Cover Letter

[Delta40]

I you were going to write a cover letter to a publisher, what would you expect it to contain? Should the author give a short bio or keep it strictly professional? The reason I ask is because I've read conflicting opinions and I am not sure whether spouting off my achievements without giving a little background about myself will be helpful

[cafolini]

Actually, I'd send the stories. They will not truly be interested in the cover letter, which could be invented in a pinch for the mannerism of publishing. Your stories should be enough material for editors to get to know you as much as they will ever know you.

[Emil Miller]

I you were going to write a cover letter to a publisher, what would you expect it to contain? Should the author give a short bio or keep it strictly professional? The reason I ask is because I've read conflicting opinions and I am not sure whether spouting off my achievements without giving a little background about myself will be helpful

I don't know what the situation is in Australia but in the UK publishers do not normally accept submissions from individual writers. They will only take on those that have been accepted by an agent because they would otherwise sink under a mountain of manuscripts. The agent acts as a filter who weeds out stuff that the publisher wouldn't bother with. You can read the correct procedure in the annual copy of Writers' and Artists' Yearbook; which has a list of agents and all you need to know about publishing.
Generally this involves writing a letter to the agent stating that you have written a book and asking if the agent would like to see it. They might ask you to send in the first two chapters typewritten on A4 sheets. They WILL NOT accept anything on a CD.
The only other way of getting work published is having some form of contact with publishing or other media outlet, so if you know any media personnel, you are half-way there. Then there's self-publishing your work via one of the many companies set up to circumvent the established form of book publishing but you will have to pay the publishing costs.
Anyhow, that's how it's done over here.

[Delta40]

Fremantle Press accepts unsolicited submissions and request a cover letter listing my achievements. They are local to my area and I thought I'd make them my first stop. I guess I was wondering whether I limit my achievements to writing or include stuff like university degrees etc. I will have a look at agents though so thanks Emil