If a book has already been self published on Amazon, is it still ok to approach agents to take the book over?
Replies
Nothing to stop you trying. You'd have to tell them you've already self-published the book, and they will check sales for themselves.
It's an interesting question. Even the best self-published novels depend upon good publicity to bring them to the attention of readers, but as a writer you may not have the time or the connections or the skills to do all that's required. You've tried it your way and it may not be working as well as you hoped, so why not see if an agent could do better?
The difficulty comes when they try to sell it on for you to a publisher. I think it would have to be a very good book indeed for that to happen. On the other hand, some self- or indie-published authors have been picked up by publishing houses, so why not? If you don't ask, you won't find out. Just be honest from the start about why you're doing it and what you hope to gain.
Nothing to stop you trying. You'd have to tell them you've already self-published the book, and they will check sales for themselves.
It's an interesting question. Even the best self-published novels depend upon good publicity to bring them to the attention of readers, but as a writer you may not have the time or the connections or the skills to do all that's required. You've tried it your way and it may not be working as well as you hoped, so why not see if an agent could do better?
The difficulty comes when they try to sell it on for you to a publisher. I think it would have to be a very good book indeed for that to happen. On the other hand, some self- or indie-published authors have been picked up by publishing houses, so why not? If you don't ask, you won't find out. Just be honest from the start about why you're doing it and what you hope to gain.