Customer Reviews

Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents, 2007

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Jeff Herman provides much valuable information about the business side of writing. Though an agent himself, he goes to great lengths to try to open up the publishing world to the unagented. I have a feeling this has not endeared him to many of the people listed in the book, who would prefer not to be bombarded by countless queries and proposals.

Therein lies the problem. For a first-time author to get published nowadays is almost like winning the lottery. That's how bad the odds are. As Jeff himself points out, there are many worthwhile, well-written manuscrpts that will never get published. There is really no connection between the ability to write well and the ability to market your work in what is definitely NOT a seller's market. You wonder what is the percentage of books that are written in the USA and never published. I would guess 80 percent but I imagine there's no way of really telling for sure.

Most of the agents Jeff lists have a 98 or 99 percent reject rate for prospective clients. A few say it is even higher than that. Still, you wonder what is the rejection rate that the AGENTS experience in trying to market the projects they have taken on. No agent will tell you because they all want you to think they are great salespeople, but you have to wonder. My guess would be 95 percent or more for hitherto unpublished authors.

I have the 2006 edition of this book and will buy the 2007 version as soon as it is available. One issue I hope Jeff will eventually discuss is the concept of an author's "platform." In publishing jargon "platform" has a unique meaning. It means either a visible following or some other way in which the author can GUARANTEE sales, and it seems to have become the No. 1 buzzword in the publishing industry. Radio talk-show hosts, for example, have "platforms." Authors with previously published books that did well are definitely considered to have "platforms" as well. Writers need to know that publishers make money on only a small percentage of the books they publish and lose money on many others. Since they are in business to make money, looking for authors with "platforms" is a way for publishers to reduce their risks. Since more and more publishing decisions are made by committee nowadays, this approach is not surprising. Committees don't like to take risks. This is why celebrity authors are so sought after to where publishers provide ghost writers to celebrities who have no interest in writing themselves but are willing to lend (or shall we say sell) their name to a book project. Many publishers apparently are convinced that author identity is more important, when it comes to book sales, than either title or content. More and more I am starting to see where the authors' names are in larger print on book spines (and even on the books' covers) than the book's title. Whether the books actually get read makes no difference. It's good sales numbers that count.

What then is a first time author to do? I think Jeff's approach is a good one overall, except that such authors would most likely do best with small publishers, where there are fewer decision-makers. I would like to see Jeff separate the medium-sized publishers, which more and more are resembling the large conglomerates in insisting on authors who have a "platform," from the smaller publishers who, for lack of funds, can't pay the advances that authors with "platforms" insist on. It would be great if Jeff could find out to what extent each publisher requires a "platform," but I can't imagine publishers allowing themselves to be polled in that way.

For a hitherto unpublished author, Jeff's guide can be quite useful especially when used in tandem with Literary Market Place. The main question, as I see it, is whether an author should spend a great deal of time pursuing agents or go straight after the publishers themselves. The story of the authors of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series is well-known. It's hard to imagoine a greater publishing success story. Yet when they started out they got an agent who only managed to get rejections from about 100 publishers. Eventually the authors sold it themselves to a publisher who is still open to unagented submissions. I spoke with a woman at the Authors Guild, and she seemed to be of the opinion that agents are overrated. When all is said and done, can an agent give you any more "platform" than you already have?

In conclusion, as a writer all I can say is thanks, Jeff, for trying to give us a hand. But all we can do is roll up out sleeves, print out hundreds of address labels and SASEs, make thousands and thousands of photocopies and lots of trips to the post office, keeping in mind that hundreds of rejections are par for the course. And somehow, we have to find a way not to starve in the process.

This new edition (2007, #17)has an excellent index. The previous edition (2006, #16) did not have an index. Complaints about a missing index are only referring to last year's edition, not this new edition.

Let me tell you, I work in publishing and know many colleagues who buy this book every year to update their rolodexes. Publishing changes quickly and no one wants to send a polished query, proposal, or manuscript to an empty desk. This really is the ultimate insider's guide. Jeff Herman is highly respected in publishing and works hard to put together the most useful and knowlegdeable guide for writers--that editors and agents use it to keep up with the industry is a plus. Plus he's a pretty nice guy and has great advice for writers--with his trademark quirky humor peppered throughout the book. This book is the best writer's guide out there and this new 2007 edition, which I've already seen, is better than ever with more information, more publishers, and a big fat index.

No, this isn't the only resource I used. But, yes, this is the one that gave me the contact information for the wonderful agent Gary Heidt of Imprint Agency. (Now with Signature Agency) And Gary sold my novel, OR NOT, to Llewellyn/FLUX.

The contacts, the advice and articles--all good.

Bought the 2005 edition of Jeff Herman when my manuscript was ready for an agent. And OR NOT is coming out in October of 2007.

What more can I say?

Brian Mandabach

Great essays on the publishing world for both the first time author as well as the veterans. Very detailed, though not an extensive list, on the backgrounds on literary agents. Herman also includes the backgrounds on many of the publishing conglomerates as well as the independent publishers.I consider his book a 'must-have' for those trying to break into the publishing world. Between his and Joanna Masterson's Guide to Literary Agents, I was able to select many potential agents.

Jeff Herman's Guide was easy to navigate and read. Straight forward talk with comments on what to do and not to do to try for publication. The literary agent section had interviews with the agents and they gave specific tips on what they want and how to submit, and what not to do.

I purchase this book annually along with "The Writer's Market" lest I miss something when updating my Business Contacts in Outlook Express. Herman's guide has value beyond its lists. The book's "Advice For Writers" section offers a thorough and straight-forward approach to the topic of publishing that is as refreshing as it is informative. This volume has won a permanent place on my working book shelf.

I found this book to be quite resourceful, helpful, and enlightening. Chock filled with information and tips. I only wish it came on CD so I can integrate with further research on the web and copy and paste addresses into submission letters. Thanks Jeff!

This book is simply the best - I found my first literary agent through it ten years or so ago and have never looked back since: reading this book (in its original editions) really did change my life and all the things that a book is supposed to do. Christopher Catherwood (author among other books of CHURCHILL'S FOLLY: HOW WINSTON CHURCHILL CREATED MODERN IRAQ and A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST, both Carroll and Graf). So see if this edition changes your life as much as the 1997 one did mine.

Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents 2007 is one of the best resources I have found for anyone needing to find an agent, an editor, or a publisher for their work. I have queried one place which regretfully declined but still sent favorable comments about my work. I've only had the book a week. If you are in earnest about writing then this book is a "must have" resource.