The Rocky Road to Publishing

[Dr Mabeuse]

I've got 2 books out now, and two more on the way.

Like Powerone (the dog!) I was contacted by an editor from Ghede books about my BDSM "Abigail" novel. (It went through a bunch of title changes and finally emerged as "Overcoming Abigail") Ghede held it for almost a year before going bust, and then Ellora's Cave--Ghede's parent company--picked it up. It came out last June and is doing okay. I won't be retiring to the south of France anytime soon on the royalties, but the checks are nice.


EC also bought my "Helene Blackmailed" and that should be out in a month or two now. They have 2 more manuscripts under consideration.

I sent "The Croft", an erotic vampire story, to Extasy and signed a contract last April, but they're slower than molasses and are terrible about answering mail. I don't know what the status of that is now. They're so backlogged that they've stopped taking new submissions.

And then my private eye spoof, "The Bound Angel" was picked up by Renaissance and came out in September, I think. I found out by accident. Renaissance never informed me. Haven't been paid yet either, but they pay quarterly.

EC is good because they have a big market presence and advertise. In a lot of ways, getting published is the easy part. You've still got to advertise and get your title out there so people know about it. Renaissance and Extasy don't have the weight EC does, but EC doesn't publish everything. They're looking for erotic romance.

My advice is, submit early and often. It can take a publisher up to 6 months to get back to you (although Renaissance claims they'll have a reply in 6 weeks and they were as good as their word) but they will read it and they will let you know. Besides, what good does that book do you sitting on your computer?

Before you submit, though, go to the publisher's site and find out (1) what they're looking for (it's no good trying to sell your heavy S&M stuff to Ellora's Cave, for instance), and (2) how they want it submitted--what format, entire book or just 3 chapters and synopsis, cover letter or what--and follow their instructions to the letter. They won't read it if you don't.

Here's a good place to find publishers as well:

http://www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/G/BestAmerican.htm

--Dr M.