Writer's Market publishes a book called "Guide to Literary Agents" that lists what agents represent which markets and how to contact them. Their 2007 guide is out now for about $18. Or you can try to find in used (Amazon already lists 42 used copies available).

Jim Butcher, author of The Dresden Files, explains how he obtained representation:
"I decided to take the advice of a friend -- go out and track down the specific people I wanted to do business with. I decided who it needed to be based on a fairly simple premise. Laurell Hamilton was writing material a lot like mine. Ricia Mainhardt had liked Laurell's stuff enough to represent her. Maybe she would like my material too.

So I applied to Ricia's agency and got rejected.

Not to be deterred, I found out which convention she was going to be at, and went there with a fistful of questions from the LKH mailing list, using them to strike up a conversation with Laurell and Ricia. Laurell was really nice to me for no darned reason at all and asked me along when everyone went out for lunch. I met some other writers, a couple of editors and another agent over lunch. By the end of the day, Ricia had offered to represent my work, and another agent (Jennifer Jackson, in fact) had asked to take a look at some of my other work.

I got to have this conversation with Jennifer Jackson (my current agent after parting ways with Ricia) that day at the convention: Hey, why are you interested now? You just rejected me like two months ago?

"Well yeah," says Jennifer. "But that was before I met you." "

Terry Brooks' website puts it this way:
"Question: The age-old question: To agent or not to agent?

* Answer: Most big publishers won't even talk to/look at your work if you don't already have an agent. It is a rare thing indeed when an author gets straight through to the publishing company. The exceptions: small publishers (usually don't have as many submissions and therefore interns and assistants can read all queries) and if you happen to know a person at the publishing house directly. The problem is that the major houses (the ones that ALL aspiring authors want to be published by) get thousands of queries every week! They can't possibly wade through all of them and give real attention to the content, so they trust agents to "filter" out the less-than-desirable ideas and present them with the best of the best. This saves time and money for all involved.

And look at it this way: if an agent is willing to work with/represent you, you know you have something, because agents get their paychecks from commission. That means that they aren't going to take you on if they don't think they can sell your book or they wouldn't be able to put food on the table. Agents are also listed in The Writer's Market, so find a reputable one that caters to your genre, and submit there first.

Whatever you do, just make sure you read the publisher's guideline before you submit. If they have clearly printed that they do not accept un-agented submissions, you are wasting your money by mailing in your stuff without an agent. They won't look at it. Some explicitly state whether or not you have to have an agent, but others don't. Put your money on needing an agent for any mid- to large-sized publishing house. Don't submit your fantasy novel to a publisher that only handles romance. Don't send in your biography to a fiction house. Trust me, you have no idea how many times people do this and they just receive a rejection letter because they couldn't follow explicit directions. Don't waste your time - find the right places for your book."

When you mention that you looked into what "convention" someone is going to be at, what type of convention do you mean? I hear the word convention, and being the type of nerd that I am, I think:

a) something like Comic-Con, Anime Expo, etc.
b) Star Trek / Star Wars convention etc.

Most of us are here because we HAVEN'T gotten a book sold. There are a few here who have, but most would probably leave once they're rich and famous. So, I can't give you first hand advice, but I can reference authors who have become successful. I spend a lot of time searching out scifi and fantasy authors who have websites to see if they have written their path to success.

Locus magazine has a convention listing at their on-line magazine here. Find one that's in your area, click on the link, and find out about it.

Oh, this year's WorldCon is in Japan, by the way. The NASFiC (NorthAmerican Science Fiction Convention) is the same as the WorldCon whenever the WorldCon is in the US (though everyone just calls it WorldCon). In years when the WorldCon is elsewhere, however, the NASFiC is still here somewhere.

During a preconference, an agent teaches a day long conference on getting the novel published including pitches and queries. On Sat. night there is a happy hour with the agents. On Sunday they have a panel of 10-15 agents who speak to the group. The agents get the query letters the attendees wrote as part of the package to look at and comment on. After the presentation, there is a 1.5 hour window where the agents are at round tables. They talk about what they are looking for and people who are ready to pitch can. The agents then join us for Lunch.

As far as I have seen in looking at other conferences, this is the one that gives you the most agent time. And many of them are looking for Sci Fi/ Fantasy or have other agents in house that they will recommend you send the query too. The really nice part about it is because they have met you, they nearly always ask for partials.

Jeff Herman's Guide to Books, Publishers, Editor's and Literary Agents better than Writer's Market because inclusion in the Herman book is voluntary i.e. the agent has to submit a form to be listed. Also, the form the agents fill out has very useful information in it. Some of information is background but there is also a Like and Dislike section as well as a "what can I do to get you to take my book" section.

AgentQuery, is a good place to start looking at to find agents to investigate and send queries too. There are also various Writer's Conferences taking place around the country where you can set up a time to pitch your novel. I am thinking of giving it a go this August.

But I'd just start sending out Queries to agents that are looking for your type of novel.

(Any of you who are published - am I taking the wrong tack? Should I grab for this possible bird in the hand and ignore all the agents floating around in the bushes?? )

I'm never one to turn down an opportunity like you had.

You can send queries to multiple agents, and then see who nibbles for pages.

Agents can talk to publishers easier than an untried, unproven author can. AND they don't get paid until you do.

Yeah, I'd like to bump into one like you did, but since I can buy a lot of stamps for the airfare to Maui, it is likely gonna be the road I go.

There is a local writer's conference here next summer, where you can take classes and pitch to agents and publishers. Another Contexter and I are planning on attendance.

One way to tell if it's a convention you won't find agents at is if the publicized guests are all tv or movie personalities.

There are media conventions that focus on movie & tv, and there are conventions that focus on publishing. If you want to find editors and agents, ignore the ones that focus on movies and tv.

You'll find a pretty good list of publishing conventions here .