Loved this interview! I'm a big fan of Abigail, been following and reading her insights from the very early days, I think back when she had a mere handful of subscribers. She's a lovely person and such a tremendous resource.
I shall look forward to your side, Sally, in Abigail's interview 😁
Surprises are definitely still a thing... but I'm not so sure taxis are. 😊
I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you.
Everything I've read since subscribing has been incredibly helpful as I navigate the path toward getting my book published. I truly appreciate the knowledge you share, the thoughtful interviews you conduct, and the transparency you bring to the publishing world.
There is so much wisdom packed into each newsletter, and it has helped me better understand the process while also making it feel a little less overwhelming.
Thank you for taking the time to share what you've learned. You are definitely touching lives; mine especially.
I’ve been fortunate to have access to mentors and information that I aim to pass along and pass forward. To know this resonates with you and that you take the time to share that with me means so much.
Thanks for being here! Are there specific things you’re most curious to learn about? I’m cooking up a few fun things for fall and always have a running list of reader ideas.
Honestly, ever since our first email exchange, I've taken your advice to heart. Your suggestions have stayed with me, and I've worked hard to put them into action. In a few months, I'd love to circle back and share where I am because I've grown so much since then, and I think you'd be proud of how much progress I've made.
Your interviews and articles have been incredibly helpful. More than anything, they've validated where I am and what I'm doing right now. Sometimes this publishing journey can feel a little lonely, and reading your work often reassures me that I'm moving in the right direction.
I do have one question for you.
When I'm ready to start looking for literary agents again with this newest version of my book proposal, where is the best place to find them?
I've read several of your interviews lately where authors were fortunate enough to be approached by agents, which is amazing. But for the rest of us, how do we actually go about finding the right literary agent?
I have a feeling I'll be back on that search sooner rather than later, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Honestly, I wish there were a literary agent matchmaking site. 😊
Hearing that you feel validation at where you’re at in the process is hugely rewarding. Everyone is at a different stage and part of the process is that acknowledgment IMO. I can’t wait to hear what your update is. Perhaps bring that to the next Offer&Ask session?!
In terms of where to look for agents, the acknowledgment section of comps is one place. You can also look online at publishers marketplace with a one day subscription. It’s not an exhaustive list. In the cookbook space my go to rec is Kristin Donnelly’s Operation Find an Agent class. It’s under $80 and gives you a list of agents at the end. I’d suggest researching each one that speaks to you, how they like to be queried, and going from there.
This interview was my absolute pleasure. I adore the sidenotes you've added as well (so much extra wisdom!). I hope we may gossip, er, swap ideas again soon!
I thought this was super interesting. I have been earned media as a creator for several years now and I’m really thinking about the intersection between earned and paid, and how technology is shifting and what monetization looks like throughout these changes.
OK, I’m glad my comment made sense because I feel like I was being kind of vague and was struggling to explain clearly, but the main point is just that all of this is changing and I find it interesting to hear different perspectives on what’s working, what’s not, what’s easy, what’s hard, where there are gaps, all of those types of things.
I *think* I understood. It’s been a blurred line for a while and I feel like even more so now. I’d be curious to dig into this even more now that you have me thinking about it. And I also feel like “what works” is always so case by case specific.
Totally! I’ve been thinking about this blending too. And creators who begin building their audience as marketing and then move to more organic or vice versa!
Love your explanation of the difference between marketing and publicity! I would add that digital marketing is an important piece that falls between the two. Even though it's umbrella-ed under marketing, a ton of digital promotion is unpaid (aka "organic"), and then sometimes that promotion is further supplemented with ad spend (when I worked in-house, the digital team had to ask the marketing team for money). It gets extra interesting when you consider influencer outreach - which in some houses falls under publicity, and some houses falls under digital, and can be both organic and paid! There's so much that goes into promoting a book and I love these deep dives!
Loved this interview! I'm a big fan of Abigail, been following and reading her insights from the very early days, I think back when she had a mere handful of subscribers. She's a lovely person and such a tremendous resource.
I shall look forward to your side, Sally, in Abigail's interview 😁
Her growth is incredible and so well deserved! Thanks for reading and staying tuned for my interview next week!
You are such a generous interviewer, Sally. Really enjoyed this, and the recommendation to Abigail’s substack which I’m looking forward to.
Thank you Pam! Excited to hear what you think after digging into her work more. She’s fabulous
Thank you for this interview and intro to Abigail—SUBSCRIBED!!
Surprises are definitely still a thing... but I'm not so sure taxis are. 😊
I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you.
Everything I've read since subscribing has been incredibly helpful as I navigate the path toward getting my book published. I truly appreciate the knowledge you share, the thoughtful interviews you conduct, and the transparency you bring to the publishing world.
There is so much wisdom packed into each newsletter, and it has helped me better understand the process while also making it feel a little less overwhelming.
Thank you for taking the time to share what you've learned. You are definitely touching lives; mine especially.
Thank you!
Ryann!!! This is *SUCH* a lovely note. Thank you!
I’ve been fortunate to have access to mentors and information that I aim to pass along and pass forward. To know this resonates with you and that you take the time to share that with me means so much.
Thanks for being here! Are there specific things you’re most curious to learn about? I’m cooking up a few fun things for fall and always have a running list of reader ideas.
Honestly, ever since our first email exchange, I've taken your advice to heart. Your suggestions have stayed with me, and I've worked hard to put them into action. In a few months, I'd love to circle back and share where I am because I've grown so much since then, and I think you'd be proud of how much progress I've made.
Your interviews and articles have been incredibly helpful. More than anything, they've validated where I am and what I'm doing right now. Sometimes this publishing journey can feel a little lonely, and reading your work often reassures me that I'm moving in the right direction.
I do have one question for you.
When I'm ready to start looking for literary agents again with this newest version of my book proposal, where is the best place to find them?
I've read several of your interviews lately where authors were fortunate enough to be approached by agents, which is amazing. But for the rest of us, how do we actually go about finding the right literary agent?
I have a feeling I'll be back on that search sooner rather than later, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Honestly, I wish there were a literary agent matchmaking site. 😊
Hearing that you feel validation at where you’re at in the process is hugely rewarding. Everyone is at a different stage and part of the process is that acknowledgment IMO. I can’t wait to hear what your update is. Perhaps bring that to the next Offer&Ask session?!
In terms of where to look for agents, the acknowledgment section of comps is one place. You can also look online at publishers marketplace with a one day subscription. It’s not an exhaustive list. In the cookbook space my go to rec is Kristin Donnelly’s Operation Find an Agent class. It’s under $80 and gives you a list of agents at the end. I’d suggest researching each one that speaks to you, how they like to be queried, and going from there.
thank you, Sally!
Terrific interview and post, Sally!
This is such an interesting part of the publishing industry. Thank you for sharing Sally! Do you have a post about book marketing?
You know it! https://notsosecretagent.substack.com/p/what-is-in-house-marketing?r=6lue7&utm_medium=ios
Thank you!
This interview was my absolute pleasure. I adore the sidenotes you've added as well (so much extra wisdom!). I hope we may gossip, er, swap ideas again soon!
Yes pls!! Also, you’re my first guest side note!
I thought this was super interesting. I have been earned media as a creator for several years now and I’m really thinking about the intersection between earned and paid, and how technology is shifting and what monetization looks like throughout these changes.
OK, I’m glad my comment made sense because I feel like I was being kind of vague and was struggling to explain clearly, but the main point is just that all of this is changing and I find it interesting to hear different perspectives on what’s working, what’s not, what’s easy, what’s hard, where there are gaps, all of those types of things.
I *think* I understood. It’s been a blurred line for a while and I feel like even more so now. I’d be curious to dig into this even more now that you have me thinking about it. And I also feel like “what works” is always so case by case specific.
Good point! I think this is especially nice to hear different perspectives on. Thanks for a great article!
Totally! I’ve been thinking about this blending too. And creators who begin building their audience as marketing and then move to more organic or vice versa!
Thank you for this!
Love your explanation of the difference between marketing and publicity! I would add that digital marketing is an important piece that falls between the two. Even though it's umbrella-ed under marketing, a ton of digital promotion is unpaid (aka "organic"), and then sometimes that promotion is further supplemented with ad spend (when I worked in-house, the digital team had to ask the marketing team for money). It gets extra interesting when you consider influencer outreach - which in some houses falls under publicity, and some houses falls under digital, and can be both organic and paid! There's so much that goes into promoting a book and I love these deep dives!