To agent or not to agent

Last night I found out that one of the writers I've done beta work for is about to make an announcement. This writer has a book deal with a major publishing house and she achieved it without an agent. She did go the prescribed road of write, revise, send to betas, revise, betas, query, agent revisions, query etc. None of the agents made an offer.

I won't get into too many details because I'm a little afraid I may be stepping over the line by posting about this and don't ask me who it is; I can keep a secret.

So after finding out about this last night I did a lot of thinking. I've always said I wouldn't want to go this route. I want an agent who knows the ways around the publishing world. In a way, I also think it has do with having an "expert" tell me what needs to change in my book and when it's ready to send out. But thinking on it last night, I realized that I don't have a finished project that I'm so sure about that I would go the non-agent route.

When I beta read this person's work I fell in love with the story and told her she would definitely sell this one. Am I bowing to my awesomeness? Absolutely not. I've said that to several people and they're still not sold, although I honestly cannot understand why!

I want your thoughts on the agent route and if you would consider bypassing, why? I've decided if I have a project I love so much; I may actually change my mind.

And you must, must, must go here and see this awesome cover and make plans to buy this book! It is freakin' fantastic!!