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I am a writer of fiction. How can i find a literary agent to represent me to a publisher.

Veteran

PERRY McCUTCHEON New Braunfels, TX

I have completed two books. One about a Viet Nam vet titled Indian Summer and one about bullying in grade-school titled Little Cub. But have not been able to find a literary agent.

31 January 2015 6 replies Networking

Answers

Advisor

David Eastman Gresham, OR

Good for you. Every one loves a good writer and reading a good book. I think writing is hard--I have written a book, a screenplay and a play, but publishing it is even harder.

Every publishing house has their sweet spot of the genre they like to publish. Go into Google and research publishing houses using catchwords from your book drafts, such as Vietnam War, war stories, soldiers, etc., and the same for you children's story.

As for getting it read right away and making some immediate income, I would try and put your book up on the Amazon website. They have a protocol for how to do it and how to download your book. You only need to charge $1.99 to $2.99 for some one to download your manuscript and if thousands of people do so, you can make some good money.

Good luck with this idea. And regarding publishing your works, don't give up and don't take no for an answer. Your persistence will pay off.

David

2 February 2015 Helpful answer

Advisor

Jim Obenshain Blanchard, OK

Perry, I am a big fan of Amazon Kindle. Almost 2 years ago I started looking for books written by Veterans. I mostly read science fiction, but have found some fantastic books, one of which was written while the soldier was deployed.
Amazon book reviews help me find the one I want. So some reviews on your book may help bring in the traffic you need.

Veteran

PERRY McCUTCHEON New Braunfels, TX

Mr. Clinton,

What a great email answer and I appreciate it very much. We all need encouragement and I took that from that from your answer.

I write because I must - so much running around in my - so many memories. And, so few really good books with great stories out there.

My book INDIAN SUMMER has everything one looks for in a great book - what a movie it would make in the right hands. Takes place in 1969 with all the great music, free love, and demonstrations against the war.

Thanks again Dale.

Veteran

Dale Clinton Dyersburg, TN

I agree with the persistence plea. For me when I finally completed my first novella I quickly found a literary agency online who attempted to sell it to the larger publishing houses. Now I question whether the company was legitimate or not. They informed me that unless you are a celebrity, deserved or not, it is quite difficult these days to get a large publishing house to grant your wishes. However, I continue to write because of the true story of the creation of Must Love Dogs. You may have heard of the movie with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. The book was written by a woman in her fifties who had previously been unsuccessful in getting anything published. She wrote it in her car while waiting for her daughter at each one of her swimming lessons. The book was published, made into a hit movie and the woman and her family were invited to the premiere! Hang in there brother, keep writing and self-promoting and lightning may strike for you also. Peace; Dale, veteran USAF

Veteran

PERRY McCUTCHEON New Braunfels, TX

I joined the Atlanta Writers Guild and attended two conferences. Even had one-on-one with agents, but I just was not writing what they wanted. Literature has bond pop just like music. It is contrived and has no substance - they want just whatever is trending. The gatekeepers are all cut from the same cloth - graduates from liberal arts colleges with degrees in literature or some other non-marketable degree - another thing they have in common is that none have ever had a date or know anything about life. Don't get me wrong, I am not just mad at them, I am mad at the world - part of my severe depression and PTSD. I served 30 years in the Air Force - 1963 - 1993. Viet Nam was my first war and Desert Storm was my last.

I have self-published booth books INDIAN SUMMER and LITTLE CUB on Amazon and they are available for download or hard copy. I have sold less than a hundred of each book.

Thanks for your advice - if you would like to read a very good war/love/redemption story, might try INDIAN SUMMER - and if you like old Indian Motorcycles you might just like to ride along while Trace McCall tours the US. From the ghettos of Memphis, trailer parks in Mobile, Mafia stronghold of Youngstown, blueblood neighbors of Boston, to the Navajo reservation in Arizona, Trace rides his old 1946 Indian Chief that he dug out of an old barn in his old home place in Tennessee.

Advisor

Milton Zlotnick Staten Island, NY

I have a good deal of information on my Blog that should prove helpful.
http://www.joinblogging.com/2013/04/publishing-ebooks.html
You are welcome to contact my associate SCORE mentor for face to face counseling via Google Hangouts. (Similar to Skype). His name is Gerard Harkin.
Email him at - harkinger@aol.com to arrange a counseling session on line.
Thank you for your service.

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