Publishing #2 in the Trilogy????? A Question!

You're looking to commercially publish the first book that has already been self-published? At the same time, you want the commercial publisher to also agree to take on the second book? Am I understanding your question(s) correctly?

As I read your question, I am assuming that you would answer in the affirmative to both of Birol's questions. If I'm correct, then you're not going to like my answer.

Regarding your first book, if it's been published, you've already established what its sales are going to be like. Why would the sales figures change significantly if a publisher takes this on? Remember that you always look at the downside of sales figures, while hoping for the best.

This ignores the fact that if you self published, it is assumed that you tried getting your book published and everyone rejected it for a reason. It probably needs significant editing (most self published books do).

These assumptions could be wrong, but most agents and publishers are going to be thinking this way, because it's the right answer for them over 90% of the time.

So after the agent or publisher has mentally trashed your first book, how likely is he or she going to be to want to take on the second loser in this series?

I hope that your second book is completely stand alone and doesn't need the first or the third book in your trilogy. Otherwise, you're probably dead in the water.

Sell your second book all by its little lonesome.

This is all opinion, but I'd be willing to bet on it.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

If you didn't try to submit the first book to all possible agents, the necessary intermediates for most commercial book sales, then revise it until it's as good as the second book and query it to agents. I'm not sure you have to mention it was self-published in its original form, especially if you do change it substantially and maybe alter the title.

Can someone else jump in with an answer to that last concern?