writing & publishing a book, what is the best route to go?

The good thing is you've done some research and gotten a generally idea of the process. I was more engaged with writing than I was learning about the business. Luckily my editor walked me through it.

There are several publishers with fiction specific imprints so find which the names of the imprints (like a department within the publishing house) that deals with fiction and particularly guides. Find the Editor-in-Chief or Senior Editor or most importantly the submission guidelines in order to determine who and how to properly submit. This will also tell you if they accept submission without agent representation. Guidelines will also tell you how to format the work to their specifications and if you can submit electronically, via e-mail or flash drive.

Also make sure you select the appropriate agent based on genre.

You can simultaneously submit to both literary agents and publishers. I suggest pick one from the top of your lists, the middle and the bottom. Submit a query letter (particularly to literary agents) first and then upon request they may ask for the first ten pages, the first three to ten chapters or the entire manuscript depending on their interest level.

See if you can join (or find) the appropriate national writers group and join both the national and local groups. These people (published and unpublished) have insight, and their own set of connections. Meetings include workshops as well as talks from agents, editors and publishers. Sometimes lawyers, tax accountants and PR. There is a fee but each group provides some type of publications that up date monthly which editors have switched publishing houses and so on and so forth. Conferences allow for pitch sessions where you have five minutes to sell your idea to as many agents/editors/publishers (in one on one pitches) who you can schedule sessions with. They often give you direct feedback then and there and sometimes if they like your work give you their direct information to contact them later.

Your husbands right theres truly few people on her with any experience in publishing if any. I'm in no way an expert myself, I'm just a girl with dream of becoming an author later in my life. I can say however through all the articles I've read on the subject it seems highly suggested you get an agent. I've heard most publishers today don't even look at a piece if it isn't represented professionally. There are thousands of people who wish to be published and publishers use agents to kind of weed out the crap pile. Besides an agent has much more connections than you and if you get a good one your chances are much, much higher.

I hope I was helpful heres a site that I've found helpful in trying to understand the publishing world,it'll help you with the queries you'll be writing to: http://www.agentquery.com/default.aspx

try on line publishing as a commencing ingredient, ideally be arranged for a lot of letters asserting "no thank you" on your e book. in spite of everything, even J. ok. Rowling had to handle those.