Getting diverse books in front of the agent is HUGE. I've heard horror stories about first readers who have actually turned books away because of diverse characters, because they thought "they wouldn't sell". Granted, there are some agents too who still think that. I think that diversity is being discussed enough now that agents and editors are taking notice, but I know more than one person who has gone to self-publishing because several agents/editors responded telling them how much they loved the story, but that because of "x" reason involving a diverse character, they did not think they could sell it.
Which is one of many reasons I love self-publishing. Not that I am anti-traditional publishing, hardly. But now people actually have the option to publish those books that were deemed "too risky." Some of them are making a great living off them, too!
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regna
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Date: 2014-02-27 01:41 am (UTC)Which is one of many reasons I love self-publishing. Not that I am anti-traditional publishing, hardly. But now people actually have the option to publish those books that were deemed "too risky." Some of them are making a great living off them, too!