Author Jonathan Brown’s path to securing a publisher began at a crime writers’ conference. A few years ago, he was introduced to Eric Campbell, the founder and executive editor of Down & Out Books, at the conference. No deals were made that day, but this introduction would come in handy later. Soon after Brown started working with an editor who eventually got back in touch with Campbell to help Brown get a two-book deal with the publisher. This was after Brown queried 35 agents himself and ultimately did not secure one in the process; he received positive feedback from six, but the process of finding an agent can take a long time and not always end in success.