Finding Publishers Willing To Take A Risk

Hello,

I'm a writer and I need help finding publishers who are willing to read my book when its done and then publish it. Its extremely controversial and deals with homosexuality, religion, and love in all forms.

Can someone help me?

You need to look in books like Writers and Artists Yearbook, Writer's Handbook and Writer's Market. These list publishers and the sort of manuscript they accept. Plus, look in a bookshop for books of a similar genre and look at the front sheet (usually 2nd or 3rd page where copyright information is contained). This will give the name of the publisher and if they publish that they may want more.  

But you make one mistake. You say, 'when its done.' Why wait? You can submit the first 3 chapters and a synopsis informing them that it is a work in progress. Publishers plan ahead and this years books will be at the printer. 

It isn't about risk, it's about market.  Assuming the book is well written, any publisher that believes enough of a market exists to allow the book to turn a profit will publish it.   All you can do is find publishers who have released similar books.  The best way to do this is by searching bookstores and libraries, both online and off.  When you find a similar book, check to see who published it, and go from there.

James is right in that it's about the market. Expecting a publisher to take a risk is a bit much, at least anything more than a very carefully calculated risk. Publishing is a business. If the books they publish don't sell then they won't be in the business of publishing for very long. Therefore they must ask whether a book will sell if they publish. An established author with a proven readership will always take preference - or a celebrity. A bit of self-promotion never did anyone any harm.

If you tire or waiting around you might try seeking out agents.  There are many websites which have literary agent listings.  But you have to have MUCH patience as they don't want to pitch anything to any publisher unless it grabs them in a special way.  I really believe they are all waiting for the next Harry Potter.  If that fails you can try self-publishing.  but if you go that route be prepared to shell out a lot of money for the privilege of having this done.  I have written a story I am very passionate about but the publisher wants way too much money.  You can then try seeing if you can somehow obtain some sosrt of publishing grant, which may also be difficult.

My name is Brian Beecher.  I reside in Villa Park IL.  I have published three books with AuthorHouse, the latest of which is titled Judas Times Seven.  It is a story of greed, betrayal and jealousy set in the modern workplace where office politics and political correctness trump reason; where petty jealousies can and often do lead to real-world consequences. 

Think about what you wrote.  Agents would starve to death if they sat around waiting for the next Harry Potter. So would editors.  Agents have to place a LOT of books with publishers in order to earn a living, and publishers have to buy a LOT of books to stay in business.

If you have a book that's any good, an agent will represent it, and a publisher will buy it.