We heard it directly from the publishing agent who spoke at our 2025 Writers Day Conference, on April 22, in Mississauga, Ontario.
Getting picked up by a mainstream publisher is not easy; in fact, you are likely to pitch several dozen agents and never get picked by a mainstream publisher. This information came as a big surprise to the attendees at the conference.
You have completed your manuscript, edited and polished it; you pitched to mainstream publishers, and they rejected your submissions. Take heart, there is another way.
A named mainstream publisher imprinted on your book makes your book the ideal, however, there are credible book agencies that offer assistance to authors who are interested in self-publishing their work.
I self-publish with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), the publishing arm of Amazon, because I trust the name and brand, and I have helped authors and aspiring authors publish their books using the KDP/Amazon method. https://www.blackwoodselfpublishingmadeeasy.ca
I say, work with what you’ve got until you get what you want. Self-publishing is tried and true. Happy Writing!
Olive Rose Steele is the Author of CRY TOUGH (A Novel)
https://www.amazon.ca/Cry-Tough-Olive-Rose-Steele-ebook/dp/B00TUFV4OC?ref
Let's have coffee 
Yep got it. But unfortunately I have a meeting at Church on that morning so won’t be able to be there to support you, but hope it goes well, blessings, from Dawn