Does anyone know of Book Publishing companies that I don't have to pay first as a first time author?

Maryn's given you an excellent answer, but I'd like to add to it if I may, to say avoid PublishAmerica. They are an author mill and a vanity press, although they pretend they are not. Google them if you don't believe me, and read all of the negative info out there.



They prey on first-time authors in particular, and I don't want to see that happen to you.Does anyone know of Book Publishing companies that I don't have to pay first as a first time author?
Paying to publish at any point (not just a first novel) is never the way to go for fiction. There's a reason it's called "vanity publishing."



Seek a real publisher, the kind that's very choosy about which books it manufactures and markets because it hopes to make money, some of which goes to the author.



How? Not every legitimate sale requires an agent. Many legitimate small publishers still deal directly with the author. Once you have a completed, polished manuscript, you can figure out if you should seek a big "name brand" publisher, in which case you need an agent, or if a small publisher will do just fine.



You can find publishers in the most recent edition of Writer’s Market, Literary Marketplace, (US) or Writers’ %26amp; Artists’ Yearbook (UK). Each listing will indicate “agented submissions only” or not.



Remember, reputable agents and publishers charge the author NOTHING (although some agents deduct expenses from the first check). The moment an agent or publisher says they need payment for some service, that’s the announcement that they’re not legitimate.



You can determine whether an agent or publisher is the real thing rather than a scammer making profits from author payments at Preditors and Editors (http://www.invirtuo.cc/prededitors/).



Don’t sent agents or publishers your manuscript. Send only a one page query letter and a self-addressed stamped envelope for their reply. Check submission guidelines for their preferred method of contact and any other enclosure they may want.