To agent or not to agent, that is the question...

Well, I've sent two query emails to agents after discussing the idea of taking on an agent with one of my most trusted editors.  It's one of those "leaps of faith" moments when a writer wonders "Should I have an agent?"  I am considering an agent ONLY for my longer writing projects: the edgy coming-of-age narrative novels and my magnum opus THE LAY OF MOEL EYRIS: The Saga of the Bear's Son.  This is the epic heroic saga upon which almost every story, picture book, and novel I write is based.  The children's books do well enough with my handling, but I my thought is that for the more serious writing an agent might be necessary.  How does a writer ever know whether to take the plunge or not with an agent???  We'll see what happens.  Stay tuned.