Here's a message of hope for all writers struggling for a publishing deal. I'm not a novice writer - my first three novels were published by Heinemann and its paperback imprints - but all my certainties were dashed when I had finished my fourth, more literary, novel, The Art of Falling. I found a new literary agent, who loved it - but she could not place it with a publisher. Comments back invariably praised the quality of writing, the wonderful structure and the strong story, but a common theme was that it was a tricky one for Marketing and Sales, as it fell between the Literary and the Commercial niches. As a compulsive reader myself, I know that that's precisely where a really good book should be, if you want good sales! In the end, all the rejections steeped in praise for the novel and regret at the state of the market led me to the answer. I published the novel myself. Not through WritersServices, which I'm sure would be just as good, but by setting up a tiny imprint through another firm which has a self-publishing service as part of a mainstream publishing business. It was the best thing I could have done: I regained control, and I have to say that it has been my best publishing experience so far. I've proved that it is possible to produce a book comparable to those of the big trade publishers - most people are not aware that it is self-published. Obviously I've had to take on the marketing myself, but that's common sense and fun too. The result? The breakthrough moment was a wonderful (and unexpected) review in the Daily Mail which said: "This is a superbly crafted novel which deserves to be called the next Captain Corelli, or perhaps the new Birdsong." The Art of Falling has gone from strength to strength, climbing up the Amazon rankings at times far higher than similar books launched at the same time by publishers who turned it down.  Sales have been fantastic, I've made back my investment, and I've signed with a major literary agency who are bullish about the film rights. It can be done. Yes, it's harder than ever to get a publishing deal thanks to Sales and Marketing's love affair with celebrities who may or may not be able to write books, and the tragic demise of the mid-list so crucial to real authors and readers. But perhaps the technological advances that have cut the costs of publishing are what will turn the tide. It's the revenge of the infuriated yet determined writer! Deborah Lawrenson, author of The Art of Falling, Stamp Publishing, ISBN 0-95448791-5 This can be ordered in bookshops, through Amazon or from our WritersBookshop. Visit Deborah's website www.deborah-lawrenson.co.uk Deborah has also been very complimentary about WritersServices: 'You do a fantastic job giving writers at all stages access to the kind of debate and encouragement that all of us - necessarily sitting at a desk on our own much of the time - need at some time.' © Deborah Lawrenson 2004