I’ve been asking myself that question ever since I read the note on Sasha’s blog saying she’d landed her dream publisher, Berkley. I used to have a ‘dream’ publisher, but now, not so much. Hmm, when did that change? Currently, I like several different publishing houses and would love to write for them all. *ggg* I just don’t know if I have a favorite. I believe what I look for in a publisher has changed. I’m sure this comes from gaining a grain of publishing experience.
My pie in the sky dream would be to find a publisher who REALLY loves my work. Duh! I’ve been fortunate to have a couple of publishers who appreciate my writing. I’m truly grateful for that experience. But, I’ve yet to encounter the publisher who loves my work. Come out, come out wherever you are. 
That’s definitely my dream.
Who are your dream publishers and why? Do you have a dream publisher? If not, what do you look for in a publisher?
July 19th, 2005
Don’t know if I have a ‘dream’ publisher, but based on what they’re publishing lately I’d say Berkley (Sensations) and TOR are at the top of the list. They seem to be pushing the envelope and exploring with subject matters, language, and genre blending. I usually don’t *note* publishers, so this is probably a very uninformed opinion.
by Jaq July 19th, 2005 at 4:53 pmJaq, No, I’d say that’s probably pretty accurate. I went and looked at the spines of the books on my shelves. Berkley and St. Martin’s are winning, followed closely by Tor.
by Jordan July 19th, 2005 at 5:56 pmI’m not picky.
I want a publisher who’ll effectively print, market and distribute my books. Okay, when I say “not picky,” I mean I have no particular need for Big Name. Heck, I happily went from Kensington to booksforabuck.com. If Rob went Big Time, I’d stay with him because I really like him and Karen. (Which brings up the other huge thing I want from a publisher: Someone I can trust.)
by Kate Rothwell July 19th, 2005 at 6:03 pmKate, I’d say trust is a pretty important one. :0)
by Jordan July 19th, 2005 at 6:09 pmHey Jordan,
Hmmm, I don’t know who my dream publisher is. I want a house that loves my voice…which I guess translates to: they think I can sell books! LOL!
by Patrice Michelle July 19th, 2005 at 10:38 pmI don’t think I have a dream publisher.
The publishing world seems to change so much, so quickly, it’s hard to pick one and say, ‘that’s it’.
As you said–I want one that absolutely loves my voice, and really ‘gets it’.
So I guess I don’t have a dream publisher. Just a publishing dream.
by raine July 19th, 2005 at 11:01 pmI don’t have a dream publisher… because the things you hear in this business suggest that sometimes even ‘dream’ publishers can give you nightmares!
In general, I’m just pathetically grateful when *any* publisher takes an interest in me. I’m lucky at the moment, because both the publishers I’m working with have said lovely, encouraging things about my writing which have really boosted my confidence… but I’m always powerfully aware that I have to *keep on* delivering the goods, and the standard of writing they want, because if I don’t then I’m no good to them any more.
by Wendywoo July 20th, 2005 at 12:44 amMy dream publisher is Pocket. I’ve always wanted to be with Pocket, but I’m not picky. ::grin:: I do agree with everyone else though, I think finding a publisher who will really root for me and stand behind my work is my utlimate goal.
by TracyS. July 20th, 2005 at 6:40 amWhen I started venturing into waters that weren’t ruled by EC it was mainly to get validation, which I guess is the same thing you’re talking about. I wanted to hear - from someone that didn’t work for me! - that I didn’t suck or whatever. Now that I have ventured out, I find myself venturing back
It’s too difficult to take on so many committments so I’ve narrowed down to Pocket Books and EC, where I’m happiest. I’ve come to realize that it isn’t the house, but the editor. Most editors aren’t authors so they don’t realize how much we need to hear their praise…we need it even more than their criticisms. I’ve given editing seminars on this topic so apparently I need to give some more. Editors don’t “get” that writers feel like their work isn’t valued unless they gush. From an editor’s perspective, the fact that they bought you should be praise enough.
by Jaid Black July 20th, 2005 at 7:21 amNo, I don’t have a dream publisher in mind. Perhaps because there’s no publisher that’s right for the kind of stories I write. *lol*
by Silma July 20th, 2005 at 7:23 amI love writing for EC. Other publishers? I like what I hear about Kate Duffy so I think it’d be fun to run something by Brava, and I love St. Martin’s, but it wouldn’t surprise me to find that the best place for me is right where I am.
by Charlene July 20th, 2005 at 8:23 amLike Jaq, I’m basing it on what they’ve been publishign lately. I love the stories and the authros at Berkley, and I like what I’ve heard about Cindy Hwang, and am looking forward to working with her. I think of it as my dream publisher for those reasons. I thinkI’ll be able to expand my writing style, and learn alot while I’m there.
by Sasha July 20th, 2005 at 9:25 amI’d have to say that my dream publisher is Ellora’s Cave. Now, I might be a little biased at the moment since they just published my first book (came out today - woo hoo!) *big grin*. But when I first read your post, I thought, that for me, it was more about the editor than the house. And granted, I’m a real newbie, so heck, what do I know?
by Eve Jameson July 20th, 2005 at 11:45 amBut I do know that if I had an editor that made me feel about as important as the bug on the bottom of her shoe she just squished, I wouldn’t give a d*mn about the house and would start looking elsewhere really fast. Again, a totally newbie comment who feels really blessed to have the editor she does have.
It reminds me of a similar question - “who is your dream agent?” I’ve heard people say they have their dream agent. When I started zeroing in on a few, I thought, “ah, I’m getting close to having a dream agent.” But then they rejected my work. So then I ran across a couple of agents in unlikely places who were enthusiastic about my work and I realized that’s my dream agent - the one who loves my work (and as long as they can sell it) - so I would think the same would go for a dream publisher.
by Kathy Holmes July 20th, 2005 at 1:29 pmPatrice, I think a house that loves your voice is probably a better dream.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 1:49 pmRaine, Nicely said. I agree. (wg)
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 1:51 pmWendy, LOL! Isn’t that the truth?!
Publishing is certainly built on a slippery slope.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 1:53 pmTracy, It seems to be a dream shared by all.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 1:53 pmJaid,
Sadly, validation is what I’m looking for. I hate that I want it and I hate that I need it. As for venturing away from EC, it’s amazing how good land looks when you’ve been treading water for a few months.
I do believe you’re correct, when it comes to publishers vs editors . The editor can make or break the author. You definitely need to give more of those seminars.
The message isn’t getting through. :-/
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:02 pmSilma, There’s a publisher out there for everyone.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:03 pmCharlene, Good for you! Yep, Kate’s a very interesting lady, who can be quirky and fun. Every writer must decide what they want out of their writing and their career. I wish you luck wherever you land.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:06 pmSasha, I love what they’ve been putting out. I think Berkley is going to be very good to you. I’ve heard nice things about Cindy H. You’ll have to tell us all about your experience after you get that first book in.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:08 pmEve, Congrats on the first release!!! WOO HOO!!!It’s always a nice feeling.
You’re not a newbie for thinking the editor is more important than the publisher. I should’ve been clearer in my post. You’re absolutely correct. Editors can bring you great joy or drag you by the hair face down through the bowels of Hell. LOL! (Can you tell I want Constantine on DVD?)
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:12 pmKathy, You’re absolutely correct. You need someone who believes in you, when you don’t. (wg)
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 2:14 pmI’m with Jaid and Tracy, Pocket is my dream publisher but NAL comes in a real real close second. Though I will admit that like Jaq I like what I’m seeing come out of TOR, so who knows.
by Cece July 20th, 2005 at 3:21 pmI think there are different dream publishers for different things, and the same publishing house can be both wonderful and not at the same time. Writing for HQ in many ways is a dream for me. I love my editor, I make a nice living, I’m free to explore many ideas and they let me write all kinds of stuff from erotic romance to comedy to suspense. I’m very grateful to them. I’m also dreaming of someday dealing with another house where I won’t have to write quite so many books in such a short period of time - but for most of my writing career, Harlequin has made it possible for me to actually write for a living. Wow.
by Jo July 20th, 2005 at 4:28 pmCece, Well at least that leaves you with plenty of choices.
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 5:44 pmJo, That’s very cool indeed. I truly wish I could write for HQ. I just can’t seem to get the pacing down in the books. I am hopeful with the new Blaze extreme that may change, but who knows. Maybe someday I’ll be able to submit something to Spice or HQN. (shaking head)
by Jordan July 20th, 2005 at 5:48 pmI don’t have one.
I think it’s like what some authors have mentioned, how they elected to get their books published in category lines rather than single title lines because the support just wasn’t there.
I think an editor plays a big part too. Would she go to bat for you?
Though, at this point, I’d settle for a respectable publisher.
by D. Angel July 20th, 2005 at 10:14 pmSee, now, I’d avoid Berkley because I’ve read too many books which were really poorly edited from them. I mean, do they edit them at all??? They’ve been at the top of my sh*t list as a reader for a long time because of that - very distracting to a reader.
St. Martin’s seems like a class house to be pubbed by. That would be high on my list of dream publishers. But then, Kensington seems to do right by their authors. Black Lace used to be pretty generous and prolific, but I don’t know what their position is now.
I think, if it were, me, I’dbe with you, Jordan, wanting someone who loved my writing. Of course, it would be nice if they also did a big enough print run and had a marketing budget to match.
by Hedvig July 21st, 2005 at 1:15 amThis is a great question. And I honestly would have to say I don’t have a dream publisher. Not really. I’ve read from all the publishing houses, and I’ve found books from that I’ve enjoyed from them all. I think for me it would all depend on which house I felt my story best belonged. Not sure that was the type of answer you were looking for.
btw, I’m really enjoying your AAA this week on blogging.*g*
by Teresa July 21st, 2005 at 5:03 amI’m thrilled to say I just got a three book deal with Avon!!! I wouldn’t say they were my dream publisher, I never really had one, but I’m thrilled that my new editor, Lucia Macro LOVED my work. My real dream was to find a house and editor that loved my voice.
by cathy July 21st, 2005 at 8:57 amCathy
I went to my first Desert Dreams conference in 2002. While I was there I heard Jennifer Enderlin’s spotlight on St. Martin’s, and she talked about Jennifer Crusie’s latest, and what they look for, and I was just so impressed. I can remember wanting to write for them, thinking I could write mainstream and really wanting to submit to them. Then some authors in our local chapter said no, you can’t start mainstream, you need to start in category. Sigh. And I listened. But then thanks to you, I found EC, and thanks to EC, SMP found me. So I’d say that way back when, when I’d listened to all those publisher spotlights, SMP had been my dream publisher. So I’m happy and so very fortunate, and hope that they keep me. LOL. I hope you find yours, soon!
by Cheyenne McCray July 21st, 2005 at 9:09 amD. Angel, They’re hard to find, but they’re out there.
by Jordan July 21st, 2005 at 11:34 amOoo…Hedvig, You’re dreaming big on that print run and marketing budget.
St. Martin’s seems good about building authors slowly. You definitely need that editor that loves your ‘voice’.
by Jordan July 21st, 2005 at 11:37 amThanks Teresa! I was kind of worried I was talking to myself over on AAA.
by Jordan July 21st, 2005 at 11:38 amCongratulations Cathy!!! That’s wonderful news. I’ve heard great things about Avon. May you stay happily at home there. All the best.
by Jordan July 21st, 2005 at 11:40 amThanks Chey! I’m glad you were able to come full circle. I remember when the advice you received was the norm. Outside influences are one of the things about being a newbie that sucks!
Glad it didn’t hinder your career.
by Jordan July 21st, 2005 at 11:42 am