Faith O'Grady, Lisa Richards Agency, Dublin

08/02/2007

Faith O’Grady spoke on publishing, book selling, the role of an agent and how to present work to an agent.
Discounting practices by book sellers have impacted hugely on publishing and the impact has been negative, reducing the risks that publishers are prepared to take. Discounting also affects an author’s royalties. It is important that an author check contracts to ensure that royalties are paid on a percentage of list price (7.5% – 10%) rather than on net receipts (17.5% – 20%). Net receipts are on discounted books and so the author receives much less money.
Publishers will focus on a few books and give them maximum publicity, promoting them at book trade events and paying for prominent shelf space in book shops.
Because of narrowing profit margins, publishers are heavily influenced by trends in reader tastes. Currently popular trends themes are historical fiction, death, horror, supernatural. Also, the short story collection is back in vogue.
Because of the cutting back of costs in publishing houses, copy editors no longer copy edit. They are involved in producing and selling the book and the editorial role has reverted to the book agent who, if the book has potential, will advise the writer and edit the book before presenting it to one publisher or to several, by auction and negotiate the best advance.
To get an agent, check books of the same genre as one’s own, check acknowledgements which often indicate agent, and make contact, initially by telephone in order to get name of person to whom the book should be sent along with any other relevant information about presenting the book. An initial submission should be a covering letter which includes a brief CV of relevant detail and, for fiction, a synopsis of about one and a half pages, to give an overall sense of what the story is about and 3 – 4 chapters; or, for non-fiction, a proposal, sample chapter and chapter outline for the whole book. If interested the agent will ask to see the whole book. Do not bind the full manuscript.
The covering letter, as well as indicating what the book is about should say what makes it unique and include anything relevant about yourself, eg your Queens MA Creative Writing course.
Include reviews of your work and any testimonials from people who can speak authoritatively about your book. (Not your mother or your best friend)
Polish, control and restraint and essential in a book. Does the person who is writing know what he/she is about? Pay attention to rejects and take on board what they are saying.
Book clubs and big booksellers are hugely influential on what gets published. A good title can sell a book. Bestsellers are High Concept. ie Intriguing, big plot, a twist, accessible. The top 50 selling books make lots of money. The midlist makes some. After that, royalties are small. Bestselling writers are expected to produce two books a year.
Adult Books should be between 60,000 and 120,000 words. Blockbusters are 180,000 approximately.