Not any more. The Internet and email has changed all this. In the olden days virtually all agents were in NY, where they, presumably, sold most of their books while lunching with editors. These days even a surprising number of editors aren't in NY, although the publishing houses tbey work for still are. They work from home, wherever that may be.

When I started my agency back in 1994, few editors had email and very few publishers had websites. This soon changed . Not surprisingly, the smaller publishers were the first to make their presence known and get their own websites. Some of the largest publishers took forever to get theirs. I believe Simon & Schuster was the very last one of the major houses to get their site up and running.

In the beginning many of the editors did not accept email queries -- I think mainly because they were not comfortable with their computers and all the new technology. Now, everything is done by email. Offers come by email and most contract negotiations are conducted by email. I sell books all the time without ever speaking to the editors on the phone. I have clients are all over the US and in eight foreign countries, which, thanks to email, doesn't matter. And I sell a lot of books.

No, your agent doesn't have to be in NY or LA. She can live in the boondocks of Idaho and still find you a publisher.