Here in Seattle, I have a colleague who is the author of books on the national parks and the railroads, and who appeared as one of the talking heads on Ken Burns’ national park series on PBS. He read the first draft of our book and forwarded it to his agent in New York with a recommendation. He told me it might be a few weeks before we heard from him. The next day I received a somewhat frantic e-mail from the agent asking me to call him immediately. He agreed to represent our book if we cut it down by a third, which we did within days.
That was the good part.
Guiding a manuscript by unknown and unpublished authors through the labyrinthine bureaucracy of the major publishing houses is tough enough in a good economy, but it’s even more difficult now. Because of the economy, the major New York publishers are not publishing anything unless it’s by a bankable author, such as Vince Flynn or Glenn Beck. Some have said that they will not accept new material from anyone until the economy turns around. Add to this the whole e-books issue and the uncertainty as to how devices such as Kindle and Nook will affect the business models for the publishers, and you have a situation where nothing happens.
So our agent avoided the major houses and went to the small boutique publishers that might have an interest in our book and would give it some marketing attention. Some publishers passed on it, but others have been sitting on it since last September because they don’t want to make a decision until the economic situation resolves itself. We’re in limbo right now.
Some FReepers have suggested that we turn to self-publishing or e-publishing. The problem with that is that once you've committed to it, the conventional houses won't touch your book. It gets too complicated legally, and it's used material by then anyway.
So as of right now, we’re waiting for someone to take a chance on us.
I just finished “Hondo” by Louis L’amour and just started “A Gathering of Old Men” by Ernest Gaines ...
I’ll read Atlas Shrugged again soon ...
Of course if you give up on traditional publishers, It is apparently really easy to become one of the many things available on Kindle etc. The problem being that there are so many things to compete with.
Trying to get noticed would be the next problem. I expect this particular offering would be reviewed by some popular blogs and political sites and such.
Good luck though!!
I think some time, someone will, just keep it in the network. The economy, tell me about it. For the last almost two years I have been experiencing it and a few months ago we were hanging by a thread. In a week I am starting a new job, the biggest and best one I have had in my life.
Shucks. Maybe by next Christmas if not sooner.
Well, you need to get Glenn Beck to pump your book.
Seriously, though, you made it this far. Which is very good. You never know how things may turn out.
THIS sounds GREAT....a lot of people find Atlas Shrugged a bit overwhelming.....with this “tool” I could probably get some young relatives to read it!
The old “Hurry up and wait” ploy.
I’m very sorry.
After the revolution, it will happen.