Yes and no – there usually needs to be a gimmick to make it worth while – a general book is normally a huge topic requiring a specialist research and writing team that takes years to put together and consists of either easily verifiable info (in which case what was the point) – or hard to verify info (in which case is the publisher taking a risk publishing it). Reference books are always of interest to us – we are happy to look at them or discuss ideas – so don’t be too discouraged – but the subject area needs to be one that will have appeal to several different markets, or it won’t be commercially viable.

As publishers – we have no hard and fast rule on this – we just want the book to read easily and well and to take the reader smoothly from start to finish. What we have noticed, however, is that writers often find it easier to step back from their own story and conflicts to write as if the hero or heroine is someone else. It de-personalises some of the spoken comments in the book and distances them from some of the deeply emotional or personal parts. Our advice is write it the way that comes naturally to you and allows you the greatest creative freedom.