Nathan Bransford - The Forums

February 11, 2010

Someone here is sure to know this answer to this question. All replies (regardless of how brutal) are welcome!

Background first:
I have recently written my second novel. It's romance...okay, it's interracial romance. This genre is known for being taboo and some of the work that has been associated with it is less than marketable or serious. However, I feel that I have a good product. It's fresh and different (so is everyone else's right?). Well, I cut my teeth on my first book with AuthorHouse (uhhh), and then I started my own small publishing firm for my newest one.

Well, I had an epiphany the other day as I was filling book orders (we just released the book last week). It occurred to me that this book might be the ONE. My little firm may just hold it back. My distribution channels are not deep enough, my dollars for marketing aren’t long enough and my days aren’t either. I have a full-time job and a family.

Question second:
So, can I still pitch it to the Nathans of the world or did I just shoot myself in the foot? It has a website, Facebook, twitter, blog and a small following. It has some online presence all in less than a week. While this is good for some sells, what does this do for future branding of the book, should I be able to get signed by one of the BIG guys?

Give me your input! I'm dying to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Questionable Charactr

I know that most agents don't want to hear about your self-publishing. If you've managed to sell thousands of books, then they MIGHT talk to you, but they say the bigger publishing houses won't do a 'second' press of a book that was self-pubbed unless it's phenomenal (think Eragon. I think it's the only one to break through). If you write ANOTHER book, don't mention you self published right off the bat in the query because they won't care unless -again- it was a runaway success. If you do manage to find an agent with ANOTHER book, you would then need to mention the prior book since that is a reflection of work that is purchasable with your name on it. Pen names are good for self-pubbing.

Oh man, I’ve been there – started out by self-publishing two novels through AuthorHouse. I was very lucky and managed to get those two novels plus more books published by a small press publisher who liked my novels and was impressed by the number of self-published copies I had sold. Romance is really hot right now. I would think that’s one of the genres most easy to get accepted right now.