What is the best approach to getting your first book published?

Question

I have finished my first book. I did a lot of research on the subject matter, and also looked in the public domain to see how many books already cover this topic, and I found VERY FEW.

I have talked to a few people and they all have different opinions on how to get it out there, ranging from self publishing to amazon.com
to paying an editor to do the first review.

I've also heard to get general buzz and organically grow interest, so by the time you present it to a "real" publishing house, it has some legs and helps present the book in better light since there is a fanbase and interest already for the book.

I would REALLY appreciate any feedback or suggestions from either writers who have successfully done this, or any professionals in the publishing business.

And I PROMISE to include you in a BIG THANK YOU in my book if your tips get me on the shelves!

This is egit question, and I very much appreciate your time in answering!

Btw, the topic falls under CANCER. I am a survivor.

How does one get an agent in this business then?

Answer 1

There are three routes you could take. The best way is to get a literary agent. Plenty in Manhattan, NYC. With a literary agent you stand a better shot of having a big publishing house picking up the book. The second route is small publisher. For this you don't need a literary agent, although it helps to have one. You get a copy of the annual writer's market place or LMP (Literary Market Place) books, look up the names of small publishers or literary agents and see what kind of submissions they accept. Some only accept a query letter others a first chapter plus query letter, others first three chapters plus query. It all depends on where you sent it. If you go the third route, self-publishing, it is up to you to edit the book, market the book, and sell the book. If you break even doing this, you are doing well. As far as self promoting yourself before the book gets accepted by a publishing house, there is no need for it unless your promotion ploy is so original and newsworthy without getting yourself thrown in prison then there is a slight chance it might work. If it doesn't, you have to pay your dues and face all the rejection.

Answer 2

im sure your book should be very intresting.
a few tips:
one. your going to have to do this the hard way or the easy way.
you can either hire an agent and get her/him to bring your book to editors to read or you can do it the harder way by just sending in a book to a publisher whos address you can find in the newspaper. if you do it the first way, the agent will take it to a good editor and they will read the whole book and if they like it, edit it and send it to you and you two will edit it until it is done and then it will be published. if they dont like it they wont publish it. if you just send the book to a publisher it will be thrown on a "slush pile". the slush pile is a pile full of envelopes form authors all over who sent their books to the publisher. then a newer editor will read your book, or rather the first page of your book and if they like it they will keep reading it and if they dont they will stop. if you get rejected from one publisher keep trying until someone accepts your book.
two. if you want to raise publicity for your book, start a blog. you can start one at www.blogspot.com and on your blog say who you are and what your book is about. post on your blog every day- every other day and say what is happening with your book: i sent it to this publisher, this person rejected it etc. when an editor likes your book, put that oon your blog and then post what happens. what your editor is making you change, where you met your editor for lunch and what you talked about. talk about the horrors of book publishing and getting rights to qoute different songs and stories and such. a blog like that is very intresting and i would definetly read it. also the people who read your blog will be gaurunteed to buy a copy of your book. its fun to do and people will buy a copy!
good luck! if you make a blog send me the link my email is [e-mail] also if you have any questions email me.

Answer 3

You need to get an agent first. There are some suggestions on many writing websites.