Patrika, you wrote "You don't need an agent, particularly if you've already made contact with an interested publisher."

BTW, I got Francine Silverman's newsletter today which mentioned you were in here and thought I'd check it out. Welcome!

Now, I am under the impression that in order to get into a NY house, you need an agent. Sure, there are publishers, although they are few and far between, that take unagented submissions, but do you find this to be true - that the majority of us who want a NY publisher should aim for an agent to get our foot in the door?

Dorothy