Publishers-Does it really Matter?

So in the search for a publisher, does it really matter who publishes your book? In a word, YES. And make that a resounding YES.

First of all, different publishers offer different contracts. And some of those contracts are just plain bad. And that goes for other things besides royalties. Some publishers want first right of refusal for your next book, too. Some want a chunk of movie royalties if you're lucky enough to get a movie offer for the book.

And besides contracts, some publishers, I have found, are just plain rude. And very unprofessional. I've read about it, and I've even blogged about my own experience in that regard.

Some publishers may be great and sincere people, but then they fold, for whatever reason, and if you are one of their authors with several books published by them, you are like a suddenly orphaned child.

So, yeah, it really does matter. Don't be quick to sign a contract. Check out that publisher. And one of the best ways you can do that is by checking in with Absolute Write, or Writer Beware. Another good site is Preditors and Editors. (And no, that's not a typo.) Any one of those websites can help an author avoid a bad publisher. Don't wait until after you sign. Do it before. You'll be glad you did.