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.
(..) that information now. I am not aware of any friendlies. I have no confirmation. AFRICOM, ISR is approaching target coordinates AFRICOM, unknowns are advancing toward subject compound moving from south/southeast over open ground. No tags or colors. Asymmetrical movements. (..)2016 13 Hours
(..) I got movement. You see this, guys? Yeah, I see it. Boon, how many you see? I got unknowns moving to the parking lot. Fifteen Tangos. I gotta call you back. Good vantage point from here. (..)2016 13 Hours