Customer Reviews

Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents, 1999-2000 (with CD-ROM) : Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over!

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Herman claims he included AAR members and a few other "good literary agents." Not all that many of those he lists are AAR members. Many are not listed in the comprehensive listing at the Preditors and Editors literary agent site. More than ten of those he lists have earned a "not recommended" ranking from the Preditors and Editors site because they charge fees or allegedly engage in other unsavory practices. Although there are enough good agents listed in the book to make the non-CD-rom version of the book worth the money, be sure to check the listings against the P&E list and the list of the Association of Author's Representatives (which is also available online). And remember: the listings that seem too good to be true -- those that say they're really open to unpublished authors and really want to see books that can be made into movies, etc. -- are too good to be true.

I'm the author of two novels (Ground Zero and Earthquake Games, publisher G.P. Putnam, order them today!) and I sold my first novel using the information from Mr. Herman's book. I sold my novel unagented after many years and countless rejections. How? The same way any novelist gets published; a darned good book and a steely resolve not to give up, ever.

Do you think the corporate book world is cold, unfeeling, and unwilling to take a risk? Of course it is. But all the same every editor is desperate to find the next Clancy. You must convince them that you are a worthwhile investment. It is possible, so don't give up. And best of luck!

I've used this book year after year to sell my own book proposals. Three of my published books, including two auctions for books, have resulted directly from Jeff Herman's suggestions of key editors. It also has loads of helpful advice for shaping the book proposal. I can't recommend this book enough to prospective or successful authors. Thanks Jeff.

- Erich Hoyt (author of The Earth Dwellers, Insect Lives, Orca: The Whale Called Killer, and other books)

This is my most used book for reaching the major publishing editors. Knowing editors by name is a must for writer or agent. Agents study every letter from a publisher to see who actually handled a writer's manuscript. If they don't understand why it went to that editor instead of where it was sent, they ask. That's the kind of esoteric knowledge Mr. Herman delivers into your hands.

Knowing an editor's specialty areas by reading Writer's Guide practically rolls out the red carpet for the writers I represent. It gives me the facts I need on the editors I want and provides experienced wisdom besides.

Other directories repeat or simply rearrange what the publisher spokesman offers to say. Quite often that information came from someone in marketing, someone more interested in selling books to you than BUYING books from you, not an editor. Reading their "press release" entries to discover what they really mean is almost an art form. Mr. Herman's book reveals his professional opinion, giving a profound weight to every entry. Best of all, the editors names are in the index so I can look them up when (90% of the time) they E-Me back with nothing but their name in the letter.

The only complaint I have with Writer's Guide is that it only deals with the upper echelon of publishers.

Jeff Herman's book is absolutely essential for all aspiring writers, as well as established, published authors. I have recommended this book numerous times, and bought copies to give away as gifts. I can't imagine tackling the awesome task of selling my work without the knowledge that Jeff Herman so readily provides. Through the help of his book, I have sold numerous short pieces, as well as obtained a contract for my soon to be released book, Under God's Wings. Another non-fiction proposal has recently received excellent representation. I honestly doubt I could have come this far without the help of Jeff Herman's book. This is a writer's Bible-no one serious about getting published should be without it. Thanks Jeff!

As an agent, I ALWAYS recommend this book to aspiring writers.I must recommend it 3 times a day....I send proposal writers right to p.797 of the 2000 edition--need to check the page on the newest edition , BUT it's the best book for any writer who is serious about learning how to be published, bar none. ( Even if I haven't taken the time to be listed in it...I get enough mail already) Julie Hill Literary Agent, La Jolla Ca.

There are better guides out there you can use to build your own lists. The software is clunky and not user friendly or flexible. Save your money. As the author of thirteen published novels and a teacher of such writers as Deborah Crombie, Milan Vessely, Viqui Litman, and Martha Moore (all of whom have books for sale on Amazon)I'm telling all my students to avoid this book.

Jeff Herman does it again, as he has year after year, with the latest updated information on the publishing industry. No serious writer can work without the benefit of this invaluable resource. As both an author and a literary agent, I keep Herman's book alongside the Literary Market Place on my shelf. It works for agents as well as authors! My agency has garnered top authors thanks to this resource.

If you are a first-time writer looking for an agent or, perhaps, a publisher, you need this book. It may not be perfect, but it goes a long way toward getting you in the door. What a new writer needs most is NAMES, and this book supplies them. With a name, you can query an individual and that raises the chance your query will be treated in a serious manner. This book doesn't solve all your problems, but it narrows the list considerably.

Anyone interested in this book, please buy it -- but without the CD-ROM. The database is so poorly constructed that it is actually less instructive than the book's index. The search features are rudimentary at best. You can seek only publishers/agents names and the names of authors represented by the publisher, but then you cannot cross reference from author to publisher. That requires a whole new search. The shareware can be found anywhere on line. And the web links don't work. Moreover, the program is continually crashing on my system. This might be a conflict with my hardware, but I've contacted tech-support and, after a week, have not received any response.

Again, the book is a terrific tool. Just save your money and don't make the mistake I made. Buy the book without the CD-ROM.