If writers have been able to change from one publisher to another (when the time stipulated in the original contract expired and the 2nd publisher outbid the 1st), there´s no reason why a publisher can´t choose to publish a book that has already been self-published. In theory.
You would have to promise to stop offering the book yourself on Amazon.
And here´s the rub: An agent might be more interested if the book has been selling well on-line. But if it´s been selling well, WHY do you need an agent?
And if it HASN'T been selling well, how do you convince an agent of its commercial potential?
Backtrack... Could it be possible that you want to continue self-publication on Amazon, but want an agent´s expertise and contacts to PROMOTE the book, rather than find it a publisher? (Organise book-signings, readings, submission to competitions...)
Remember that agents nowadays generally ask for 15% of your royalties, and some ask for 20%. It´s also generally 20% for American royalties.
If you think that it´s worth it, and that you´ll stand to gain... or just want to hand over the administration of the commercial side to someone else, to save your energies for writing further books, then go for it. (But it took me less energy to self-publish than to look [unsuccessfully] for an agent.)
thanks everyone, extremely helpful. I will try and see what happens!
Short answer - yes.
Slightly longer answer -yes. Check agents profiles. Some of them state in their FAQs that they will consider work already self-published.
Why not?
If writers have been able to change from one publisher to another (when the time stipulated in the original contract expired and the 2nd publisher outbid the 1st), there´s no reason why a publisher can´t choose to publish a book that has already been self-published. In theory.
You would have to promise to stop offering the book yourself on Amazon.
And here´s the rub: An agent might be more interested if the book has been selling well on-line. But if it´s been selling well, WHY do you need an agent?
And if it HASN'T been selling well, how do you convince an agent of its commercial potential?
Backtrack... Could it be possible that you want to continue self-publication on Amazon, but want an agent´s expertise and contacts to PROMOTE the book, rather than find it a publisher? (Organise book-signings, readings, submission to competitions...)
Remember that agents nowadays generally ask for 15% of your royalties, and some ask for 20%. It´s also generally 20% for American royalties.
If you think that it´s worth it, and that you´ll stand to gain... or just want to hand over the administration of the commercial side to someone else, to save your energies for writing further books, then go for it. (But it took me less energy to self-publish than to look [unsuccessfully] for an agent.)
Good luck!