Have you been wondering why your
novel — perhaps an excellent, original work of a
maverick mind — has so far failed to ignite the
interest of any acquisitions editor, or an agent charged
with supplying editors with new books? What reason for
rejection haven’t you heard? “It’s not
dark enough!” “It’s too dark!”
“It has too much dialogue!” “There are
no such people as you’re describing; I’ve
never met anyone like them!” “If you changed
your math-teacher serial killer into a space-traveling
leprechaun, we might have a real winner on our hands!”
“It might be offensive to some people!” Or,
the most popular: “We just don’t think your
novel will appeal to the broadest possible audience!”
All this editorial bellyaching
takes place under pressure from publishers demanding surefire moneymakers that can sell millions
of copies. Of course, publishers have rents to pay, and
square footage in those New York skyscrapers does not
come cheap. So, editors are understandably afraid to take
chances on new, as yet unproven authors, or — horror
of horrors! — works that can’t be easily described
as “Tom Clancy meets Harry Potter.” Moreover,
no book is allowed through which doesn’t fit into
editors’ personal notions of life, the universe,
and everything — notions which, conveniently prepackaged,
can be acquired at your local newsstand for the price
of a copy of the New York Times. Yet, in a fit
of creativity, some of them have found a way to make their
publishers a little extra money by persuading
authors to pay for rejection. These editors are the
people who decide what America will and won’t get
to read.
If you, as an author, have come up against these barriers,
ENC Press may be worth considering. We look for witty,
perceptive, irreverent books — intelligent and entertaining
works that contain elements of social and political satire
or commentary, offer unusual insights into foreign cultures,
have a strong element of humor, and tip a few sacred cows
along the way.
So, if you can’t get your novel published, may
I see it? I don’t care if you’ve never had
anything published before, officially or unofficially.
I get to take chances because I don’t answer to
anyone but myself — and because I like to.
Olga
Gardner Galvin
