molly Piper! books and Programs

I am sometimes asked how to get a book published. These days, self-publishing is an active industry and if you are a real go-getter you can take your project from start to finish and then do a grass-roots marketing program. Find books by Dan Poynter to learn more about this.

The best way to find out about traditionally publishing your book is through looking at lots of books, so I recommend going to your local library or bookstore and researching books that are similar to yours. Once you have identified a few, find out who the agent is - often the agent's name is mentioned in the acknowledgements. Send him a written query. If that doesn't work, you can contact The Association of Authors' Respresentatives for a list of agents who respresent books like yours:

The Association of Author's Representatives
10 Astor Place, Third Floor
NY, NY 10003
www.bookwire.com/aar/

The Children's Book Council is very helpful to anyone writing a children's book. Their address is:

The Children's Book Council
568 Broadway, Suite 404
New York, NY 10012
212-966-2073
www.cbcbooks.org

Another good way to find an agent is to attend a writers' conference in your area. Most will have agents available for you to meet with to discuss your work in person.

What do publishers and agents look for?
Publishers especially love people who are self-motivated. The books that succeed are those with authors behind them - who work hard to promote themselves and their books.

What is the best way to send your book?
From your list, begin to study the company. Find a name to connect with and send a colorful, well-designed packet. Most agents will respond within four to six weeks. It is absolutely appropriate to call an agent to follow up after that amount of time. Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the agent can return your material if he or she decides to pass on it. (Remember to send a copy of your book and not your original!)

The best way to send a manuscript is to query the agent first, including a synopsis of your work and a brief bio of yourself. The agent should respond within a few weeks, letting you know if he or she wants to read your work. If he or she requests that you send the manuscript, it needs to be sent unbound, double-spaced, with a cover letter. (Complete in its entirety if it is fiction, at least three chapters plus a proposal and an outline if it is non-fiction).