The AW Amazon Store
Buy Books by AWers!

 

Welcome to the AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler! Please read The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 26

Thread: New girl with a question

  1. #1
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733

    New girl with a question

    I have written a book and want it published. Like many other people who have gone to PA I received a response immediately, but already I've learned disturbing things about their processes. Should I just look elsewhere?
    Please give your honest opinion on this. I'm torn because I want my book published, but I worked very hard on it and don't want to be duped by PA.
    KV

  2. #2
    Back in the black, & staying there! Marian Perera's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Heaven is a place on earth called Toronto.
    Posts
    12,407
    Hi Kerri, and welcome to the board.

    The answer to your question of "Should I look elsewhere" depends on what you want out of publishing.

    ___ Two printed, bound copies of your book
    ___ $1

    If you ticked these, PA should provide what you want.

    ___ Professional editing for your book
    ___ Actual cover design, rather than a stock image
    ___ An advance greater than $1
    ___ The book sent out to reputable reviewers
    ___ The book distributed to stores nationwide
    ___ A publication credit recognized by the industry
    ___ A career in writing

    If you ticked any of these, it might be better to try commercial publishing or a reputable small press.
    Last edited by Marian Perera; 01-10-2009 at 04:08 AM. Reason: apparently PA no longer offers free author copies


    "The novel has a dark, eerie, fairy-tale feel." Washington Post's review of The Beast Prince

    AmazonWebsite

  3. #3
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733

    Thanks

    I guess that cleared it up for me alright.
    Apparently I was right in what I thought when I found out they wanted my book.
    IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

  4. #4
    Back in the black, & staying there! Marian Perera's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Heaven is a place on earth called Toronto.
    Posts
    12,407
    Just remember, a real publisher will take some time to go over the manuscript before offering acceptance, will pay you more than a dollar for your rights of first publication, and will not pull up twenty pages of links when you enter its name and the word "scam" into Google.


    "The novel has a dark, eerie, fairy-tale feel." Washington Post's review of The Beast Prince

    AmazonWebsite

  5. #5
    Seen 'em come, seen 'em go Gravity's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Once you've heard the truth, everything else is just cheap whiskey.
    Posts
    3,851
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    I guess that cleared it up for me alright.
    Apparently I was right in what I thought when I found out they wanted my book.
    IT WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!
    Don't say that, Kerri! There are many, many solid commerical publishing houses out there that are actively looking for good manuscripts. You'll make it!
    John Robinson (formerly Cameron Bane ... RIP)

  6. #6
    Decker Cybernaught's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,369
    Sorry Kerri, but it's better that it happened now then later. Imagine the heartbreak of other authors when they go to B&N to schedule a book signing and they're told they don't carry their book because it's POD, too expensive and can't be returned.

    But you're in luck. Type up a query and pop it into SYW, get valuable feedback, and then send it out to agents. You're in good hands here.
    "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" - W.B. Yeats.

    "Fool Me Once" in Hogglepot
    "The Sommelier" in Every Day Fiction
    "The Degenerate" in Black Denim Lit

  7. #7
    minion kullervo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Princeville, Kauai
    Posts
    941
    Welcome, Kerri. You're smart to have done your research on PA. Their promises are definitely too good to be true. But new writers see their work legitimately published every day (heck, I did this month!). AW can help you on your path.

  8. #8
    That door could be a time portal... Deb Kinnard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Casa Chaos
    Posts
    2,341
    Not necessarily. The "too good to be true" part, I mean.

    I assume you've investigated non-subsidy, non-scam publishers and you're getting ready to submit to them? When one of them wants your book, it's, ahem, quite a feeling.

    Opt not for quick easy fixes. This isn't an easy endeavor to get into. If it were, everybody would sell for "nice deals" and big advances.

    If you believe in your work, go the distance. Query legit publishing houses, and if you get some "no-thanks" responses, set yourself to learning more about your craft. Join a crit group. Participate in a local writers' chapter in your chosen genre. Take yourself to the next level and try again.

    PA is less than your last choice. It should be a non-starter for every writer.

  9. #9
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733
    My biggest problem is $$$$$$...I have none. So I can't really go the self-publishing route which makes all this harder. I did just get a new book (the 2009 edition on writing) for my birthday, maybe I'll just stick to sending query letters for now.

  10. #10
    SupahStah! jennifer75's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    2,559
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    [FONT=Georgia]I have written a book and want it published.
    You sound a lot like Veruca Salt.

    Daddy, I want a squirrel. Get me one of those squirrels, I want one!
    jennifer

  11. #11
    I grow my own catnip JulieB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Deep in the heart o' Texas
    Posts
    2,399
    Welcome to AW, Kerri.

    You'll find plenty of resources (and warm, generous folks) here on the site to help you out.

  12. #12
    storm central stormie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Still three blocks from the Atlantic Ocean
    Posts
    12,389
    Hi Kerri!
    You've accomplished a lot. One--you completed a manuscript, two--you researched PublishAmerica, three--you seem ready to listen to advice on these boards, four--you know you've worked hard.

    So. Please don't rush. Make sure your query and ms. are polished. Stick around, ask questions. Read the posts. You'll see your book published. It may take awhile. In this business, you have to have patience.

  13. #13
    Back in the black, & staying there! Marian Perera's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Heaven is a place on earth called Toronto.
    Posts
    12,407
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    My biggest problem is $$$$$$...I have none.
    I don't have any money either. That's one reason I decided to get an agent who could submit my manuscript to the major commercial publishers.

    So I can't really go the self-publishing route which makes all this harder.
    I think it's going to take more than money to succeed in self-publishing. That's a whole nother ball game, and if you're not trying to exploit some niche in non-fiction, you're probably better off trying to get an agent or publisher interested.


    "The novel has a dark, eerie, fairy-tale feel." Washington Post's review of The Beast Prince

    AmazonWebsite

  14. #14
    Decker Cybernaught's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,369
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    My biggest problem is $$$$$$...I have none. So I can't really go the self-publishing route which makes all this harder. I did just get a new book (the 2009 edition on writing) for my birthday, maybe I'll just stick to sending query letters for now.
    Why do you want to self-publish?
    "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" - W.B. Yeats.

    "Fool Me Once" in Hogglepot
    "The Sommelier" in Every Day Fiction
    "The Degenerate" in Black Denim Lit

  15. #15
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733

    Wink

    I've heard and read that agents are not a good way to go for first time authors. Is this really true?
    Forgive me if I seem naive or ignorant, but I'm new to all of this and am only looking for advice.

  16. #16
    Decker Cybernaught's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,369
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    I've heard and read that agents are not a good way to go for first time authors. Is this really true?
    Forgive me if I seem naive or ignorant, but I'm new to all of this and am only looking for advice.
    You heard wrong. Did you hear this by PA by any chance? Probably.
    "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" - W.B. Yeats.

    "Fool Me Once" in Hogglepot
    "The Sommelier" in Every Day Fiction
    "The Degenerate" in Black Denim Lit

  17. #17
    practical experience, FTW MagicMan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    778
    kerrivitale

    Welcome to AW, this place will help you a lot.

    Post your query, and possibly post 1000 words of chapter one for critic on Share Your Work.

    You will get good comments and help with your query. A good query will get you an agent who can market your novel. Notice I said GOOD query. Post it and find out if it is good.

    Smiles
    Bob

  18. #18
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733
    I know a few people who have published books through agents and made less money than the agents did. Probably just got stuck with a horrible agent and not a good one from what I can tell but you never know.

  19. #19
    Decker Cybernaught's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,369
    Agents generally take 15%. If the book fails to sell, neither the agent nor author is going to get paid. Stay away from agents who try to charge you fees.
    "How can we separate the dancer from the dance?" - W.B. Yeats.

    "Fool Me Once" in Hogglepot
    "The Sommelier" in Every Day Fiction
    "The Degenerate" in Black Denim Lit

  20. #20
    I grow my own catnip JulieB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Deep in the heart o' Texas
    Posts
    2,399
    I second that. If the author is making less than the agent on a deal then that's a red flag.

    I'd say it's fishy, but y'know, I've got this cat with glowing eyes here, and she'll eat the fish. ;-)

  21. #21
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733
    Quote Originally Posted by jennifer75 View Post
    You sound a lot like Veruca Salt.

    Daddy, I want a squirrel. Get me one of those squirrels, I want one!

    Maybe I'm stupid but, who's Veruca Salt???
    It was only a question

  22. #22
    Back in the black, & staying there! Marian Perera's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Heaven is a place on earth called Toronto.
    Posts
    12,407
    Quote Originally Posted by kerrivitale View Post
    I've heard and read that agents are not a good way to go for first time authors. Is this really true?
    There are scam or amateur agents just as there are scam or amateur publishers. Legitimate agents, on the other hand, provide critical feedback, get manuscripts read by editors in a much more timely fashion than writers can do on their own, negotiate contracts, sell rights, and do much more for their clients.

    Forgive me if I seem naive or ignorant, but I'm new to all of this and am only looking for advice.
    Not a problem. No one's born knowing everything about the industry.


    "The novel has a dark, eerie, fairy-tale feel." Washington Post's review of The Beast Prince

    AmazonWebsite

  23. #23
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733

    Thanks for the help

    I gotta go...my husband's getting irritated with me for being here so long.

    Thanks for all the help, I'm sure we'll talk again.
    KV

  24. #24
    haz a shiny new book cover Christine N.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Where the Wild Things Are
    Posts
    7,705
    Ick. You don't want to self-publish. It's time and money consuming. And you're not the best person to edit your work. Nothing personal, no one is the best person to edit their own work. It's a fact of life.

    There are plenty of resources on the net, including right here at AW, where you can find the skinny on everything from agents to query letters. And a critique partner if you need one.
    Christine

    Young Adult Fantasy Author

    A CURSE OF ASH AND IRON: Coming Spring 2015 from Curiosity Quills Press

    "The Watchmaker's Ball" (short story), to be included in BEWARE THE LITTLE WHITE RABBIT (anthology), coming April 14 from Leap Books


    Represented by Jordy Albert of Booker Albert Literary

    I tweet

    Young Adult Authors You've Never Heard Of

  25. #25
    Tale-spinner Sneaky Devil's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Some frozen bit of Michigan
    Posts
    5,733

    One More Thing

    Before I forget
    On booksie.com I have submitted the first chapter of my book. It's titled Anniversaries.
    If you're interested, check it out. It's about a woman who kidnaps, tortures, and kills two women every year...
    there's more to it than that, but I can't give away all the goods

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Custom Search
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?119955-New-girl-with-a-question
absolutewrite.com
crawl=CC-MAIN-2017-09
189372
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:KW76WF7MBSKVT7I2VVWW4KSV6D2MZMFO
<urn:uuid:17380e4a-5794-43cc-b1bc-69c1b23485da>
2017-02-28T05:36:09Z
184.168.82.237
sha1:3Y4DDP7UT3I5BEUR2IWK2FD5T5ME4XIA
<urn:uuid:b10720c7-2a2c-462c-ad81-f45cd42a19e0>
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?119955-New-girl-with-a-question
response
<urn:uuid:0a71a16d-5934-446d-a0dc-49e21e01aa54>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-171-10-108.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-09
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for February 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf