- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 223
- Reaction score
- 82
I am all for exposing Publish America. I do wonder though if we have hurt writers' chances of future publication now that we learn that many agents might reject a writer based on the mere fact they may have once published with this company. I think it is grossly unfair and prejudice. Why shouldn't a rejection be based on the quality of the writing, not because of a mistake an author made? So many of us signed with PA in the early days when there was no information out there about them.
Also we are told to not mention our PA books. I don't, for the simple reason I don't want my chances ruined. It's sad to me that I cannot mention three novels that I have completed, three that received excellent reviews from legit reviewers.
Okay granted a PA book is not a publishing credit, but shouldn't agents lighten up just a little? After all if you see that an author has written several novels, received good reviews from people other than authors, that they learned about promotion, and have grown, shouldn't that count for something?
I want to encourage all writers on AW to be authors' advocates. Let's not do anything to ruin their future chances of publication. Let's expose PA, but let's encourage publishers and agents to give those writers who have not thrown in the towel the same chances that other writers receive.
Some of these writers are exceptional. Just last night one of them sent me an excerpt from his book that he regrets he gave to PA. He is writing a sequel. Honestly I was blown away by his writing. It was strong, vivid, and his characters real. His novel was nominated for the 2003 Michael Shaara Award for Civil War Fiction. That should count for something!
He is a regular contributor to a Civil War quarterly e-magazine called Bivouac Banner.
Agents, here is a sample of this fine author's writing who's book is held hostage by Publish America. He should be grabbed up.
http://www.bivouacbooks.com/bbv5i3s9.htm
Yes, expose PA but focus on the company, and do not put red letters, the letters PA, on these authors. Base your decision on their work, not on who published their first book.
Also we are told to not mention our PA books. I don't, for the simple reason I don't want my chances ruined. It's sad to me that I cannot mention three novels that I have completed, three that received excellent reviews from legit reviewers.
Okay granted a PA book is not a publishing credit, but shouldn't agents lighten up just a little? After all if you see that an author has written several novels, received good reviews from people other than authors, that they learned about promotion, and have grown, shouldn't that count for something?
I want to encourage all writers on AW to be authors' advocates. Let's not do anything to ruin their future chances of publication. Let's expose PA, but let's encourage publishers and agents to give those writers who have not thrown in the towel the same chances that other writers receive.
Some of these writers are exceptional. Just last night one of them sent me an excerpt from his book that he regrets he gave to PA. He is writing a sequel. Honestly I was blown away by his writing. It was strong, vivid, and his characters real. His novel was nominated for the 2003 Michael Shaara Award for Civil War Fiction. That should count for something!
He is a regular contributor to a Civil War quarterly e-magazine called Bivouac Banner.
Agents, here is a sample of this fine author's writing who's book is held hostage by Publish America. He should be grabbed up.
http://www.bivouacbooks.com/bbv5i3s9.htm
Yes, expose PA but focus on the company, and do not put red letters, the letters PA, on these authors. Base your decision on their work, not on who published their first book.
Last edited: