Two popular directories list details about book publishers.

-

 Writer’s Market (Writer’s Digest Books): This directory is published

annually. It offers a comprehensive list of 4,000 potential markets for

writers, including book publishers. Each listing describes the types of

books a publisher specializes in, along with relevant contact information

and submission guidelines.

-

 Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents

(Three Dogs Press): This annual directory is available in bookstores.

After you’ve created a list of potential publishers to target, determine who the

acquisitions editor is at each publishing company, subsidiary, and/or imprint.

This person is your ultimate contact. Initiate contact by making a telephone

call to the acquisitions editor. During this call, introduce yourself, describe

your book in 30 seconds or less, and determine if there’s a potential interest. If

so, follow up by sending a full proposal. If you have an agent representing you,

he’s responsible for making contact with the publisher on your behalf.

Creating a winning proposal

Even though you already have copies of your self-published book in your

hands, you still need to develop a detailed proposal. If you’re working with a

literary agent, he helps you fine-tune your proposal and customize it for each

publisher you’re submitting to. This proposal should include the following:

-

 A detailed description of your book (one or two pages), including what

it’s about and information about what the book contains

-

 An explanation about what sets your book apart from the competition

-

 A detailed outline of the book (several pages long), including a chapter-

by-chapter summary

-

 A summary, including quantitative and qualitative facts, figures, or sta-

tistics, of the book’s target audience, including its size

-

 Your biography, including information about what makes you an expert

on the topic you’ve written and your related experience

-

 A copy of your self-published book, along with copies of reviews and

press coverage you’ve received

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