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| Author: Jeff Herman
Publisher: Three Dog Press
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $16.90
You Save: $13.05 (44%)
New (27) Used (7) from $16.90
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 8620
Media: Paperback
Edition: 18th
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1000
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.5
Dimensions (in): 9 x 7.3 x 2.2
ISBN: 0977268225
Dewey Decimal Number: 070.502573
EAN: 9780977268221
ASIN: 0977268225
Publication Date: October 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Absolutely Brand New & In Stock. 100% 30-Day Money Back. Direct from our warehouse. Ships by USPS. 1+ million customers served-In business since 1986. Happy Customers is Our #1 Goal. Toll Free Support
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| Customer Reviews:
 The 411 January 14, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an invaluable book for the hoping-to-be first time published author. It not only provides the names and addresses of people who's attention you need to catch as a yet to be published author, but it offers realistic advice on how to have your manuscript read by someone in the business, presents specific advice [or where to get it] on how to make submissions, and details what specific agents or publishers are seeking in those submissions. That way, you don't waste your precious time and money sending query letters to people who wouldn't be interested in your work if you were Tolstoy with War and Peace in your valise.
The book is tailored in a predictable manner that allows you to find information without rifling through all the pages. It is well written - unambiguous and succinct - yet it's not like reading a phone book as Mr. Herman has a sense of humor to boot.
Best book for aspiring authors December 11, 2007
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
I have probably purchased every other guide to literary agents and how to get your book published. But this is by far the best. Several agents recommend it, but since I had the other books, I didn't think I needed it. Finally, I purchased it and was pleasantly surprised. This book is huge and gives so much more information. It is in a class by itself. My advice to aspiring authors is to buy this book first not last like I did.
 Don't Waste Your Money December 9, 2007
18 out of 35 found this review helpful
Having been involved in this business since 1998, my advice to any aspiring author is don't waste your money on Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Editor, Publishers, and Literary Agents, or any similar 'how to' manual up and including the now venerable Writers Market.
I know this for a fact because, when I was a starry-eyed fledgling, I eagerly purchased one of Mr Herman's earlier Guides, along with Writers Market, How to Write Attention Grabbing Query and Cover Letters, The Writers Essential Desk Reference and virtually every other such advisory I could lay my hands on. In fact, I'm looking at them right now even as I write.
Unfortunately, what such guides carefully don't tell you is that the chances of ANY new and or unproven author's work being considered by ANY established literary agent, publisher or editor is slightly less than nil.
Instead, most of the huge literary successes in today's world came about as the result of a pure fluke. J.K.Rowling is a case in point. The only reason her initial Harry Potter manuscript ever saw the light of day was because the secretary of the literary agent she was querying at the time picked it up from the slush pile by mistake when she was packing her boss's briefcase for the weekend. Otherwise, it would never have been read by him or anyone else.
As for myself, I carefully followed Mr Herman et al's advice to the letter and dutifully began querying literary agents, publishers etc. The first thing I learned, unfortunately, was that far too many were out and out scam artists fronting for the likes of the since-discredited book doctor, Edit Ink, thieving self-publishers like Canada's Commonwealth and the deservedly notorious Woodside Literary Agency.
Then there were the sometimes nasty rejections from legitimate concerns. One such agency, which shall remain nameless, not only didn't even bother to respond to my query letter, they actually had the guts to stuff my self-addressed stamped envelope with poorly produced, smudged promos on cheap copy paper for their 'editorial services' along with a list of self-published titles by authors of whom I had never heard.
In my own case and in response to some excellent advice from one of today's most successful Science Fiction/Fantasy authors, I soon realized I wasn't going to get anywhere via the conventional query process and turned instead to the Internet. Even so, my first commercial ebook sale came about in 1998 because of pure, dumb luck.
Twelve titles later, I've not only never looked back, I've even picked up a few awards along the way and can find no reason to regret my decision.
In other words and from I can see, the only beneficiary of Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents: Who They Are! What They Want! How To Win Them Over! is probably its author.
One of the literary agencies I queried, by the way, was Mr. Herman's. While he was listed in Writer's Market as handling the genre in which I write, that wasn't what his form letter said and I thought, "Well, so much for that."
While I'm nowhere near J.K. Rowling's class, of course, my titles haven't done too badly. Unlike those of my print published, literary agent represented counterparts, they're also all still commercially available and selling quite well, including my very first novel which came out in 1998.
In other words, if you're a serious aspiring author and your writing has any merit at all, please don't waste your money on this or any similar advisory. The Internet already offers a wealth of reputable resources at absolutely no charge for beginning writers i.e. Dave Kuminski's excellent Preditors and Editors and Authors Den, (to name just two), with which Mr Herman's Guide, Writers Market etc. can't begin to compete.
Because I don't wish to be accused of submitting this review for self-promotion purposes, I am not using my pen name or listing any of my published titles. However, if Mr Herman or anyone else wants references or proof of my track record, I will be more than happy to provide them off-list.
Respectfully,
Kathleen C. Krueger
GREAT!! November 30, 2007
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Great info, all you need to know organized in the most helpful way! The latest and greatest info, names, addresses and inside information you need to help you on your way to getting published/represented. A must have!!
Great tool for aspiring writers! November 21, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
Without Jeff Herman's guide at my side, I run the risk of finding a lousy agent or an agency without credibility. I am so glad he updates annually. Great tool for writers who want to publish.
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