As I’ve gone about my travels recently, one book has stood out to me again and again. For one thing the cover is irresistibly head-turning; the promise of the title is also compelling. I’m referring to Originals: How Non-Conformists Move
I travel a bit for work, and one part of the process that always causes me a bit of anxiety is getting into my hotel room. The process is rarely without incident. Often I feel like a complete doofus as
I recently had conversations with two first-time authors, and I feel very hopeful about both of them. Whether the publisher I work for pursues them or some other publisher, I’m quite certain these authors will be offered contracts. And as
If you’re a writer with a book inside you, a platform builder, or someone who simply wants to have an impact in the world, this interview is for you. Join me today for a conversation with author and blogger Natasha
Earlier this month book-marketing expert Chad Cannon and I jumped on a video call to have a no-holds-barred conversation about all things publishing. Here are just some of the questions we covered: Tell us about the role of an acquisitions editor.
Recently I was talking with an author who is now working on his third traditionally published book. I was curious how the process worked for him. “How did you pitch the second book to your publisher?” I asked. “Oh, I
The giant was beside himself. Oh no!’ he cried. ‘Oh mince my maggots! Oh swipe my swoggles!’ ‘What’s the matter?’ Sophie asked. ‘It’s a trogglehumper!’ he shouted. His voice was filled with fury and anguish. ‘Oh, save our solos!’ he
This year I will review well over a hundred book proposals, and my personal goal is to acquire at least fifteen high-quality original books within the year. Just because I present a book in pub board does not mean I’ll
Reader David Qaoud recently asked, “I understand that email subscribers are an important part of both platform-building and selling books, but I never hear a specific number from anyone. Generally speaking, how many email subscribers do I need to get
How do I secure a literary agent?” This is an excellent question writers often ask me. Many publishers (including my employer, Baker Publishing Group) are explicit about not accepting submissions unless they come through an agent. So if you’re pursuing
Meeting with an acquisitions editor or literary agent can feel like a mixed blessing. Getting to talk with a publishing pro about your work is obviously a great opportunity. But these meetings often come with severe time limitations, which can
How long should my book proposal be?” I suspect writers ask this question because they want to know how much work they need to do for a solid chance at a book contract. The good news is often a shorter