One of your primary concerns as an author is to get your book published. While self-publishing is a viable option, many authors still strive to be traditionally published.
The problem, though, is getting your manuscript past the acquisitions editor of a major publishing house. And, while I always say nothing ventured, nothing gained, getting published by one of the “Big 5” publishers isn’t very probable for a new author. (Though, never say never.)
According to Book Business, the Big 5 are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. (1)
And, while you may have a better chance with one of the Big 5’s imprints, getting published will still be challenging.
So, what do authors who want to be traditionally published do?
Simple, they submit to small publishers, even mom-and-pop publishers.
In an interview with her local Oklahoma paper, the Edmond Sun, Vivian Zabel said, “There needs to be something between the major publishers who won’t accept anything and the vanity or self-publishing entities.”
Taking the bull by the horns, Zabel created her own small publishing company, 4RV Publishing, which has published over 150 quality books in almost twenty years. They publish children’s books and most other genres.
Zabel went on to say, “4RV looks for authors who fall through the cracks at major publishing houses.” Larger publishers look for the “marquis authors.” Because of this, 4RV gets to find some great stories.
So, after trying the larger publishing companies with no results, if querying the big guys is something you want to do, query the smaller publishers. They’re looking for good books, and yours may just fit the bill.
A word of caution: While small publishers can be a lifesaver to an author, read your contract carefully. Make sure you’re aware of what happens to your book if the company folds, the owner gets sick, etc. Do your books’ rights revert back to you? And what about the illustrations if it’s a picture or chapter book?
Check out my article at Writers Digest for more on small publishers:
Pros and Cons of Publishing with a Small Press
Unfortunately, the link to Zabel’s interview no longer works.
Reference:
(1) http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/post/big-5-financial-reports-reveal-state-traditional-book-publishing/
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