Does anyone know about any agents? How to start become a published author?

[Aurielle]

Hi my name is Aurielle Little. I am 19. I have self published a book which is the pic shown of the front cover. It is an amazing book filled with gorgeous writes that I've created. I know that my level for a writer is splendid but I have tried to get in contact with a publisher by calling a company to review my work. The reply was to go to my local library and request for a list of agents by my neighborhood. I haven't went but I just wanted to know if anyone has a nearby phone number to agents or publishers that would shortcut review my book find editors and take it in. Please reply my books is a promise work.

[Frances Shani Parker]

Aurielle, the advice they gave you was correct. The library is a good place for you to start. All agents and publishers don't work with all genres. You have a lot of research ahead of you to find the right agent or publisher (some don't require agents) for your particular kind of book. Don't focus much on finding shortcuts. Getting professionally published requires a lot of time and effort, and the process is not fast. There are usually rejections, frustrations, and rewrites along the way. Finding a publisher is only the beginning. Even if a manuscript is good, it still has to meet other criteria such as being unique and trendy for the times.

Most agents and publishers prefer not being contacted over the phone. Many have Internet guidelines explaining how to apply to them. You might also want to consider visiting a good local writers' group in your area to get constructive criticism and advice regarding your manuscript and the publishing process in general.

Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
“Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog”

[SusieSunshine]

As a small publishing house I can tell you that you really need to follow the protocols to contact a publisher. Some want letters with a synopsis, perhaps an outline, or even a couple of chapters. Others won't talk to you without an agent. There is also the consideration of whether they want the information through traditional (snail) mail or electronically. You will get nowhere if you attempt shortcuts or if you don't adhere to their standards. You could be considered difficult to work with and then your manuscript won't even get a glance.

I had a woman ask me how I wanted her manuscript for consideration. I told her through regular (traditional) mail. She then emailed me and told me she would send it to me via email after she finished editing it because she was green. If I had been another publishing house she wouldn't have even gotten a reply or any consideration at all. Her manuscript didn't fit for my company. That was the reason I didn't publish her. Because I knew her I wrote her an email telling her where she was doing things incorrectly so that she would get considered by another publishing house. I also told her they didn't care if she was green or not. They just wanted her to follow their standards or she would be considered difficult.

I hope this has helped you somewhat.
Sue

[Yolanda Jackson]

I also published Peter carrot-top four days ago by e-booktime.com I have found an agent who work with my budget her name is densie cassino. tell her yolanda sent you here is her email address, she does book tours, and can hook you up. [e-mail] hope I can help and if you need advertising maybe we can work together and form a team or something. young writers

[Sherlyn Powell]

Hello Aurielle,
Congratulations, I also self published earlier this year. I agree with Frances, getting an agent requires research, and you have to be persistent. I have yet to find an agent but I'm still hoping to get one. I suggest you also try agentquery.com, you'll get agent contact information and the types of books they are looking for and by all means follow their instructions. Good luck.
Sherlyn

[Frances Shani Parker]

Regarding agents, during my own research on agents, I discovered that nonfiction books don't necessarily require agents. In fact, an agent advised me to look for a specialty publisher because my book appeals more to a specific audience. After that, I focused on finding a publisher for my book "Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes.” Eventually, several publishers were interested in the book. This did not happen overnight, however, and I did my homework every step of the way.

[Linton Robinson]

Perhaps this can help you sort out the agent thing, Aurielle.

By the way, don't CALL them. They hate that. Send them a query by mail and email.

FINDING AGENTS: Even if they don't want to be found

[Editor In Chic]

Hi..

If you are looking for self-publishing companies to publish your book, I know of a few companies that practically holds court to everything a book needs from getting you your copyright, size preferences, book cover design customization, layout consultation, copyediting and even marketing – at affordable costs.

Most self-publishing companies have programs that costs about $250 to $12999 and is highly dependent on the kind of services that you will be getting which is why it is very significant to carefully map out your book's budget as early as now.

Publishing companies now have all the resources to publish books with the same productivity and efficacy as that of regular black and white books. Considering the fact that most books are in full color, you should choose a publishing company whose book’s are of the highest quality, bar none.

Xlibris Publishing is one of those companies who truly boasts of their book’s top quality as your book is printed on acid-free 50lb library-edition paper. That alone can give your book a longer shelf life and durable pages.

Self-publishing entirely means that you get to retain full control of your book’s production and that it gives you the option to publish your work and claim authority of the photos that you have chosen to be published.

Publishing is synonymous to getting that copyright for protecting your book which is why it is highly important to publish it.

You can get free information sent to your mail here and even try to check the quality of their brochure because it is the same as how they publish books. The cost to publish is also listed in detail and in depth.

FREE PUBLISHING GUIDE

HOW TO PUBLISH

[Dennis AuBuchon]

Aurielle,

I have a published nonfiction book and it did not require an agent. I have had some bad experiences with publishers in the past and you must look at the terms of the publishing agreement they offer. It should be clear as to what each party is required to do. It is also important to realize that the success of your book depends upon your marketing efforts and getting people interested in it. The key to focus upon is what makes your book different from others already published. When I started writing I did not know much about the publishing industry and how it works but I have learned much since. I have created a free download on my web site www.myqualitywriting.com which provides details of what I have learned. Some of the details include terms of publishing contracts to watch out for and opportunities that you may want to utilize. I continue to learn every day about new marketing opportunities. This site is a great resource to learn from others.

I am happy with the publisher I have as they have been there when I needed assistance with marketing efforts and provided the information requested from potential sales sources. They not only responded quickly but with great detail. My book is titled Integrity: Do You Have It? 2nd edition.

Hope this helps.