We’re all familiar with many of these traditional publishers – Random House, Simon and Schuster, for example, and in the frum world, ArtScroll, Feldheim, Israel Bookshop and more. There are also smaller, lesser-known traditional publishing companies.
Before submitting your book to traditional publishers, take the time to learn how to go about it. For example, you may need to find a literary agent, because many traditional publishers will only look at manuscripts that come from one.
Traditional publishing has always been the most honorable way to have your book published and gives you the satisfaction of knowing your book is on the shelves of libraries and bookstores across the country. I think it’s worth trying with a number of traditional publishers before giving up and going for one of the new-age easier options.
A note of caution: Whichever way you decide to publish your book, beware of vanity or subsidy publishing. These types of companies generally charge a high fee and engage in unethical practices.
Nowadays, anybody can get his or her book published one way or another. But one thing will never change – first you have to write the book, and that will always be hard work.
Here is a website that gives good information on POD publishing: http://www.writing-world.com/publish/POD.shtml