On Thu, 26 Apr 2007 17:25:41 -0500, "Danny Deger"
wrote:

Here is a flying story for you to enjoy -- I hope. I am almost finished
with a complete book. Anyone know how to get an agent of a publisher?

Danny Deger

Others have already made the obvious comments regarding spelling and
the virtual impossibility of seeing your own errors. Also there are
style questions--different folks like different styles.

This snapshot of the work doesn't really have the "hook" that gets you
a contract, but I assume there is one in the total work. There has to
be some theme, message, coherence, or compelling issue that is going
to get a buyer to shell out the $$$ for your work.

You can "self-publish" or "publish on demand"--these are two aspects
of what is referred to as the "vanity press". Folks want to say
they've written a book, so they pay a couple of thousand dollars to
have a few hundred copies printed up and then distribute them to
friends. I don't recomment that, YMMV.

"When Thunder Rolled" got bought up by the first publisher that read
it. I got a friend who had published several books to give me a
contact name for an acquisition editor and that was all it took.
Smithsonian Books did the job and I didn't use an agent. But,
Smithsonian is a non-profit and not very aggressive in marketing.
Thanks to some friends like RAM's own Dan Ford who got a review
published in the Wall Street Journal, the book did quite well.

"Palace Cobra" originally was contracted to Smithsonian, but they
failed to publish under the contract terms and defaulted. I then found
an agent who marketed the manuscript for me and got it printed by St.
Martin's Press. Better marketing, better contract, better pay-off.

It takes a lot of effort to find a publisher or agent who will take
your work. Scout out the internet for names and contact info. Write or
call and ask if they have an interest. Don't send unsolicitied
manuscripts out!

For most agents and publishers the requirement is a
"proposal"--usually that's a synopsis or executive summary, an
expanded table of contents and two chapters to illustrate your work.
Make sure that the proposal has some teeth; something to really get
them salivating over the book.

The publisher will do the copy edit, the design, the cover art and
maybe more.

Good luck.

Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com