Shows
How Books WorkUnveiling the Secrets of Book Publishing: Real Talk with Anna Sproul-LatimerJoin hosts Julie Satow and Alice Robb as they talk with Anna Sproul-Latimer, founding partner and president of Neon Literary. A literary agent who has sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, as well as brokered numerous major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages, Anna dishes on recent posts from her popular Substack, “How to Glow in the Dark,” including one controversially titled, “Is Nonfiction Dead?” Julie and Alice also ask Anna about marketing and publicity, what authors need to do to get a book deal today, and ideas for boosting their sales.
Anna has also gener...2024-12-1449 min
How Books WorkNavigating Media with Anne Dickerson: From Manuscript to MainstreamAnne Dickerson, CEO of the communications training firm 15 Minutes Group, helps authors like Maggie Haberman and Christine Blasey Ford prepare for high-profile interviews on radio and TV. In this episode, she tells us about the biggest challenges authors face when it comes time to pitching their books. (Distilling years of work into a two-minute soundbite?!) She gives us tips on how to handle an unwanted question, how a podcast differs from a radio interview, and what not to wear on TV.
2024-10-1751 minHow Books WorkEverything You Wanted To Know About Marketing Your Book With Anne Jaconnette of DoubledayTake a journey into the world of book marketing as hosts Julie Satow and Alice Robb speak with Anne Jaconette, a senior marketing manager at Doubleday Books. With nearly a decade of experience, Anne shares her expertise in developing ad campaigns, social media strategies, and partnerships for a wide range of nonfiction books. We talk about the difference between publicity and marketing, what sorts of book marketing are working these days, and what authors can do to help promote their work.
Anne has worked with writers including David Grann, Colson Whitehead, and Patrick Radden Keefe. She shares...2024-08-1549 minHow Books WorkFrom Editor to Author: Inside the Publishing World with Eamon DolanPublishing veteran Eamon Dolan—currently Vice President and Executive Editor at Simon & Schuster—has edited hundreds of books, including Eric Schlosser's FAST FOOD NATION, Richard Dawkins' THE GOD DELUSION, and Mary L. Trump's TOO MUCH AND NEVER ENOUGH. He makes his debut as an author next year with THE POWER OF PARTING - which draws on his own experience of physical and psychological abuse in childhood, as well as research on trauma and interviews with other survivors.
In one of Eamon's first interviews about his upcoming book, he discusses the difficult topic and what drew him to it, a...2024-07-0352 minHow Books WorkNavigating the Nonfiction Landscape with Literary Agent and Former Executive Editor at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Susan CanavanSusan Canavan, a literary agent at Waxman Literary Agency, discusses the current state of nonfiction books, the role of AI in publishing, and how the industry is changing. She also shares insights on how important author platforms are for book deals, what makes a successful book launch, and what she looks for when working with clients. Susan also explains why she transitioned from editor to agent and the delicate balance she has to manage when talking to authors and managing their expectations.
2024-06-0344 minHow Books WorkAn Insider's Journey with Leigh SteinIn this episode, Julie Satow and Alice Robb welcome five-time author Leigh Stein. From high-school dropout to memoirist, book coach, branding expert and BookTok enthusiast, Stein has experience with virtually every segment of the publishing industry. She talks about how she got hired by the New Yorker without a college degree; what she learned from her first flop; why she decided not to become an agent; and how authors can take control of their book’s trajectory—years after the pub date.
2024-05-0639 minHow Books WorkBehind the Scenes with Ashley Alberico, Sales Marketing Director at CrownAshley Alberico is the Sales and Marketing Director for the Crown Publishing Group, a subset of Penguin Random House. In this episode, Ashley discusses what happens behind the scenes in sales and marketing meetings, and how experts boil down your book to pithy marketing jargon that appeals to booksellers and readers.
Having worked with the likes of Michelle Obama and Ina Garten, Ashley explains how Amazon categorizes books, the difference between Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and what you should tell friends when they ask you "Where should I buy your book?" (The answer: it's complicated!) Ashley also dish...2024-04-2245 minHow Books WorkDemystifying the Agent/Writer Relationship with Cherise Fisher, Literary Agent to New York Times Bestselling Authors Sadeqa Johnson and Tia WilliamsDive deep into the world of agenting with our guest, Cherise Fisher, who shares her unique insights from a 25-year career in publishing.
In this episode, Cherise delves into the relationship between a writer and editor, from page to bookstore shelf, dispelling common misconceptions, like whether an agent “edits” a book proposal, their role in the business side of writing, and sharing her do’s and don’ts for authors. Plus, find out how she became an agent to New York Times bestsellers, like Sadiqa Johnson and Tia Williams, and what attributes she looks for in clients.
Sh...2024-03-241h 03How Books WorkThe Changing Dynamics of Book Publishing with Libby Burton, Executive Editor at CrownIn this episode of How Books Work, Executive Editor at Crown, Libby Burton joins co-hosts Julie Satow and Alice Robb for an enlightening conversation about gatekeeping in the publishing industry, her passion for poetry, and important ways editors and writers can improve the system.
Libby, who has edited award-winning authors like Stacey Abrams, Katie Porter, Mariah Carey, and others, talks about her personal journey into publishing, and how being a poet influences her editorial role. She also discusses what types of writers appeal to her, and her mission to create a more inclusive industry. The conversation also d...2024-03-1241 min