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© Copyright 2008 Pleasant Mount Press, Inc. All Rights Reserved Submissions
Overview:
Have Something Original to Say:
Have a Clear Marketing Plan:
Unsolicited submissions:
How to inquire:
Your Manuscript:
Don't get discouraged:
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Pleasant Mount Press, Inc.
submissions@PleasantMountPress.com
We are dedicated to helping talented new authors get into print. In order to allow us to give due consideration to all prospective authors, we ask that you follow these Guidelines . Spend a few moments going through the rest of this site to get a
feeling for who we are and what we're looking for. We do not favor any
particular subject, theme, or political orientation, just so long as
it's treated in a coherent and innovative manner. Catch our interest
with your query letter. Send us something that grabs us with the first
sentence, and doesn't let go until the last. Leave us yearning for a
sequel. Give us a concept that makes us look at your subject in an
entirely new way, and chances are good that we'll want to publish you.
Big publishers can dedicate huge sums to marketing the works of their biggest authors, but even they do little to promote the works of smaller writers. We will submit copies of your book to well known reviewers, however, we're looking for authors who have a clear understanding of their audience and a plan for reaching them. Please don't send unsolicited manuscripts. We will not read them, we will not open them, we will not return them. We will simply drop them in the trash. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Our time is very limited. In order to devote due diligence to the authors we select, we simply can't distract ourselves dealing with people who won't play by the rules, and hence, wouldn't be considered anyway. In order to ensure that your work receives the attention it deserves, please adhere to the following methodology. Our mission and desire is to bring the largest number of high-quality literary works to market as our resources will permit. In order to accomplish this, we've devised a 3-step evaluation process. While this may seem like a bureaucratic treadmill, it is designed to allow us to give everyone a fair evaluation, whilst still having sufficient time to turn selected manuscripts into quality books. The process is as follows: 1. Start by sending a brief (approximately 500 words) overview of a
completed work that you would like to have us consider. We prefer email
for this purpose. Tell us how you've identified the audience for this
book, who they are, and how they will benefit from your book. 2. If we are interested, we will ask you for a more comprehensive
application package. This will consist of a more thorough overview,
chapter-by-chapter synopsis, an author bio that expounds why you are
uniquely qualified to write this book, to this audience, and a
high-level marketing plan. We are interested in good books that meet a
focused need and that will sell steadily for a long time. Author's
credentials in the area of the writing provide authority. The author's
ability and interest to promote the book are important. We sell
primarily through internet and special orders rather than bookstore
stocking, so good reviews and ability to identify and connect with a
focused market are important. 3. Finally, for the works selected in the previous steps, we will ask to read your entire manuscript. If we ask to see your manuscript, we expect it to be submitted in standard formatting (see: Manuscript Format). Aside from the practical editorial reasons, a properly formatted manuscript serves to confirm that we are dealing with a professional who knows the rules of the trade. Like the vast majority of publishing houses, we simply can't afford to rewrite or extensively doctor your work. We will, of course, proof and copy edit it thoroughly, but if we see that we're encountering more than a few minor typos, or any logical errors or omissions, it's likely we'll simply stop right there and move on to the next candidate. Whether submitting to us or another publisher or literary agent, we'd encourage you to invest in the services of a reputable copy editor to ensure that your manuscript is as good as it can be. The plain sad fact of the matter is that this is a highly competitive market, and you need every edge you can get. Where better to invest your money than in yourself? We will not be offering this type of service. For one thing, we haven't got the time. For another, it would compromise our corporate image to the extent that it might present the appearance that we would encourage inferior works simply to collect the editing fees. There are many copy editors advertising on the web. Don't be ashamed to ask for some references, and do contact them. There is no shortage of unscrupulous hucksters out there that are qualified only to separate you from your money. Even if your project doesn't fit our current needs, don't get discouraged and give up. Your next one may be just what we're looking for.
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