Will agents take on previously published novels by e-pubs, or should I not bother to submit?

As a newbie writer I sold the first book in a space opera trilogy to an erotic romance publisher. It sold very few copies, I believe, because the book is not an erotic romance and romance readers were annoyed by the 'no HEA' ending- plus the fact it's more of a women's fiction/adventure than a romance per se. It's a 3 books story arc so all threads aren't wrapped up until the end. Anyway, after three months I asked for my rights back and have those in hand, in writing. (I had to give up my royalties, but I was happy to do that since it meant no legal hassle). I'm wondering if I've burned my bridges with agents now, seeing as this book was already e-published. I hadn't considered seeking agent rep for this trilogy, but I'd like to try now that I've got it. Am I delusional?

whiporee said:

Yeah, I'm sorry to say that you're pretty much done. I think the best course of action would be to re-edit it, make it as pretty as you can and then self-pub on Amazon or its ilk. You could spend some money on marketing and that might help make it profitable for you.

You have to remember that agents are just (I don't mean just. They are also a lot of wonderful awesome things, too) conduits to publishers, and publishers don't have much interest in publishing something that isn't gong to make them oodles of money. Since you've not shown a track record of making oodles of money, the chances are that publishers won't be interested. And if publishers aren't, agents aren't.

So write the next one, go through the querying hell process and if it's successful, then you've got these other three that might make the publishers drool. But you'll have to show it someplace else first.

Sorry for the bad news, and good luck.

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*Sighs* I suspected as much and could kick myself for my mistake. I was wondering about the 'making oodles of money part' since the book was only on the market for three months. It sold roughly one hundred copies, which I know isn't great, but I thought perhaps they might consider the time frame and that it was wrongly labeled an 'erotic romance'. Marketed at erotic romance readers etc. Oh well...The book is good (LOL, of course I would say that, but if I don't believe in it, who will?) and had several offers from top e-pubs at the time. Impatience and inexperience was my downfall. Oh, and stupidity. What I'll probably do now is either take your advice re self-pubbing, or shelve it for a while and write the next two books when I'm not feeling so down. Thank you so much for responding. I'm writing other books under a different pen-name for several publishers (different genre) so I have plenty to keep me busy.

Good advice, thanks, Aggy.
LOL. I don't think my book is brilliant. It is good, though sometimes I wish it wasn't. I have another few books in that genre on my 'to write' list so your advice seems like a good plan. Impatience was my error first time around, so I can sit on this trilogy and see if my next book in this genre merits an agent's attention. I don't mind publishing it with small e-publishers/POD with good sales, but I'd prefer to try another route first. It's just so depressing at the moment. I did so much research for this trilogy (it's based on the oral culture mythology of a Central American tribe) and am finding it hard to let it go. Ho-hum, must be done I suppose. Again, thanks you for your input. I appreciate it.

Hmmm. Thanks, Old Hack.
If I were to do that at some stage should I mention that the book was previously published., or wait and see if it got any bites and then mention it? Seems wrong not to. Decisions, decisions.

Yes, I'll tell a prospective agent, should I go that route. My former publisher waxed lyrical about the book, but more importantly, they did say no HEA until book three was a risk, but the writing was strong etc etc. Ha. I had other offers, but I went with them bc I didn't want to alter that part of the book and the other pubs wanted it changed. The romance readership knows what it wants, and the erotic romancers are equally demanding. I even had a reviewer complain there was "no PENETRATION!"--her exact words and caps. There is sexual content, but it's not an erotic romance. Not a romance either, though I didn't realise it at the time. Full stop and end of story, literally in this case!


Thanks for the weigh-in! I'll take the next few months to decide what to do--maybe longer. A part of me feels like it can't hurt to throw it out there and then a) self-pub if there are no takers, or b) shelve until I sell something new in that genre and then see if I bring it out. So depressing sometimes, but it's a good lesson to me, and I'll be patient this time and do my best by this book/trilogy. Off to eat tons of comfort chocolate.

Laer Carroll said:

Self-publishing a book does not automatically mean no agent or editor will be interested in your book. It does mean (as some have explained) that it makes it more difficult to get agents and editors to take a chance on your book.

Stick around in publishing long enough and you'll hear of a number of exceptions. One that immediately comes to mind is that of the first two books written by John Scalzi. Both were placed complete on his web site. Both were bought by a trade publisher. Old Man's War was a best seller and was nominated for a Hugo (one of the more important sci-fi/fantasy awards). The book launched a series which has sold well.

Obviously his books are of well-written and commercial. Perhaps yours will be too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Scalzi#Career

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Yes, but my book was not self-published. It was published by a small e-publisher in digital and POD. I don't know if that makes a difference, and in a way it might have been better had I self-pubbed this book. I don't know.

Jamesaritchie said:

How well did it sell? Many bestselling novels from large publishers began life at a tiny publisher. Tom Clancy's The Hunt For Red October began life at the Naval Institute Press.

It's always about the sales potential, which means it's always about the money.

It certainly won't hurt anything to query this book. It will hurt even less if you have another ready to go at the same time.

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It only sold roughly 100 e-copies and I think, 15 print in POD. That was between end of August and first week of December. The first glaring review on Amazon was about the book not having a HEA so 'don't buy it' in other words, and alsoa rant about the fact there was a second book, as yet unpublished. (I mean, didn't they see the cover said 'Book One'. Sorry, but I guess that still annoys me somewhat). As all series sci-fi and fantasy readers know, not all threads in the overall arc are tied up in the first book, just the main goal for that novel. Ah well... I have a lot to think about, a few new leads in terms of publisher who *might* look at it and maybe I will try an agent after I've written something new in the genre, probably only next year if I go that route. Thanks for the advice!

Laer Carroll said:

Good point. I've read about many authors who got a response back which said basically, "This book is not for me, but I liked what I saw and would like to look at other work."

I think we are too likely to put all our hopes on one book and are too desperate to see it in print. Writing is a life-long profession. Best to start thinking early in the long term.

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This was certainly the case for me last year, but I'm much less impatient now. Oh, who am I kidding? I still want to see my books in print, asap, but after five published novels with e-houses and numerous short stories also published in digi-form, I'm learning to calm down. I do have another two sci-fi novels but they are in first-draft form and nowhere near ready to query. Part of having several pen names for different genres is not having the time to keep up with them. LOL.

WeaselFire said:

Agents will take on anything they believe they can sell. And, given your proven track record, they know they will be unable to sell this book or series. Best you can do is self publish.

Write a new book.

Jeff

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Thanks, Jeff, it's sort of what I'm thinking. But there is a die-hard optimistic voice in my head saying, 'yeah, but the book sold so badly bc an 'erotic romance' label was stuck on it by a small digi-press and it wasn't marketed to the right audience. With the right publisher and audience...' LOL...and the months pass and I continue to do nothing either way bc I am busy, under contract, writing my contemporary books. Maybe I need to get knocked back by agents and or/publishers before I accept that I have to self-pub this trilogy. That would mean forking out for the editing and cover art and other incidentals for the next 2 books in the series and I'm trying to avoid that. If I go the agent route, what I've gleaned from this thread is to get my new sci-fi novel tip-top and submit that one to agents, then, if I get any nips and it sells, to bring out the re-release and see what happens. In the mean time, I'm scouting the markets for a dusty time-machine that will transport me back to the day I signed that contract.

Cathy C said:

Three months and only a hundred copies sold? Pfft! Change the titles and put that litter of puppies back on the market! Really. Make sure it's not for sale anywhere, and do take down notices if anyone still has first run (not used) copies for sale.

If the trilogy is good, it still has plenty of life left in it to market to a large press. Honest. Just be sure you send it out as the ORIGINAL (not the edited) manuscript. That's important.

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Thanks for your input, Cathy. My brain is spinning. So, you think 100 copies means there's some traction for this first book? (The others haven't been published and those rights were also returned to me. The second book is in first draft form and the third is in synopsis form) But why change the titles? Wouldn't readers be upset if they bought the same book again? Damn, I love the original title. Re, it being for sale anywhere--it isn't. I've checked (of course, I'm not counting the pirates but there's little I can do about that!)

Why do you think I should send it out as the original, unedited ms? Since getting it back I've had another look at the book and altered a few things, re-edited etc. Does that matter at all? Sorry, lots of questions but trying to understand your message.

AND THANKS, AGGY! Querying this would be a time suck, sure, so I'm thinking carefully.

Aggy B. said:

The copy-edits are sometimes the property of publisher. Even if you've had rights returned. (Just like the cover. They don't own the copyright on your MS, but you don't have a right to the copy-edited file. Use the original, or update your original file if you want to make changes.)

Also, chances are folks wouldn't accidentally buy the same book again just because it's not likely to be the same readership given the change in genre. Of course, if you're really worried about that you could consider adding content (if there's room and content that could be added) as well.

I have a novella I intend to rework and possibly retitle at some point that was previously published. (Publisher closed up and I got my rights back, but it had only sold about 49 copies in a little under a year so I'd like to try publishing it again at some point.)

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Ok, that makes sense. I did buy the cover from the cover artist, just in case I wanted to self-pub at some stage and she said she'd do the other covers for me if I went that route. I really liked her cover and she took off the publisher logo etc. As for the copy-edited ms, there's nothing in the reversion letter or my contract regarding their ownership. I've changed things, and tweaked/added content which I believe has made the book stronger.

Good luck with your novella and thanks again for your input. I've only been writing for a few years, published for under one, and I still have a lot to learn!