Sinclair Books discussion
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The Dreaded Book Agent
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No. I wish I could say that I have though. I've sent several cover letters out and I either get nothing, or this is not right for us at this time. What I hate is WAITING all that time just to hear that it's not 'right for them'. Couldn't they not have done that a little quicker?
I totally understand what you mean. I once copied word for word the agent write up of what they were looking for. My cover letter pretty much was identical to the submissions page. The reply?
This is not what we are looking for, lol.
I thought I would give agents a go and get the process out the way before I turn towards publishers or self-publishing. I have a few published books and a few self-published and the self-published do better, lol.
I've published with two different publishing companies. One I loved to work with, the owner is great, but her editors not so good. Although she has worked with me to do a re-edit. The second publisher has been awesome. Great editors, wonderful cover art, but I'm still struggling with sales. Could be my story! :)I have three novels currently out with agents and smaller publishers and after waiting for a few weeks, I sit back and wonder, why not self publish. Agents are going to just take a portion of your money, and they don't seem to really want to 'look' at anyone's work. How can you gauge a manuscript on three paragraphs? But I understand going that route first. While you are steadily promoting other things you might as well. That was my theory.
If you don't mind me asking, why do you find that the self-published do better?
I actually started in self-publishing. Since I was 14 I use to write books on martial art techniques, philosophy and my own style. I done this for years, wrote for a few magazines, e-zines, showcases and so on. I decided to go into fiction, but didn't want to self-publish. I got my first novel, The Lady and the Lake, signed but I had to wait a year for it to come out. The problem was the week it came out my publisher went under new ownership and closed down, lol.This meant, The Lady and the Lake, one of my favourite books went into limbo and was impossible to promote. The new publisher re-opened in january with my second release the first book out, but again they were dealing with the back log of other books and this book went into limbo too. In a way I lost two really good books, so when I realised the publisher was being taken over and my book was going to just disappear I put out a book I was sending out to agents called,
Bitch Special EditionI needed to have something I could promote and the book done very well. When the other release failed because of the publisher again! I put out a historical romance called Under The Midnight Sky
which done even better than Bitch. The two published novels sold, but in comparison the self-published books done better. This is because I had more control. I think if I was with a different publisher and not had these problems the books would have sold a lot more. I have a free book called, Before The Dawn, that I put out about 6 months before, The Lady and the Lake, and that taught me where to promote, how to promote and has had over 3000 downloads.
I find I have more control over the self-published books, but it is harder because reviewers are not interested, hard to get interviews, but it helps to show that I am published because that lets you get taken seriously. I hope that my next release, The Way of the Crescent Moon, that is out with my publisher will do well. In a way that is my first proper published release because it should be problem free, lol
SORRY FOR THE LONG REPLY!
No, don't worry about the length. I find your experience very helpful and interesting. I didn't go with self-publishing myself, because quite frankly I'm terrible with editing! I do the best I can but honestly I want a 'professional' editor to go over anything/everything I submit. Also, I don't have money to pay someone to do this for me. The other reason, is because like you said, an author is rarely taken seriously if they haven't went through at least one publisher.
With more and more people publishing their own works and becoming quite successful this theory may change.
I'm being summoned by the pitter-patter of feet! :)
I totally understand what you mean. The edits of my first novel were an eye opener. I would say 70% of it was perfect, but I made silly little errors and because my first two books were first person it wasn't tight in some places where I just rambled on in a weird monologue. My second book my editor said was practically perfect. We done the edits in a day. It was again silly stuff, but once I corrected these and was comfortable that my book was at least 90% perfect and the only bad parts were again my... ramblings, lol. I decided to put them out.Self-publishing is a good route. I think it would be easier with a novel. The two I have put out were novella's and it was hard to get people's attention without the aids of reviews and interviews. I personally am still going down the publisher route. I have two published books being released this year and I also plan to self-publish a novel myself. I plan to do a sequel to the self-published novel next year, but I have three other novels that I want to go through publishers.
The thing for me is I know what publishers I want. If those publishers do not sign the books then I will go down the self-publishing route because I find the smaller publishers don't help in promotion and its like. If my book is 90% perfect, you don't promote it, you don't push it, why am I making you money? I could put it out myself and have full control over the project.
You have a point. You are so right that although the small publishers try with their own blogs and websites to promote you, they don't really get you the notice that will push you. I find that I do almost as much promoting as I do writing and I yet I see very little results. I had someone review my novella a month or so ago, and she said it was choppy, didn't flow well, yada yada. In the end she said that she would only recommend it if you had nothing better to do. That was fine, it was her opinion. Then just this past week she emailed to tell me that someone bought my novella from her blog post! I'm assuming she made money from Amazon because they bought my story????
Plus as a personal opinion, I still feel like print books sale better. The smaller publishers have so many 'requirements' that must be met before they will go to print. I understand the reasoning, mostly it's cost. But when you self-publish you have the control over going that route.
About having a publisher picked, I know what you mean. I've worked with two, like I said. One I hesitate to use because of the editor issue. And the other one I want to use but I'm unsure if they will accept what I have! The waiting to hear from a publisher is absolute torture!
Who are the publishers that your trying? So few major publishers will take you without an agent. I myself have submitted to Keningston but since they have a 3 month wait time I've yet to hear anything. Also I tried Avon Romance. Which has now changed to Avon Impulse and says they are mainly doing ebook with a POD option. Avon was totally my first choice. I had been writing a submission for them for sometime only to get to them and see they were going the ebook route.
I don't know of any other publishers that will take a writer without an agent.
That is my big issue with small publishers. They take a share and don't do a great deal of work. I think print books will sell better. I am thinking of going through lulu.com for my self-published and just placing them on ebay or amazon. It can't hurt to try.The publishers I have in mind are... (double checking, lol)
Red Sage have one of my books right now, The Dance of Deceit, but I submitted to them once before and I get the impression they don't reply if its a rejection. They have only had the book for a month or so. If they turn it down. Liquid Silver is my next option. For another book, straight romance book, I am thinking Ellora's Cave, Red Sage, Liquid Silver, eharlequin (if they open this particular genre to submission) I didn't even think of Keningston and I also have Avon on my list. Oh and Mills and Boon! I currently have 3 unsigned books, well 4, but one is being self-published (pet project really excited about) of the other three one is erotic romance, one is romance and the other is a kid/young adult book, which I have no idea who I am sending it off too.
I would love a big publishing house to sign a book, which is why for the romance & kids book I am going through agents first, but it doesn't look too good. If agent fail then those published I mentioned. I feel the romance book will be snapped up straight away, the erotic romance is iffy because its a great story, but one publisher said it was slightly taboo and they dont take fantasies writen by female authors, lol. The book is written in first person from a woman's point of view. I enjoyed writing back. My name is Alex, but I am actually a man! Shows I am good at writing if you thought i was a woman, lol.
You know that's funny because I've written a romantic comedy from a man's perspective but I'm a woman! I was thinking it was in the 'chick-lit' genre but honestly I'm just not really sure. There doesn't seem to be many people publishing romantic comedies. Plus it is only a little above 50,000 words so that really hurts.Seems like you have WIDE variety of works. I too haven't completely settled on one genre.
I just received a contract TODAY on one of my books! I'm soooooo excited. This one has went out about 5 different times and had to have some major rewrites to get accepted. But I obviously couldn't be happier. Now I just have two more to go. Did wind up with a small publisher but that's fine. This certain publisher has the best coverart I've ever seen and I can't wait to see what the artist does with my cover!
Congratulations on the contract. I am really happy for you. It sounds like you have worked really hard to get this book signed, which means it is going to be so good when it comes out. I am like you I have a wide variety of books. I just like writing stories. I think suspense is more my area because all of my novels/novellas are suspense, but erotic romance over shadows suspense and historical romance over shadows suspense. I just like trying new ideas, creating new characters and just seeing where things take me. I have my first paranormal book out in October, first action and adventure next month and a suspense novel at some point... so lol, three new genre's to add to my list, lol.
Congratulations once again!
Has anyone had much luck with book agents?