The word on the street is that if you want personal attention, find a small press.

Yes, small presses tends to offer smaller advances, and it can take months or even years for your book to find a slot in their publishing schedules. On the other hand, consider that with a publishing conglomerate, your book's spot on the bookshelves may be measured in weeks—and unless you're famous, your book may not receive much marketing support. Consider, too, that you might wait for months or even years just for a rejection letter from the large houses.

But most of all, and most disturbing to us... depending on the publisher, you may find your book force-fit into a package not right for you, and not right for the intelligent reader. Richard Marek, then editorial director of Kirkus Reviews, gave a speech at the Small Press Book Fair in March 1999:

"Last fall, I was called in to edit a book for a major house. The book, the publisher told me, was in deep trouble, and he didn't know whether he should accept the finished manuscript. He sent me a copy—it was one of the most exciting books I'd read in the past decade. Yes, it was too long, and it needed some highlighting of the central characters as well as cutting. But it was original, visionary, beautifully written, an intellectual as well as gorgeously plotted work, full of ideas on a profound subject—not an easy read, but a vastly stimulating one. Feeling privileged at the assignment, I went to work... Two weeks later the publisher called. There was a bonus in this for me, he said, if he accepted the book. I can't swear for certain, but I took the offer as a request to dumb the book down, bring up the love story at the expense of the ideas—make it more 'palatable' to a wide audience. I told him only that I would edit the book as I saw fit, then called the author to tell him of the conversation and promised to him that I would not harm its intellectual integrity. Luckily, the publisher did accept the final version. I got my bonus, but the incident scared me." (Click here for the entire speech)

The original, the beautifully written, the intellectual and gorgeously plotted book is exactly what we're looking for—we celebrate such work! Yes, we'll work with you to make your book the best it can be, but we value your style, your voice, and your talent.

Remember that a small press is laying far more on the line to publish your book. They—and we—will nurture your book's sales, find you readers, and keep your work in print far longer than the typical conglomerate. If you'd like to find a caring home for your creation, consider a small press, and help them to help you succeed!