E-Books have become a new sensation in the literary world, turning the publishing industry on its head. With the introduction of self-publishing options such as Createspace, Lulu, Kindle Direct, Smashwords, and others, it has become increasingly easier to get your work out into the public.

So, is there really a need for a literary agent? It's a question that I have been asking myself ever since I learned of the e-book self-publishing options. I've sent query letters to almost every agent that represents young adult fantasy. I've received a few interested parties, but none have actually jumped onboard.

Right now, I'm receiving decent sales, and good exposure without the need of an agent. But, what a literary agent would provide is a direct link to a major publisher. While self-publishing can be very lucrative, it doesn't provide the exposure that a major publisher can provide. So, while there are many stories of successful self-published authors like Amanda Hocking, Darcie Chan, and J.A. Konrath, they still don't have the distribution and marketing capabilities that a major publisher can provide.

Conclusion? A literary agent can be a very useful advocate that can get you into a major publishing house, but they are not the only avenue. If you don't receive representation from a literary agent, don't stop there. Choose one of the many self-publishing options and continue to write. Eventually, you will see the results of your hard work. My biggest advice is: Never Give Up!!!

With the introduction of e-readers & iPads, the book industry has taken a so-called hit and is not seeing the profits of the past. Some may have speculated this from the recent bankruptcy of Borders. But what they don't realize or factor in, is the increase in e-book purchases. Take a look at this USA Today article about the publishing industry and how its changing

http://books.usatoday.com/bookbuzz/post/2011/08/publishing-industry-doing-better-fueled-by-e-book-sales/414415/1