As poetry is art too I hope it is not out of order to post this here. I have written 2 poetry books, one for children and one for adults. I want to publish them for a Cancer Charity to benefit. I wondered if anyone out there knows how to go about getting a book of poems published? I have tried all over, looked on the internet, read books etc etc.....but I was just wondering if any of you have published something, or infact if anyone knows a good publisher? I am talking about real publishers, not a subsidy press or vanity publisher. I do not want to self-publish. I live in the UK Any help would be welcome. It all seems so complicated and expensive, so if anyone has been there and done this could you give me some advise please? Marie mariefrancis@blueyonder.co.uk

Hi Marie Getting published is a very hard route to take. Other than scouring the internet for contacts, you could try the Writers and Artists Yearbook from A & C Black. This lists book publishers contact names etc. plus tips on how to present your ideas. Be prepared for some curt rejections though. Good luck Helz www.helzbelzart.com

Thanks Helz, I already invested in a copy, which is good for information, but I am still no closer to getting published, as the ones I wrote to haven't even written back yet! I will keep trying though. Thanks for replying to my post!

You're welcome Marie. Unfortunately there is no "magic wand" to help here, publishers receive thousands of manuscripts every year, so you are lucky to even get beyond the office junior. Keep trying, you never know if your book will end up on the right desk at the right time! Helz www.helzbelzart.com

Marie You could try www.lulu.com here you can self publish for no fee. people can buy yor work on line or as a printed copy and I am sure that lots of publishers will be keeping an eye on this site. good luck John

Thanks all for taking the trouble to reply. I have had some success re getting poems published. I recently had one plus the painting to go with it published in a magazine, and I also had one read out on Yorkshire radio......well it is a start! I have looked at lulu and it does seem interesting and I am keeping my eye on that one. How do people do it? Is it because they have connections, are famous for something else or are in the right place at the right time? I should imagine it is quite easy to get published if you have the money behind you to do it. Never thought it would be this difficult.

One of my poems: WORKS OF ART What is it that makes me, me? What things are they that set me apart? Is it my body, or my mind? Or is it what I feel inside, in my heart? Why, when I look in the mirror Do I see someone else? That doesn

Hi Marie. Congratulations on the success so far! I don't think people with money find it any easier getting published, unless of course they are going to be self publishing books. JK Rowling was penniless don't forget!! Last year I did rough illustrations up for a wealthy, reknowned person who presented his book to an art director at one of the biggest publishers, and he still got a rejection!! At the end of the day, there are very few poetry books published each year and this is evident when one goes into book stores. As I pointed out in April, getting published really is a very hard route! Fingers crossed for you though. Helz

The artists who live near Devizes Come many and various sizes Their painting is art Which is proved by the part that they play winning so many prizes Happy painting