When Westerners think of major book markets, India may not be the first country that springs to mind. But India’s publishing industry is the sixth largest in the world, and fully a third of it is devoted to English-language publishing.
Just as in the USA and the UK, the success of debut novelists in India fuels the dreams of legions of aspiring writers. And where there are aspiring writers, there are writing scams.
Reputable literary agents in India are still relatively rare. There’s not a huge need for them, with most Indian publishers, and Indian divisions of overseas publishers, accepting submissions directly from authors. Questionable literary agents, though…apparently, that’s another story.
According to this fascinating article in Publishing Perspectives (an informative free daily newsletter covering the international publishing scene), questionable agenting is a growth industry in India.
In New Delhi, which can rightfully call itself the publishing capital of India, self-styled “literary experts” and “consultants” have set up all over town. Unfortunately, many have little to no understanding of the trade; most have no direct publishing experience, and the few who do, are frequently authors themselves who moved into agenting after seeing their own literary efforts fail to set the cash register ringing at the bookstores.
Does this sound familiar? So does the list of bad practices the article highlights, including charging upfront fees of various kinds (such as “manuscript assessment fees”), selling editing services (some “agents” apparently charge non-resident Indian authors to “Indianize” their books for the Indian market), selling publishing services, and misrepresenting their expertise. Reputable literary agents operate pretty much the same way from market to market and country to country; clearly, so do disreputable agents.
Although Writer Beware occasionally gets a complaint about fee-charging by an Indian literary agency, I had no idea the problem was so widespread.
So Indian writers, beware. Familiarize yourself with standard literary agent business practice; this will make it easier for you to recognize bad practice if you encounter it. Writer Beware’s Literary Agents page has a lot of helpful information in that regard. Keep in mind that reputable literary agents have a verifiable track record of sales to reputable publishers (or, if new, genuine work experience in the legitimate publishing industry), don’t charge upfront fees for marketing or submission, don’t charge prospective clients for assessing or editing their manuscripts, and don’t urge authors to choose pay-to-play publishers.
If you approach a literary agency or literary consultancy that you think is suspicious, we want to hear about it. Contact us by leaving a comment here, or by using the email link at the top of the sidebar (beware [at] sfwa.org).
(Also remember: many questionable US-based literary agents–and publishers–target Indian authors. I get regular questions from Indian authors who’ve been solicited by vanity publisher Dorrance Publishing Company, for instance.)
They charge for editing without any further responsibilities.
Hey, did you use their editing services?
They charge for services and pay no guarantee for publishing. They are more engaged on jaipur festival and maintaining their big shot salable authors.
I have recently completed a novel and interested in finding a good agent in India. I just contacted Siyahi and have not heard back yet (though it is less than a week) but if you have any information about Siyahi please let me know.
Thank you.
I see a few comments on Jacaranda and Purple folio. I agree with them since I have had similar experiences. A few years back, Jacaranda read my pitch and asked for the manuscript. Thereafter they ceased to exist…never replied to my umpteen number of follow-ups. Purple Folio read the MS and asked for money for editing without any reference to agenting! Luckily, I didn't pursue it.
Can someone tell me if Siyahi is legit??
Jacaranda: similar experience. Positive response to a query. But, no response at all after ms submission. Scores of requests for information not responded to. Pathetic , to say the least!
There is no mention of Srishti Publications. They seem to be a successful mass publisher. Anyone has any experience with them to share please?
Hey, I want to know about Rumour Books and Leadstart Publishing. I have partnered publishing contracts from both of them, and wondering whether I should go ahead, and with whom. Please suggest.
Hi, I have just written my first manuscript for novel. Did u publish your book? Can u please suggest me if writers side is good
Anyone has experience with Jacaranda Press? A few years back, they responded to my query and asked for the manuscript. After that, endless follow-ups have not been responded to….no reponse of any kind!
Hi Victoria I was under the opinion of submitting my manuscript to a Delhi-based literary agency name Writer's Side . Their website shows that they have represented 600 books in 6-7 years to the reputable publishers . How am I suppose to confirm this information . Please help me out I am confused which literary agent to trust
I don't provide advice of that sort, but you can find information and resources to help you on the <a href="http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/pod/Self-Publishing page</a> of Writer Beware.
@ Victoria- Thank you for your comment. can you suggest how can i go through self publishing because publishing through amazon/kindle is easy but what about marketing and designing part. so, i am confused. you can also reach out to me through komalshahani73@gmail.com
Komal Shahani,
Writer Beware has gotten a number of reports about Leadstart's fees. In Writer Beware's opinion, Leadstart is a vanity publisher. We endorse self-publishing, which can be a good fit depending on writers' needs and goals, but we never recommend vanity publishing. Vanity publishers' profits come primarily from the fees writers pay and from persuading them to purchase their own books–not from book sales to the public–and they have little incentive to cut into that profit by providing quality editing, design, distribution, or marketing.
Can anyone help me please. I have an offer from leadstart for Rs 88000. Should I go with them because it's a big amount that needs to be paid.
hey
I've completed my novel and I am looking for a good literary agent and publisher.
reading this post I feel a lot of scam going on.
can any1 suggest me ..a good literary agent and publisher?
I guess a literary agent is the 1st step…
plz, tell me the genuine ones.
thanks
@Arnab Chatarjee it would be good if you take the advice of your own for yourself and be careful when posting, because Leadstart does charge and does shit work. They charged me 80,000 INR and the proofreading and editing done by them for my book is so awful that they have repeated one full page in the end of the book.
Dear Victoria,
Would you please help me providing the address & contact details of PURPLE FOLIO (URMILA DASGUPTA)? I am sure since you have contact with the publishing industries, most of the publishing house(like Penguin) she( Urmila) has worked with? Or is there any other way out I can reach out this lady. She is not responding my emails. She has cheated me over 20k.
Please help here to wipe out this agency from india, to save more aspiring author’s time and money.
From all the discussion here, it seems the literary agent which authors (especially new ones) can drop like a hot potato is: Purple Folio.
But what about others? Besides one negative comment on Leadstart, can anyone share other names we writers must be aware of in India?
Notionpress is not a literary agent, instead a publishing house. Notionpress takes up both style of publishing, the traditional one and the self-publishing one as well. My first book was published by Notionpress and the results have been fruitful.
what do you say about notionpress?? and also plz suggest some good literary agents in india for a new author, would be of great help!
I paid 40k to Purple folio & after that she just stopped answering the emails & phone calls. Beware of them.
I have my concerns regarding those agencies who find the manuscript interesting but push for the partnership program… there is a loss of trust right there!
Leadstart Publishing is scam. I agree with the above opinion. Get in touch with me at anirudh.arun.89[at]gmail.com if you want to know more.
IaM SORRY, BUT lEADSTART publishers doesn't charge any money—they have both traditional as well as partnership options….please be a bit more careful while posting——arnab chatterjee, Serampore, KOLKATA.
Is Purple Folio not a legit lit agency? Can you recommend any good ones?
Can you tell me about Leadstart publishing
The purple fool lady said the same thing to me
Also, don't publish with loadstar. They take 95K form you and forget about your book. The word forget is in the literal sense of the word.
I had a similar experience with Purple Folio too. After reading my manuscript the lady asked me to pay Rs 40k for editing. I stopped communicating with them.
Anonymous–
I've gotten a report from another writer who had an experience very similar to yours with Purple Folio. Purple Folio does have legit sales–but I think this is a good example of why upfront fees–of any kind–are a conflict of interest for an agency, and a major warning sign for authors.
Unfortunately i am one of the aspiring Indian authors who has been duped of 20k as an upfront payment by an literary agency called Purple Folio. This was two years ago and the lady kept telling me that she had sent my manuscript to so many publishers. She then asked for 20k more for editing which i didnt pay as i was getting fed up. Finally she asked to go in for self publication which she was ready to set me up with. I had the good sense to break up the contract.It is a big scam. writers Beware.
Honest confessor–
I'm going to be addressing your question and the issues surrounding it in a blog post next week.
There is this website I stumbled upon while researching for a polishing consultant for my own works. "www.siyahi.in" As you stated in your article, this agency charges a "Manuscript assesment" fee per word. This as you said sounded a little dubious. Where can I find out if this organization is actually genuine or a scam? Thanks.
What action if any, can be taken against Publishers who do not show you sell data? I am new author with two published books.
I would like to put in a warning to writers about Leadstart Publishing, Mumbai. They take a lot of money from you, and don't provide you with the basic services; no accounts of sales, no reviews, just a blank.
Reputable literary agents do not charge a fee for any of their services. Their income comes strictly from commissions earned from selling an author's rights to royalty-paying publishers. I have six novels published by a well-known American publisher of popular fiction, and my agency has a stellar reputation, so I have some experience as an Indian-American author who has taken the tough but traditional route to publication.
Anonymous–yes, it's usually a scam. It may also be the result of ignorance–i.e., the agent is too inexperienced to know that real agents avoid upfront fees and conflicts of interest. Either way–not good news for writers.
If an literary agent offers to edit your manuscript for a FEE, should a writer go for it? Or is it a scam?
The problem is very widespread in India. We run a literary blog- NewIndianWriting.blogspot.com, which is solely aimed at making authors aware of this growing situation.
A lot of authors I have talked to have happily paid Rs30-40k for a book publishing. Plus, they have to sell their own inventory. This is not uncommon. Most first timers are prone to this scam and charging upfront, I am afraid, is looked upon as a standard custom now.
Hersh Bhardwaj
Hi, do you know anything about these agents:
Jacaranda
Red Ink
Please post your responses. I am keen for some information. Thanks for the lovely and timely post. 🙂
Victoria,
You've hit the nail on the head with this article. In a country like India with so many aspiring writers, there's a whole lot of ignorance about how the whole publishing process works and the role of literary agents.
I'm an Indian author. I was lucky to have got a legit literary agent who could place my book with the top-tier publishers in the country. Despite the agent representation and the contract from an A-lister publishing house, it's still a very slow process (characteristic of the publishing industry), but my non-fiction book will be out soon.
But I also realise that many talented writers may not be as lucky, as there are opportunistic predators who promise quick and easy solutions to impatient writers.
I started a blog for Indian writers & aspiring authors recently, hoping to share my experiences and create some more awareness about how the publishing industry works.
Hopefully the situation will change over time as writers become more aware of the unprofessional practices prevalent in the market.
Edit: Not surprising that there are scammers, I mean. My syntax needs help. 🙂
I hadn't heard of this either, but then again, not surprising. I would guess the same type of thing surrounds Bollywood and its aspiring screenwriters.
Thanks for an educational post!
Predators seem to abound in the international marketplace. I've heard from a number of international indie authors who have been approached by fee-charging "agencies" promising Hollywood film deals and an entrance to US markets.
I'll spread the word about this.