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txparent -> How to get a book published? (4/28/2008 9:19:15 AM)

I just finished helping one of the counselor/pastors at our congregation complete a book that's a combination of Christian living and sound counseling principles. For several years, he has taught these principles at our local congregation and has traveled to numerous other churches to teach the same. Everywhere he goes, people run up and ask "where's the book? I want to buy your book."

So we've got the first draft of it ready to be reviewed, but we are having a very difficult time finding anyone willing to take a look at it (agent or publisher). It seems that unless you're already a published author your chances of having anyone even give you a chance are extremely remote.

Does anyone on here know of any avenues I can pursue to at least give this book a shot at publication? I believe this is very Godly material and I believe God wants it to be shared. I just don't know how to get it in the right hands so it can get the consideration I believe it deserves.

We've thought of self-publishing and we may have to go that route, but I'd much prefer if we could get an agent or publisher to consider us instead.

Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated!

S



techne -> RE: How to get a book published? (4/28/2008 11:25:10 PM)

two words: self publish.

try lulu or blurb.

then take it to a place that'll didigtal print and get a specific number printed off the top.

remember to get an ISBN number - go online for that.



YZGUY -> RE: How to get a book published? (4/29/2008 8:18:29 AM)

You may want to purchase the Christian Writers Publishing Guide which gives (I believe) publishers addresses to submit book proposals.



mvic -> RE: How to get a book published? (4/30/2008 7:17:21 PM)

It's very difficult to get a book published, especially Christian books, because (sadly) Christian books don't sell in great numbers unless you're already an established author or a well known personality.

If you're considering self-publishing try Xulon Press. They published my Christian fiction book. (See website).

They are a Christian publisher. You retain the Copyright and they provide you with the ISBN and marketing advice. I found them very helpful and always respond to e-mails promptly and efficiently. The whole procedure was done on the internet. I sent them the manuscripts in MS Word and they did the rest - including designing the front cover for me.

I highly recommend them.



artemis -> RE: How to get a book published? (4/30/2008 7:25:45 PM)

I think Xulon is a vanity publisher... they charge to publish your book. If you have to go the self-publishing route, LuLu or another POD would probably be a much cheaper option.

If you want to go with a traditional publisher, it will take work and research. By a book with a list of publishers (like YZGUY suggested) and find a publisher or agent that seems to work with what you've written.

Actually, you'd probably get a better response if this post were in the Writer's Roundtable...



SD456 -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/8/2008 8:40:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: txparent

I just finished helping one of the counselor/pastors at our congregation complete a book that's a combination of Christian living and sound counseling principles. For several years, he has taught these principles at our local congregation and has traveled to numerous other churches to teach the same. Everywhere he goes, people run up and ask "where's the book? I want to buy your book."

So we've got the first draft of it ready to be reviewed, but we are having a very difficult time finding anyone willing to take a look at it (agent or publisher). It seems that unless you're already a published author your chances of having anyone even give you a chance are extremely remote.

Does anyone on here know of any avenues I can pursue to at least give this book a shot at publication? I believe this is very Godly material and I believe God wants it to be shared. I just don't know how to get it in the right hands so it can get the consideration I believe it deserves.

We've thought of self-publishing and we may have to go that route, but I'd much prefer if we could get an agent or publisher to consider us instead.

Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated!

S


Just keep submitting to agents and publishers. It can take 40 or more rejections and if God wants the book to be published then I believe in the right time it will land in the right agent or publisher's lap.



SuspenseWriter -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/9/2008 10:44:25 AM)

Self-pubbing for nonfiction can work, if your speaking platform is big enough, and if you price each unit low enough so you can buy them in quantity, yet high enough to make a buck or two from each sale (very tricky, that).

For fiction, self-publishing is usually the kiss of death. There's no national distribution of your work, no sales force, no bookstore placement, and no reviews. Also, unless the author knows a good artist (or can pay for one), covers are usually clip-art. And it can be tough to find a clip-art cover that really conveys your work visually to a buyer; most of them look plain cheap.

As in non-fction, the author also has to buy their own ISBN, and after that buy enough copies of their novel to hand-sell when the need arises (which doesn't happen often). All of this can run into some serious jack, several hundred to several thousands of dollars. And for what? Industry stats show the self-pubbed fiction author will sell, on average, seventy-five copies of their work, and most of those to people they already know by name.

That said, CAN self-publishing work? Sure. Eragon and The Celestine Prophecy come to mind. But the odds are astronomically long. A self-pubbed author either has to have their folks start a publishing company (as Eragon's author did), or be an absolute, nonstop, selling, marketing monster...as in, that becomes your job.

Bottom line, much in the same way a grocery store constantly needs fresh stock to place on their shelves, commercial houses constantly need new authors every single year. Will they send that new author on a book tour? Probably not. But what they will do is have that author's work professionally edited and catalogued, with dozens of copies sent out for review and distribution, and then personally presented to bookstore owners by professional sales reps. All this on the house's dime, not yours.

So why not try that route first? Remember Yog's Law: "Money should flow to the writer." And its corallary: "The only place a writer should sign a check is on the back."

Mi dos centavos; take 'em for what they're worth!



woodwind228 -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/9/2008 7:58:29 PM)

I would suggest going to a few bookstores (Christian bookstores and the big ones). Take pen and paper. Go to the faith aisle and any other aisles that the book might fit into (you'll need to know this to better aid the publisher on where it would sell). Look at the books that are there and write down the publisher's info. Market that publisher. If there is any other useful info, write that down too.

I've got 2 books next to my computer (that I haven't put back on the shelf yet). One of them was published by The Master Design (www.masterdesign.org) and printed by Bethany Press International. The other one is Chosen Books (www.chosenbooks.com), a division of Baker book House in MI.

Maybe also checkout the following magazine websites, as they might have some info on their site. www.writermag.com and www.writersdigest.com.

Oh! I just remembered...I have a book called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Published by Sheree Bykofsky (met her at a writers conference). She's a literary agent in NY. I would recommend getting this book. She talks about query letters, book proposals, etc. What to avoid, what to expect, what you need to do...

Also keep in mind that different agents/editors specialize in their own categories of writing. They definitely have preferences. You don't want to submit the book to someone that has no interest in your topic.



crm4souls -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/11/2008 2:26:55 AM)

Are there finances to self publish the book?



woodwind228 -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/15/2008 11:53:01 PM)

Here's an article about self-publishing:

http://www.writersdigest.com/article/The_Evolution_of_Self-Publishing/



redeemedsaint -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/17/2008 9:41:49 AM)

Try a local publisher in your area and maybe if there are other authors in your area, you may ask them how they got published. It would also help if you get someone like that to review your work.



HorizonsLeader -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/27/2008 9:45:26 PM)

I publish through lulu.com
The plus: high quality books, no minimum order
The negative: high cost per copy



IzzeT -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/28/2008 1:13:09 PM)

Try Tate Publishing. They accept Chrisitian author submissions via there site.



SuspenseWriter -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/28/2008 5:07:53 PM)

They also cost $4,000, and will take anyone whose check clears. Avoid.



artemis -> RE: How to get a book published? (5/29/2008 8:31:34 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: SuspenseWriter

They also cost $4,000, and will take anyone whose check clears. Avoid.


Agreed. Tate is a vanity publisher just like so many others out there. It seems there are a LOT of Christian vanity publishers [&o]



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