Client Comments

After many years of unsuccessfully trying to get a work accepted for publication, I used the services of Osborne-Porter and met with almost immediate success.

In my view and experience, trying to go it alone is a very disheartening process. It was obvious that some of the work I submitted over the years to various publishers had not even been read, while in other instances it appeared as though it had merely been skimmed through and not seriously considered.

I wondered what accounted for the fact that some books do get accepted, and I believe that this is because publishers receive so many manuscripts they cannot properly consider all of them. In my opinion, books where the author is represented by a reliable agent are automatically taken more seriously than unsolicited works. Agents have the necessary contacts to approach publishers on behalf of their clients, and the fact that an agent is far more objective is also a factor that cannot be underestimated. Like all ‘parents’, writers tend to be oblivious to the faults of their creations, and will always describe their own work in glowing terms. A recommendation from a reputable agent will therefore be considered far more seriously when it lands on the desk of an editor.

I also think that a good agent will make sure that only quality work is submitted to a publisher in the first place, as this also increases the chances of the manuscript at least being read. In many instances the original draft of a book will have flaws that are not readily discernible to the author, and an agent should be able to point these out to the writer and offer meaningful criticism as well as suggestions about ways in which these problems can be solved. The work eventually submitted to a potential publisher will then be of a far better calibre, and this greatly increases the chances of it being accepted for publication.

My experience of Osborne-Porter has been extremely positive. I believe Helen and Ginny take an objective yet personal interest in the works they are handling, and give valuable one-on-one criticisms and recommendations. When a book is ready for submission, they also do an excellent job in approaching potential publishers, and know which publishing houses are likeliest to accept the sort of manuscript in question. This vastly increases the likelihood of a book making it past the notorious ‘slush pile’. The terms of their contracts are also very reasonable and they do not charge a reading fee.

I have no doubt that without the assistance of these two dynamic ladies, I would not be enjoying the success I have recently experienced, and I would definitely recommend their services to any potential author.

Wendy Greeff

Advocate

NPA

 

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