I am confused. While I am checking through the publisher listings many say they will only accept submissions via an agent. So while looking for info about agents I found on this site the quotation below.
Mark Le Fanu, General Secretary of the Society of Authors, explains when it is necessary for an author to have an agent. says "Poetry, short stories or memoirs? Forget it, unless you are already a household name, preferably with a wild reputation.
The vast majority of authors working in these areas should not waste time approaching agents and then agonising over rejections."
I am an unknown nobody at the moment, but one of the main reasons I will try to get my book published is that it blows open another totally hidden and ignored at present abuse carried out by the Catholic church on teenagers.
Should I just go directly to publishers and not bother trying to find an agent?
I think I have decided to self publish as a first resort, and then as my work progresses I will submit my book to a number of agents and publishers. If all I get is rejections then it will not matter to me, and if I get any interest I can follow it up, though with no pressure to have to sign up with anyone.
I have a friend who always self publishes and he is reasonably successful.
Lorraine, I am writing my book so it can get published so no I do not name names. Those who were responsible all know who they are, and since the events took place 45 years ago, most of the bastards are dead anyway, and that includes my parents.
There's no one right way, Jeremy. Increasingly it really does depend on what the agent/publisher is looking for on that moment of that day when your manuscript lands on their desk.
The quote above merely says that an unknown person will be unlikely to sell their memoir to anyone, let alone an agent. Why would anyone be interested in the life of someone they have never heard of? However, a clever agent could get the right publicity machine turning for you, if they thought your work topical or controversial enough.
If you self-publish, you also have to self-publicise, and that's the hard part for exactly the same reason - no-one knows you. If you are prepared to go to newspapers and tell your story, and make a lot of noise, you'll probably sell your book - though you must be prepared to put up a robust defence of your facts.
If you're going to name names, you should get legal advice.
A publisher wouldn't touch it if it was going to bring a lawsuit down upon the company, nor would they want to guarantee a book run if there was no ready market.
There's no reason why you shouldn't pitch to publishers and agents simultaneously. After all, if no-one takes the bait, you will at least have saved yourself a lot of time.
Lorraine