Part Three: The Search for a Publisher (07/22/24)
My Plan and the First Steps
My plan was to continue researching publishers and get the book out by the holidays. Ron knew I loved a challenging project --I figured he had left this for me to keep busy while grieving his loss. So I got started.
I thought I had it easy when I began the process of taking his book from computer files to printed hardcover. Boy was I wrong.
The first thing I learned when I reached out to publishers was that I didn’t know anything about the publishing world. It turns out that publishers in general don’t talk directly to authors, nor do they work on the efficient time frame I had in mind. For this sort of project they start with proposals, not manuscripts –certainly not a near-complete manuscript that was already photographed, designed, and laid out from the cover art to the back page.
OK I said and I began to research literary agents, figuring they would be my “way-in”! I discovered that agents operate in much the same way as the publishers.
A good friend and prolifically published author, Becky Selengut (Misunderstood Vegetables is her latest book) let me “borrow” her agent, who provided me with an invaluable amount of helpful information, feedback, and direction.
I found one option, Skyhorse Publishing, through James Fraioli, who had been attempting to direct Ron as he prepared his manuscript. I say “attempting” because Ron never was really very good at taking or following direction and he proceeded in his own manner with this book as with so many other activities.
Well, everything of any size or impact that I have done while running The Herbfarm has involved having choices—finding more than one option, weighing pros and cons, and making a thoughtful decision. I mean, I do that on a personal level too. If I decide to go the movies, or buy a pair of shoes I always need at least two options to evaluate thoroughly before I decide! When I buy from Amazon I am always returning the second (or third) runners -up. Therefore, I couldn’t just sign the profit-sharing contract that Skyhorse gave me in late May of 2023 -- I needed to see others and choose the best option. After all, I still had no idea what possibilities were out there.
I reached out to Ten Speed, Harper Collins, Chronicle Books, Sasquatch Books, Simon Element, William Morrow and more. Most of them didn’t even bother to reply. Those who did were pleasant and apologetic in their rejection.