Do agents have a problem with representing self-published authors? Will a mainstream publisher be willing to take on a self-published book?
Do agents have a problem with representing self-published authors? Will a mainstream publisher be willing to take on a self-published book?
Some won't touch self-published authors at all - hanging on to outmoded ideas and snobbery; others see it as a way of finding new talent that's already been proven. After all, it's only like trawling through an improved, tried and tested slush pile, one where sales show how well-received the writer has been. It's in the agent's interests - they aren't then taking a punt on a total unknown.
As a result, some more far-seeing agents and publishers are taking on indie writers. Whether the writer gains anything financially is another question entirely! There would be a lot to be said for an advance, though...
Hi Brent.
I know a woman - Mary Wood - who writes sagas and has self-published for some years. Many of her books have been in the Amazon top ten for the genre, including some number ones.
She was approached by a publisher who asked her to write a series for them.
So in short, the first thing is to be good at what you do. And if you can be successful within your genre and chosen landscape, there's every chance you will go further.
Good luck.
PabloJ.
Adrian's right...but don't get too excited.
Big 5 publishing deals are thin on the ground. I'm told even if you get one you may still not get promoted enough to earn out the tiny advances they're giving nowadays. My 'small publisher' deal has so far resulted in disappointing paperbook and reasonable ebook sales, but no active promotion that I can discover. Which is a shame, but seems increasingly like the norm.
Maybe having an agent would help. But since hooking one seems just as difficult as finding a publisher, maybe not.