This is why, if you want to be an author publishing through the more or less conventional publishing industry, you need a first-rate agent, and a knowledge of who is a first-rate publisher.<p>There&#x27;s a big difference between a global publisher placing your book in their professional publishing imprints  versus an obscure publisher leaching a bit of money out of libraries. The first-rate publisher will also get your expensive book into their subscription programs that they market to corporate subscribers, for example.<p>If you have a good agent, they will steer you toward the goals you are pursuing, if you communicate those goals clearly. That&#x27;s where some knowledge of which publishers have the best and&#x2F;or most widely read books in your field is important.<p>If you want to get your book into the more-widely sold trade paperback format, you need to tune your proposal to that goal. Most publishers require you to do some competitive analysis in your proposal. That&#x27;s going to be important guidance for where your book ends up.