Agent and/or Publisher In A Different Country

[Ehab.Ahmed]

Is it possible to get an agent in a different country? If so, is it possible to get published in that country? What are my options when it comes to publishing my yet-to-be-finished book?

The reason I'm asking this is because I'm writing my book in English whereas I live in the Middle-East -- I don't think a publisher would publish an English book, hardly the audience.

[Toothpaste]

Yes. And yes. Happens all the time (I'm in Canada and have a UK agent and my first book was initially first bought there too). You just have to make sure that whatever you've written suits whatever market you are sending queries for.

[Cliff Face]

Good to know. There's very few agents in Australia, and I don't want to keep peppering them with the same tired shit until they get a restraining order on me (or at least learn to throw away my envelopes as soon as they receive them) so I was thinking of sending to American or UK agents too. I'll try the Australian ones first, but if I have no takers in the small selection available here, then I'll have to try elsewhere.

Knowing my luck, I'll get signed with an American agent and they'll get me published in a small American publishing house, and then I'll never see my own books, because they'll only be available in America... sigh. I'll have to buy five copies of each one they publish and have them shipped over. Still, I'd get paid to have it published there, so a paycheck is a paycheck, and I'll just stop my whinging.

And once I'm famous in America, every other English-speaking country will want to publish my books, so I'll be set for life woot.

[kaitie]

Yup, definitely possible. :)

[WinterDusk14]

That's good to know too. I live around here in the Southern Pacific. Our local publishers sell crap, while the better ones publish textbooks.

[AryaT92]

Yes, just make sure your book fits that countries market... What sells in the U.S is different then what sells in U.K.

[Capes&Corsets]

Yes - I sent mine to agents in America (I'm UK based) and quite a few requests for partials, some for fulls - obviously they had no problem with me being in the United Kingdom.

[Capes&Corsets]

Yes, just make sure your book fits that countries market... What sells in the U.S is different then what sells in U.K.

^^Very true!

[Bookewyrme]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm in the UK, but I'm returning to the US in nine months, and I wasn't sure if I should wait to get an agent/publisher until I was back in the states.

Of course, at the rate I'm going it may take that long for me to get my novel ready for an agent anyway. But knowing I don't have to wait might make me get my butt in gear!

[AryaT92]

I've been wondering the same thing. I'm in the UK, but I'm returning to the US in nine months, and I wasn't sure if I should wait to get an agent/publisher until I was back in the states.

Of course, at the rate I'm going it may take that long for me to get my novel ready for an agent anyway. But knowing I don't have to wait might make me get my butt in gear!

If it's non-fiction you might as well send proposals now to see if anyone is interested.. You don't need a complete MS for non-fiction, might as well get the lengthy waiting for replies out of the way.

[Bookewyrme]

It is fiction. I reserve non-fiction writing for school, currently, though that may change as my career progresses. ^_^

[Ehab.Ahmed]

Cool! That's a relief. But what about meetings and interviews and whatnot? Wouldn't being in a different country make it harder to meet with a publisher and agent? I thought a publisher needed to pass a prospect novel through their own editor; your presence there isn't required?

[AryaT92]

Not required at all, quite rare from what I hear as well. Phones / Email are more than enough.

[Toothpaste]

Cool! That's a relief. But what about meetings and interviews and whatnot? Wouldn't being in a different country make it harder to meet with a publisher and agent? I thought a publisher needed to pass a prospect novel through their own editor; your presence there isn't required?

Email is a wonder.

Seriously though, you really don't need to meet anyone in person. And no, your presence isn't required when an editor is trying to pitch your book to the rest of the house. In fact I'd imagine 9 times out of 10 the editor would rather the author not get in the way :) .

[Ehab.Ahmed]

Perfect! Now I need to know about the send-to-suitable-market-country business. Is there a perfect country for each genre? What about science fiction/fantasy?

[AryaT92]

Not perfect country but there are publishers / agents who like that genre more...

Writers Market can help you find the perfect fit for your type of book.