I think I might have seen that on youtube.

x 'Stay away from your potential. It's like your bank balance. There's never as much of it as you think.'

Ooooh...I up my offer to 4.99!

x 'Stay away from your potential. It's like your bank balance. There's never as much of it as you think.'

Yes, I noticed this too only last week while skimming through some publisher submissions pages. Thankfully the window was still open so I sent in my short query and synopsis only just this week. It's actually refreshing to see a major publisher doing this. Have they got fed up with certain agents sending the same old kind of stuff to them?
Maybe their editors know there is actually a wealth of writers with fresh ideas out here. They will certainly be aware of the many writers and readers web sites full of people who want to be published. Good on them I say and I hope others follow suit. I think cutting out the agent route is a new way of thinking; it will be interesting to see how it pans out for them.
I also think publishers are now starting to realise what huge changes are taking place in their industry. They know good writers can opt to self publish but generally want to have an affiliation with recognised publishing houses be that mainstream or independent. Maybe they are on to something here. I know Harper Collins created Authonomy with a view to flushing out good writing but I think it has got completely bogged down with cliques and tactical voting etc; I don’t personally use it and never will.
Penguin’s approach of just asking for the synopsis is great, it means a really good idea can be given a chance and the editors (the people that actually matter) can be the judge of whether they go with it.
Fingers crossed everyone! In the end there is nothing to lose, everyone is at least getting a chance to be considered by a huge player.

Bryony