My Wife Wishes to Engage a Reputable Publisher for her Six Manuscripts

[Bill Fritz]

Hello Group,

As you all know, finding a good publisher is a real 'catch 22'. Without being published, one is hard pressed to obtain an agent and without an agent, it seems next to impossible to get published.
A couple of years ago, we thought our prayers had been answered- only to be duped by an agent
(scam artist) to whom we paid upfront fees (for nothing).

In addition to being a plastic surgeon for the past 24 years, my wife has been written 6 manuscripts
(two are of medical thriller genre) during the last four years. Both have been edited by her father
(a jounalism major from Texas Tech) and myself and are ready to be published.

If anyone knows of an agent that will actually try to help (vs. rip us off again or send a 'no thanks'
e-mail, wopuld you please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]?

Gratefully yours,

Bill R. Fritz

[Christy Pinheiro]

SIX manuscripts? Whew! That's a lot.

I think that you should get in touch with some reputable organizations. I would reccommend SPAWN, the Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network, of which I am a member. Patricia Fry is a well-known author and publisher and she is also Spawn's president. Patricia can probably direct you, and show you how to get an agent and query correctly-- she does this type of consulting.

The economy is bad for fiction, so the manuscripts better be stellar if you want to get them picked up by a traditional publisher.

Oh, and NEVER, EVER, NEVER pay and agent up front.

Christy Pinheiro
The Publishing Maven

[Bill Fritz]

Yes, she has been writing on them for about six years (and practicing plastic surgery 14 hours/day).

Thank you very much for your suggestions and tips. We've been the proud 'recipient' of the up-front fee ruse...
Her manuscripts ARE stellar (although I am likely a tad prejudiced...). I am actually very surprised that we have yet to get them published. To describe my wife as persistent is an understatement. This ordeal has been akin to
finding capital for renewable energy projects in the current economy - rather frustrating. But, when the going gets tough, the tenacious ones will hopefully prevail. This is our hope anyway.

Again, thanks for your kind reply and advice, Christy!

Regards,

Bill R. Fritz, MBA - Managing Director
Fritz Capital Funding, LLC
www.FritzCapitalFunding.com

[Christy Pinheiro]

Does she have a web presence? Really, she should join all these groups herself and post her website and her blog. Many authors find this type of self-promotion distateful, but she needs to get over that if she is going to make it in this business. An author will sometimes get a book deal simply by buidling up a "following" online-- this is about building a fan base that follows you and likes your writing. It's impressive when publishers see authors that have 1,000 blog followers-- they think in terms of dollars and this is all a numbers business.

Anyone who says, "Just hand me $5,000 and I will take care of everything for you," is only going to take your money and run.

How many agents has she queried?

Christy Pinheiro
The Publishing Maven
The Step by Step Guide to Self Publishing for Profit

[Bill Fritz]

Aside from her plastic surgery site; she has a blog that I created for her book, "Living with Big Dogs" (a Publish on Demand book). I will pass on your kind suggestions and comments. Perhaps you're right, establishing a web presence for in order to promote her six manuscripts (and 400 unsold POD books) would be beneficial. Neither she nor I have any problems in doing this (except a lack of time). Still, if this will help her get published; I will make the time to create and publish a site. We have been considering this anyway.

Yes, we 'get' the 'pay us money upfront' advice. We are still 'licking our wounds' from the last sleezy 'agent' (to be kind to her). The fact that we are both Christians will not likely bode well for the 'agent' that ripped her off (after this life is over). Simply stated, God hates liars and deception in business-- there WILL be a test. For the 'agents' sake, I hope the money was very well spent...it may end up costing her much more than we paid her.

In the past six years, Connie has querried hundreds agents- none of which have been very helpful.
Frankly, I have spoken with hedge fund managers and Managing Directors of private equity groups who make $ millions every year and they seem much more humble than many of the literary agents that have responded to her. What power they must wield! She has diligently written and rewritten her querry letters and spent who knows how much on postage during the past several years. She has taken several writing courses, has implemented their suggestions and has worked tirelessly to achieve success.

Again, thank you for your suggestions. I will pass them on to my wife and best friend.

Bill Fritz