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This interview contains:
- 11 Pages Of Expert Advice (3,440 words)
- 14 Key Questions and Answers To Aid Both Aspiring And Seasoned Business Authors In The Publishing Process
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Purchase this interview, along with 18 others and step-by-step, how-to advice included in The Ultimate Guide To Publishing And Marketing A Business Book for a $79 download, or a $99 hard-copy.
Do you know what it takes to pitch your book to a publisher? Expert literary agent and author, Jeff Herman, does. Herman shares not only his thoughts and advice on working with agents, but also advice on working with big name publishers. Find out how he picks winning business books from the masses, how many copies bestsellers need to sell, and much more.
No matter where you are in the book publishing process, this interview is a must read. Jeff shares his stories and knowledge of what it is really like working with authors, agents, and publishers by answering these questions:
- Could you tell me a little bit about your background in literary services and The Jeff Herman Agency? How long have you worked specifically with representing authors of business books?
- What do you look for in an author/book when deciding whether or not to represent them? Have you noticed any trends among successful authors and/or books?
- What were your most successful books? Why?
- What do you think are the key advantages for authors who work with a literary agent? Can you estimate the degree of ultimate impact working with an agent will make?
- In your experience, what’s the truth about how many copies business books really sell?
- What’s the difference between a book that flops, one that sells an average number of copies, and one that really makes it big?
- During what point in the publishing process should authors approach you about representing them and their books? What is the best way for them to get in touch with you?
- What services do you offer and in general how much does it cost to hire an agent like yourself?
- Assuming they’re not already famous, what is the most important factor in getting a first-time author a contract with a major business book publisher like McGraw Hill or Simon & Schuster?
- Do you have any advice on creating a solid platform for a business book?
- Do you have any advice regarding negotiating the book’s contract with publishers?
- What are the common mistakes that would-be business book authors make in the process of trying to get their books published?
- You have written a book entitled Write The Perfect Book Proposal. What key advice can you offer new authors that are starting to write their first business book proposal?
- Do you have any other advice for prospective authors regarding the publishing process as a whole?
Read an excerpt of the interview here.
“The importance of the editorial component is very much tied to the power of the marketing. The weaker the marketing, the stronger the editorial has to be, and vice versa. It’s a balance.
“I need to be very selective in what I take on because everything I do is based on a contingency. The only way I can make legitimate money is through commissions. My access credibility with publishers would be immediately undermined and lost if I was just trying to sell anything. So, like most good agents, I’m rejecting 97%, 98%, even 99% of what’s being pitched to me by the public.” –Jeff Herman
Jeff Herman: Literary Agent Profile
Current Position: The Jeff Herman Agency, LLC was founded in 1987 by Jeff Herman and has since sold hundreds of titles to publishers. The agency represents general adult nonfiction books on business, commercial self-help, technology, recovery/healing, general reference and spiritual subjects.
In The Public Eye: Jeff has appeared on numerous television and radio shows and has been written about in publications such as Success, Publisher’s Weekly, Forbes, The Associated Press, and The New Yorker
Author Of: Jeff Herman is the author of two books: Writer’s Guide To Book Editors, Publishers and Literary Agents, which has sold more than 350,000 copies, and Write The Perfect Book Proposal: 10 Proposals That Sold And Why!
Also Known For: Prior to opening his own agency, Jeff was a publicist at Schocken Books and worked for a New York public relations firm where he designed and managed national consumer marketing campaigns for Nabisco Brands and AT&T.
Website: http://www.jeffherman.com
This interview contains:
- 11 Pages Of Expert Advice (3,440 words)
- 14 Key Questions and Answers To Aid Both Aspiring And Seasoned Business Authors In The Publishing Process
Purchase this interview, along with the 18 others included in Perspectives On Business Book Publishing: Inside Stories From Authors, Agents, Editors, And Publicists for a $79 download, or a $99 hard-copy.
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