanks in advance for any advice that you may have!

-Troylus