For Inside the Publishing World Wednesday, let’s get to know Editor Peter Lynch from Sourcebooks. I met Peter at
the 2012 PNWA summer conference.
Currently Peter is the Editorial Manager at Sourcebooks Inc., where he
has worked for nine years. He acquires and develops 20-30 books per year,
across a variety of subjects. His interests include adult fiction, more
specifically, historical and women’s fiction, and nonfiction. He likes
parenting, history, memoir, self-help, reference, humor, and college/study
aids.
If children’s books are your thing, he will help hook you up with the
right person, but my suggestion is to do your research and query that specific
editor.
Peter is interested in working with authors who are self-motivated and
are willing to publicize their own books in unique ways.
One of his pet peeves- Don’t follow up a submission a day later saying,
“Oops, I found a typo, can I send you a new copy?”
Another peeve, don’t send him a query that is part of a list of copy
emails.
His advice to writers, “Write what you’re passionate about. We don’t
know why things take off.”
What does he think about the future of publishing? He told us,
“Everything changes. We just don’t know the specifics on how it will shake out.
People are still reading and they’re reading more. Publishers used to let some
authors in, now it has switched, and authors go to the publishers for their
specific needs.”
What does he think about self-publishing? He told us, “The Stigma is
gone. Good books are available all the time. But, maybe there’s a reason yours
wasn’t published.”
To submit- (fiction)
“The body of the email should be your query, which should contain: the genre of the book, approximate word count, a short (150 words or so) pitch, and any writing credentials (memberships to organizations, awards, quotes from other authors, etc.)
- Email the full
manuscript in an attached WORD document. Please include your contact
info within that document; and if the work is agented, please have agent
info as well.
- Always include a
synopsis (that goes all the way to the end of the book) in a separate
attachment and complete bio, including a list of any and all previous
titles with sales history
Material can be sent to submissions@sourcebooks.com. Please allow 8-12 weeks for a response. We do accept unagented submissions; however, those with agents will receive priority.”
To submit (nonfiction)-
“In order to consider your nonfiction book for potential publication,
we need to see a proposal that includes the following items:
- A brief synopsis in
1-2 paragraphs
- Author bio or resume
specifying credentials and publication credits, if any
- A complete table of
contents, plus estimated length of manuscript in words and pages
- Two to three sample
chapters (not the first)
- A description of the
target audience
- One page/paragraph on
your book's unique advantages
- A list of competing or
comparable titles and how your book differs
Please do not send complete manuscripts unless a specific request is
made for one. Queries only and simultaneous submissions are OK.
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