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Q: As an unpublished author, I am trying to pursue all avenues in my quest to find a publisher and/or agent. Recently, I have discovered many e-book publishers who are willing to take on previously unpublished authors. What is your opinion on e-books? Realistically, can a writer achieve any degree of success through an e-book publication? -James

A: The publishing community’s pretty divided on this one, and I guess whether or not you can achieve a degree of success depends on how you define success. There are editors here in our publishing house who disagree vehemently about whether e-books are a legitimate venue or a passing fad, and whether e-books are of the same quality as their traditional print counterparts. Because the e-publishing industry is really in its infancy, and we’ve seen traditional publishers rush to launch e-book lines only to back away from the ventures, it’s tough to say how that market will go in the next 10 years.

If you are going to go with e-publishing, I would recommend you find an e-publisher who operates contractually as a traditional publisher does: you submit a query, they request the manuscript, then if they buy it the contract awards you royalties. In addition, the publishing house incurs all of the costs of editing, production and promotion of the title.

Also, I’d recommend you research the process thoroughly, and the best title I can name for you on that subject is Debbie Ridpath Ohi’s Writer’s Online Marketplace (Writer’s Digest Books). That book goes a long way toward demystifying the process, and includes interviews pro and con with industry players.

Anne Bowling
Editor of 2001-2005 Novel & Short Story Writer's Markets
Writer's Digest Books