If you want to get your writing in front of the big NY publishers, you need a literary agent. However, I haven’t had much success pitching my novels to literary agents. I think this stems from a variety of factors, the main one being that most agents are looking for younger writers that appeal to younger readers; Millennials and Gen-Z are the biggest audience for books these days. As any of you who have read Project Suicide or Checkout Time know, my writing ain’t woke.😊
Lately, I’ve tried querying smaller traditional publishers that don’t require representation by an agent. The chances of acceptance are much higher, but these smaller presses come with their own problems. A recent submission is a case in point.
Just before Christmas, I submitted the first fifty pages of my dark thriller The Peeper to one such small press. A week later they requested a full manuscript. A few days after that they said they were “definitely” interested and would send me a contract. The holidays came and went without hearing anything. So, a few days ago I followed up. Turns out the definitely was really definitely maybe. The editor now said that they liked the book but didn’t want to take it on because it wasn’t part of a series. While I understand the reasoning (series sell better) it might have been nice to know early on that this was a necessary criterion.
This is the second time similar thing has happened to me. Early last year, a small traditional press was thrilled with the first chapter of And a Child Shall Lead Him, but just wanted to see a couple more chapters before pulling the trigger. I sent the chapters, and they acknowledged receipt. Then my follow up emails met with cricket chirps.
Just goes to show that the path to publication is fraught with obstacles that good writing cannot necessarily