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.
(..) out of a Boston suburb comes, what is without doubt the most incredible story a young boys stuffed animal, has magically come to life for unknown reasons LOOK WHAT JESUS DID! LOOK WHAT JESUS DID! before long, teddy had become a huge celebrity in his own right hello teddy (..)2012 Ted