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.
(..) family friend of the man who stood to gain the presidency? While Reagan led the nation in the public eye, Bush exploited his power... through the largely unknown Continuity of Government directive. In the United States Federal Government... there is a super secret agency (..)2009 Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup