A few weeks back I decided to contact a publisher and send my first three chapters and all the required info. My novel is nearly completed (editing and final draft being sorted). I informed them that it wasn't quite finished and hoped I may get some feedback as this is my first venture as an author. I was delighted when they wrote back to me. They have offered to do a short run of my book to see how it goes , if it sells then they will look at pressing more. The publishers specialise in a different genre of books than the one I'm writing so this would be a different path for them. Should I accept the first offer ( they are based near where I live, which would make it handy for meetings) or should I hold fire until other publishers have been approached?
Hi Carolyn!
I tend to agree that it seems too good to be true for an unknown writer and an unfinished novel.
Especially the suggestion that you should promote your book at your gigs made me wonder: "And what are THEY going to do to promote it?"
It goes without saying that you'll have an interest in your book doing well, and that you'll do SOMETHING to promote it... even if that's only telling your friends about it.
And if it goes without saying, WHY do they say it?
I had a short tangle with a publishing house which all came to nothing, but the sample contract that they showed me had a couple of points that I found very fair:
a) As soon as their stocks of my book reached as low as 20% of the print run, they were obliged to order a new one.
b) They bought the rights for 7 years - time enough to recoup their investment... and more. At that time they were to be given first refusal on a renewed contract. However, if I found another publisher which could outbit them, I was free to sign with the new publishers.
c) VERY important: If (even in the initial 7 years) they were idle for 18 months (i.e. not ordering a new run when stocks were running out, or delaying 18 months after signing the contract) ALL rights would revert to me, along with the printer's plates.
If you sign a contract, make sure that you're not signing away all your rights forever and ever.
Hi Lorraine,
I don't think they've actualy buried anyone there, after visiting the site I could understand their logic. It just amused me in a "dark" way that they could use this as an opportunity to bump off someone and blame me. I was wise enough to inform the police who have helped with my research ;-). I will certainly be looking into their general sales, your suggestion of Amazon is a good one plus their sales within book shops. I hope they are nor just taking a punt on the back of my reputation as a song writer. Being successful in one area does not mean you have a talent for novel writing. Lots of questions to ask I think, thank you again.
Will you ever walk past that spot comfortably again? How unsettling - not only the place, but the fact that five people can come up with that place at first asking. Have they been considering this for a long time?