Thanks, Mitch. I checked out your web site and realized right away that you did only non-fiction, so I wasn't even going to try. That has been the blockade I've been running into everywhere. I approached two university presses who, until recently did some fiction (one about this manuscript, the other about a historical novel I have). Both editors were very interested when I talked to them at a conference. When they took my proposals to their boards, they were told NO MORE FICTION. It doesn't sell.
I read the statistics, though. 65% of all readers are women. Most of those readers will buy several romance novels a year. NOVELS. All of my manuscripts have love stories in them, even though not all of them are romances. Yet all of my manuscripts are intelligent, well researched, and very readable stories. My most recently published novel is selling very well, and my readers say they are surprised that an old-fogy archaeologist can actually write, both dialogue and a well-crafted story.
So fiction doesn't sell? To whom? To men? Are they the only readers out there?
Catherine H. Spude, PhD
Montana Dawn, Enterprises
7 Avenida Vista Grande #145
Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-466-1476 home
505-913-1326 cell
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
"Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire." Jenny Yates and Garth Brooks.
----- Original Message -----
From: Mitch Allen<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 10:34 AM
Subject: Re: an archaeological mystery
Thanks for the plug, Cami, but I think Cathy is looking for a trade publisher. We specifically focus on books for professionals, academics and students in archaeology and related subjects. While they're all novel readers too, I don't think that's what Cathy has in mind. That doesn't stop me from receiving about 5 proposals a month for novels, self-help books, discurses on how the author discovered god (or the internet), investigative prison poetry (sic), etc.
There are, unfortunately, far more writers out there than publishers. It's a tough game to get into, if you're trying to get your fiction placed with a major trade press. There are other alternatives-- lots of small presses who will might the chance on your work but haven't a hope of getting you on Oprah. Literary Market Place or Writer's Market would be the best places to look for them. Better is if you have a connection to someone already being published by a trade press (or dealing with an agent) who can provide the introductions.
That being said, there are still about 200,000 books being published in the US each year (we do 50-60). So getting published is clearly not impossible.
If you're really entrepreneurial, you might try the electronic self publishing route, no longer very expensive or difficult, through places like Lulu or Xlibris. This would make the book available and cost you only a couple hundred dollars, but it would be up to you to hustle bookbuyers. The good thing about those sites is that they do not take exclusive rights to the book so you are still free to try to sell the book to a regular publisher.
We are, though, publishing plenty of historical archaeology. Would welcome proposals in that area...
best
Mitch Allen
Publisher
Left Coast Press, Inc.
Cami McCraw <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote: Hi Cathy,
Try this site, out of California. They are very nice! (We have DVDs that I
would love to see picked up by someone -- we don't have a book though.)
www.LCoastPress.com<http://www.lcoastpress.com/>
Good luck to you,
Cami McCraw
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewChronology/<http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewChronology/>
----- Original Message -----
From: "Catherine Spude"
To:
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 4:47 PM
Subject: an archaeological mystery
And if you know an agent or publisher who you think might take a look, let
me know.
Cathy
Mitch Allen
Publisher
Left Coast Press, Inc.
1630 N. Main Street, #400
Walnut Creek, California 94596
925 935-3380 phone and fax
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
www.LCoastPress.com<http://www.lcoastpress.com/>
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