About twelve years ago I contacted several publishers and a couple of literary agents about some ideas I had for novels. I got no interest. Zip, zero, nada. When I asked why, I was surprised to learn they didn’t care if the ideas were any good. The only reason for the lack of interest in my ideas was that I’d never been published before. I inquired about how I could get published if no one would talk to me if I weren’t published. The response from everyone I asked was, said in various ways, “That’s your problem.” A classic “Catch 22?” I’d rate this situation more than 22. Maybe “Catch 25,” or maybe even 30.
So I had to come up with a book idea so compelling to break out or this conundrum. One that even the most reluctant publisher would believe was marketable and would make some money. So I compiled a list of quotations, all concerning everybody’s favorite topic, sex. I named the raunchy compilation Sex Talk. The first publisher I sent the manuscript to bought it.
The quotes were selected on the basis of humor, entertainment value and the credentials of the author. Groucho Marx, Mae West type quotes. Raunchy, funny stuff about sex.
The net result was that I not only found a publisher, but I made some money. While not making it to the top of the New York Times best seller list, it sold enough to warrant a sequel, More Sex Talk, and was reprinted in 6 foreign countries. And it got me past the publishing “Catch 22.” People would now talk to me about other book ideas. A few agents even called, wanting to get in on the Sex Talk action.