If you've never been published before, you're an 'unknown quantity', so you're going to have difficulty selling your first novel.
('chiefly US') The 'big unknown' [=the important thing that everyone would like to know] is how investors will react.
A 'fear of the unknown' kept her from changing jobs.
(..) by the name of Gale Boetticher. One night last month, Boetticher opens the door-- Bam, take a bullet to the face from a person or persons unknown. Now, this Gale Boetticher is a bona fide chemistry genius. I mean, he's got degrees up the wazoo, right? And, uh, as you might expect, (..)2011 TvShow: Breaking Bad Title: Problem Dog Season: 4 Episode 7