Magdalena’s Comments (group member since Sep 08, 2009)

Magdalena’s comments from the AustralianReaderdotcom group.

Good suggestion Deborah. I've just followed you. I'm http://twitter.com/compulsivereade

When you search, and don't find it, there will be a link in the right hand side under Other Options to manually add books. You just add them manually.

Hope it's okay to add our own books here. If not, slap my hand and I'll remove mine immediately! NB, my publisher (BeWrite - highly recommended) is in the UK and they accepted my book unagented. I had a lot of trouble getting a local agent and have heard similar stories. In any case, good luck Robin. Do let us know how you get on. Things may be different with different genres - my novel is literary fiction - very hard to place with an agent but not particularly difficult for publishers - there are agents that specialise in particular genres and many of those are, from what I understand, more open.

I think that a number of small publishers here (overseas too) tend to take unagented submissions, so those of us who aren't big business authors probably will do better looking for a publisher first. If you've won a major award (Vogel, Christina Stead, Newcastle Prize, Age story of the year), had tons of very high level publications, or have a manuscript that is of such originality that you know it will generate a bidding war (dream on...) then an agent who loves it will definitely help you get a better advance/publisher. But few of us are going to interest an agent on the first novel or book -- it usually takes a few publications and an award first, and then an agent will be worthwhile. I'd say for most of us, publication by a small traditional house would be the best first point of call. There are some superb small publishers like Wakefield Press, IP, Transit Lounge, etc - to name just a few - this year's writers yearbook will list them all - who publish excellent, highly regarded work (you generally won't get an advance - that's the way it goes) and take unagented submissions.

Hi everyone, great idea Phillip, and let me take this opportunity to thank you for all you do for Australian writers. I'm Magdalena and I'm the author of one novel, Sleep Before Evening (working on #2 - slowly...), and a poetry chapbook Quark Soup. I've also got a full length (BeWrite Books) poetry book coming out in December. I've been following AustralianReader since its Georgina days and am very proud to be involved which such a progressive and valuable publication.

Hi everyone, great idea Phillip, and let me take this opportunity to thank you for all you do for Australian writers. I'm Magdalena and I'm the author of one novel, Sleep Before Evening (working on #2 - slowly...), and a poetry chapbook Quark Soup. I've self-published a couple of smaller chapbooks done in collaboration with a poet friend, and we're currently adding a third to the series. I've been following AustralianReader since its Georgina days and am very proud to be involved which such a progressive and valuable publication.