Hi all- in our effort to bring you the very latest from the frontline of publishing, here's a new interview with Snowbooks. When we first introduced them to WriteWords, they were brand new- now, just three years on, they've won Small Publisher of the Year 2006 at the Nibbies Awards, and here they explain why they're looking for new UK writers to buy!

I think their approach is very refreshing. Especially the 'open rejection letter' they publish on their website.

http://www.snowbooks.com/rejection.html

Yes, that letter's very honest and sensible. Among much else good sense, I think this is particularly pertinent:

We're not critics so much as opportunists.

One of the things which makes rejection by publishers so hard to take is feeling that they're the only arbitrators of what's good and what's not - that if you're not published, it's as if your university had refused to give you a degree after you'd done all the work and got acceptable marks. And of course it's not like that. I think they're being a little disigenuous, though, to say that by contrast editors in big publishers don't champion the books they bring in: they have to, if only to make sure they book they brought in fails, and the only way they can champion a book convincingly is if they really do believe in it.

Emma


<Added>

Oh dear, very Monday-morningish:

a little disingenuous, though, to say that by contrast editors in big publishers don't champion the books they bring in: they have to, if only to make sure they book they brought in doesn't fail

I'm sure you're right, Emma (knew what you meant first time, and weirdly didn't even notice your typos - we read what we expect to read, maybe?).

I liked the analogy in the open r.l. by which they compare publishers to shoppers in the january sales, grabbing the first thing that catches their eye then moving on. They are honest enough to say they are no different, I think. I also like the bit that says:

there's a chance, if we're being absolutely honest, that we did reject your book because it was awful

Sorry Emma, I don't understand the point you are making. It may be that I don't understand your 'champion' wording.

I thought the 'open rejection letter' was very honest and factual in every respect. The sooner Writers appreciate that Publishers (large and small) are financial entities and the books they publish are looked at with the bottom line very much in mind, the better it will be.

A Publisher may love or dislike a manuscript but most of them are experienced enough to know that their personal and private tastes must be second to their expertise as a Publisher.

It is not a question of whether a book is 'good' or 'bad' - whatever these words may mean - but a question of marketing opportunities and potential sales. The 'commercial life' of a book is generally quite short (Academia, Practical works etc. being an exception. The successful Publishers are those who are most attuned to current market conditions and, particularly, trends.

Len

<Added>

Just seen your additional comment Emma... I now comprehend. It must be Monday morning!