Cathrina Constantine asked Gail Carriger:

Gail, can you tell us about your journey of finding an agent? And do you have pros and cons on indie or traditional publishing?

Gail Carriger I submitted Soulless to both agents and publisher slush, back then you could do that. I got a few agent rejections, but the first open slush I sent it to, the editor called me out of the blue. That was about two months after I mailed it. You could have knocked me down with a feather I was so surprised. Nothing moves that fast in the publishing industry, except copy–edit deadlines. I’d been trying for almost 10 years to get other projects published, so I’d sent it out expecting to just collect rejections. Frankly, I was rather shocked anyone wanted to buy it. I figured marketing would put the royal slap down on any book with no obvious category or demographic or shelf position. Luckily editors liked it enough anyway. I think the word most often used was "charming."

Indy vrs traditional? There are so many pros and cons right now with everything in the industry so confused. For me it's a matter of author personality, as much as other things. If you are business minded and data orientated and like it (or can partner with someone who is) than it's easier to make indy successful. Traditional is very, well, traditional although you'll find authors have to do a lot of their own promotion regardless and you should work hard to keep control of you brand.

If I had it to do over right now, I'd shoot for hybrid. Good luck!

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