You are an unpublished writer with a long and impressive background in your field of expertise, and you've got an idea for a great book. You write a proposal, and send it off to a publisher who has stated a need for this type of book. It seems like a perfect match. Three weeks later you receive a rejection letter: "Thanks for your interest in us. Unfortunately, your idea doesn't meet our current needs." You are puzzled. Or, you look through the advertisements in Writer's Digest magazine, and find several publishing houses "now seeking new and established authors." Having waited for an opportunity for years, you print the manuscript that has been gathering "dust" in your computer folder and rush it to the post office. Don't If it sounds too easy, it is. Or, you just landed your first book contract with a legitimate publisher. Instant fame, right? Wrong Confessions of a Published Author: 47 Truths About What Can Go Right and Wrong When Selling Your Book to a Traditional Publisher, talks straight about the publishing experience, with focus on asking, "What if?" What if you don't want to write your manuscript in the recommended format? What if you have no credentials or can't state your qualifications for writing this book? What if you don't like the critique you're getting? What if you can wallpaper your office with rejection slips? What if you want more than the standard 10 percent royalties? A number of common issues are explored, such as what to include and what to leave out of your query letter; what matters and what doesn't, and what you must be careful with when signing the publishing agreement.