Part 2 of a four part series By Rhonda Britten, founder of the Fearless Living Institute

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First off: You are more in charge of the publishing process than you know.

But let's get something on the table right now. If you have ever talked to an author before, they probably didn't have much to say that was positive when it came to their own publishers. Most authors feel publishers give them the bait and switch. They will bait you to sign on the dotted line with promises of book tours and bestsellers and then when your precious book is handed in, they switch their sweet talk and starting sharing their woes about budget cuts and sales force challenges. The author whispers under their breath that they will change publishing houses next time because they feel duped, lied to, betrayed. But that isn't true. The author just didn't understand the world of publishing.

Now, how are you in charge of the publishing process?

Because you have more options today than ever before and every single publisher out there wants you if you have a unique idea, a platform and a belief, and a commitment, to tell the world about your good idea. A good idea is important but not more important than showing the publishing that folks are listening to you now, and that you are dedicated to being heard for many years to come.

That is the first big flaw of most authors. They actually believe a publisher sells books. A publisher prints books and fulfills order from bookstores, distribution houses, etc. A publisher is an order taker not a sales force out to service your brilliant book. It is a hard truth. And most authors I know, even successful ones, have a hard time with that concept.

Most authors want their publisher to believe in them. They want their publisher to be their cheerleader and their friend. Now, that can happen. But that is your agents job, not necessarily your publishers.

I better slow down a minute. Let me clarify. What do I mean by publisher?

Your publisher really is your editor. Your editor is the most important person once your agent makes the connection. Think of your agent as the person who will see you, hear you and love you just like we hoped our mothers would, or maybe your mother gave you that level of support. Congrats to you! For the rest of us, our agents love us. They have to. They will hit the pavement with your book telling the right publishers about it. And 'right' publisher is key. But wait, I am getting off track.

Let's get back to that new best friend of yours, the editor.

Feedback is welcome at ExpertSeries@choice-online.com
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This email is sponsored by The International Coaching Consortium for Coaching in Organizations ICCO invites you personally to attend the 6th annual symposium, "Leveraging Cultural Differences in the Global World" being held Oct 11 - 13 in Toronto , Canada . There will be conversations about organizations and coaching and how they interrelate. For more details see www.coachingconsortium.org/events- 0507.html.