Acknowledgements

Thanks, D A!  Once you get that first contract, you've got a foot in the door. The publisher gets to know you, and you establish relationships with editors, marketers, et al. Not a guarantee of future contracts, but it helps. The publishing industry is changing rapidly. I self-published my first two books - back when I knew nothing about marketing, and sales were poor. So I went looking for a publisher that didn't require an agent middleman and found one. But after two more books, that publisher sold out to a larger, NY firm that didn't know me. I now have two publishers who differ in their philosophies, giving me more than one option when pitching a new book.

But if you don't mind doing everything yourself - including marketing! - self-publishing can be quite successful. And the advantage is that you control everything. And take all the profits! For me, I'd rather have someone else do some of the heavy lifting.

I'm certainly no publishing expert, but I'd be happy to share my experiences with anyone who's interested.   jdeboer@nc.rr.com