Originally Posted by DanW@FastFord

A friend of mine has had a book published and it's not easy. It's down to you to present the best work you can and keep trying and trying until you get a publisher to take on the work. The more they like your work the less of your soul you'll have to part with.

It's particularly hard for someone without previous work as you're an unknown quantity to them so are a big risk. You also have to be realistic, and realise that you're one of many many people who want their work published, and I'd wager that most never make it.

But if your book's genuinely really good then someone will pick it up, and take it on!

As for proof reading, I don't recommend getting someone 'close' to you to give you feedback, a 'stranger' is far more likely to be honest.

Good luck with it, what's it about BTW?