I'm an author, and I have a great job helping my fellow faculty members publish their books with university presses. Through this job I visit presses one-on-one sometimes, but that is expensive and involves major travel. A huge conference is coming up with 20 of our target presses in attendance, each at a booth. What is the best way to contact them pre-conference to arrange intelligent, mutually meaningful interaction? Should I write to the directors themselves, or is there a more grassroots way to poll university press staffs to get a feel for who wants to meet and discuss their take on scholarly publishing? And what's in this for them, other than the fact that my university is reasonably high on the prestige scale? Any other benefit to them?
posted by anonyme on Dec 8, 2009 - 4 answers

As a writer trying to press into the next stage of my career, how can I emphasize in my publishing history that "small press" isn't always a euphemism for "vanity press"? [more inside]
posted by 256 on Nov 11, 2009 - 17 answers

Innovative Books: I am looking to compile a list of the most innovative uses of the book format. Books that break the mould in their layout and design, perhaps books that use online systems to extend their content value or push their form into new places. I am most interested in narrative and theory, but any book that is interesting (artist books etc.) would be really appreciated. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Nov 1, 2009 - 29 answers

Copyright filter: Do publishers of books like Richistan, Microtrends and The Ascent of Money—all of which use stories from newspapers, magazines and wire services as source material—have to pay the periodicals for the use of their material? Thanks!
posted by quidividi on Oct 12, 2009 - 2 answers

I want to write and publish a book on the industrial music scene from a feminist perspective. I’m a decent writer, but I have no photography, graphic design, marketing, or publishing experience, and no industry connections. Where do I start? [more inside]
posted by velvet winter on Oct 3, 2009 - 8 answers

Can you name any published Canadian bloggers? [more inside]
posted by ashputtel on Sep 28, 2009 - 34 answers

I have this amazing idea for a book that has never been done before and will sell like hotcakes. (No, seriously!) But I have absolutely no idea where to start. What do I do? [more inside]
posted by Madamina on Sep 25, 2009 - 11 answers

christopher hitchens' edited the portable atheist is probably the most current book which by using the word "portable" purports that it is an essential reader in condensed format. but there are so many other titles which use "the portable such-and-such". how and when did this tradition start? [more inside]
posted by sardonicsmile on Aug 20, 2009 - 4 answers

If everything goes magically and a publisher is interested in my book sometime in the future, is it damaging to post excerpts on the Internet now, while I'm shopping it around? [more inside]
posted by bobbyno on Jul 28, 2009 - 12 answers

I often have a whole bunch of 500-3000 word articles to read - all reasonably plain English with headings and sub-headings (and occasionally images). Is there any software out there which will take an article (or articles) and write a reasonable one or two paragraph summary of the article, or produce a list of key points?
posted by zaebiz on Jun 16, 2009 - 13 answers

How do I move into book translation? Do I want to? [more inside]
posted by saysthis on May 4, 2009 - 4 answers

Does anyone have experience creating an account with Lightning Source? Do they have any unwritten requirements as to the scale of the publishing operation and the number of titles to be published per year?
posted by LimePi on Apr 13, 2009 - 3 answers

How do I go about publishing an art book? [more inside]
posted by ChloeMills on Mar 1, 2009 - 4 answers

OK, I've posted on this subject before. Each time, I'm a little further along. Here is where I am right now. I've been working on a book since March. The idea upon which the book is based has been getting a lot of attention recently and has consistently been in the news for about four years. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Dec 8, 2008 - 5 answers

Can I use viral marketing techniques to get my first novel published? [more inside]
posted by letahl on Nov 29, 2008 - 39 answers

Something I've been involved in for several years has been getting a lot of publicity lately. And I've just been told that it is about to get some national publicity within the week. [more inside]
posted by CollectiveMind on Nov 16, 2008 - 8 answers

Why do publishers slap on "A Novel" to the titles and/or covers of, well, novels? [more inside]
posted by CKmtl on Oct 16, 2008 - 22 answers

How might one go about deducing the age of a book with no publication date printed inside of it? [more inside]
posted by CheeseburgerBrown on Sep 27, 2008 - 9 answers

How do I break into one of the larger publishing houses? [more inside]
posted by prunes on Sep 4, 2008 - 21 answers

Question about small presses and book reviews. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Aug 15, 2008 - 16 answers

My grandfather wrote a successful buck in the early '40s. He passed away about ten years ago, and just recently I've gotten the urge to see if it would be possible to release the book to Project Gutenberg and also maybe do a Librivox recording. How does one go about finding out about who owns copyrights in this kind of situation?
posted by TheManChild2000 on Jul 16, 2008 - 5 answers

Précis, outlines, abstracts for contemporary non-fiction books -- are there any sites or publications doing this? [more inside]
posted by alb on Jun 26, 2008 - 5 answers

Why isn't the sequel to The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters out in America yet when it's already published in the UK? The UK published the first book after America did, so why would the UK publish the sequel first now? Is it even going to be published in the US? Help me, booksellers and those knowledgeable in publishing! [more inside]
posted by Locative on May 27, 2008 - 4 answers

I have been asked to put together a package to find publishing companies to sponsor some work of a non-profit - also called corporate underwriting. It's not publicists I want, I think I need marketing departments. I have a few questions on how to do this... [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Apr 9, 2008 - 1 answer

BookPublishingFilter: I've been an editorial assistant for six months, and I'm trying to figure out how to best learn more about the business. I read Publishers Weekly every week, but I have yet to understand what I'm supposed to get out of it. Folks in the business (past or present): do you find PW useful? If so, how? What parts of it are good? If not, what industry pubs are good? (Or should I just stick to things like the NYTBR and Bookforum?) [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco on Mar 20, 2008 - 10 answers

What is the best way to "Publish" a book on a CD-ROM? [more inside]
posted by garius on Feb 27, 2008 - 7 answers

What connotations does 'limited run' regarding a book have? [more inside]
posted by typewriter on Feb 2, 2008 - 9 answers

I have a web site. I want to write a book based on the topic. I have publishers/agents asking to talk to me, but I don't know if I'm ready. For one thing, I'm not convinced traditional publication is best — I'm intrigued by self-publishing and e-books. I'm looking for general advice: What are the pros and cons of each method? It seems that unless I'm lucky, traditional publishing offers the lowest dollar return. But are there other, intangible benefits I'm missing? Exposure? Having somebody who knows what they're doing guide me along? And how do I approach a discussion with agents/publishers so as to get the best deal? [more inside]
posted by jdroth on Jan 7, 2008 - 13 answers

What are "heading notes"? This is a book publishing question, not computer programming. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 16, 2007 - 5 answers

Why do book advertisements say "available wherever books are sold"? [more inside]
posted by RogerB on Oct 30, 2007 - 14 answers

When was 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea first published? Using search engines, I get answers that say 1868, 1869, 1870, 1873, and 1873. [more inside]
posted by 23skidoo on Aug 31, 2007 - 7 answers

Why do the pages to some hardback books have uneven, ragged edges? [more inside]
posted by solipsophistocracy on Jul 22, 2007 - 5 answers

I love finding books and authors who have been forgotten until a long time fan decides to make their work available again through some labor of love small press. Do you know of a publisher that has a somewhat esoteric focus along these lines? Who are they? Fiction or non is fine. It doesn't have to be someone who republishes old books though. If you know a house that has great taste with contemporary authors, go ahead and share. I would also like to hear about small presses that do particularly beautiful editions of good reading books as long as they are reasonably priced (barely breaking a $100). I've got a few examples inside. [more inside]
posted by BigSky on Jun 21, 2007 - 19 answers

I'm in an unusual situation and it's proving extremely difficult to change things. Short version: I've been out of work for five years mostly due to severe depression, anxiety, and an abusive relationship, and have been trying to establish myself since recovering with no luck. I'm a bookworm with a degree who seeks an entry-level publishing position, but will take other (hopefully related, but not an absolute requirement right now) positions in the interest of establishing a recent job history for myself. (Extra long version inside...) [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 19, 2007 - 36 answers

If you spot misspellings in a book, should you notify the author or the publisher? Or will it not even matter?
posted by dr_dank on Apr 7, 2007 - 29 answers

Which book would you consider a "universal" book? [more inside]
posted by Jaybo on Mar 14, 2007 - 57 answers

Why do letters in the same font/typeface vary slightly in a printed book? [more inside]
posted by provolot on Feb 14, 2007 - 11 answers

Should I bother with a publisher? How much do nonfiction authors make off a book deal these days? [more inside]
posted by antipasta_explosion on Feb 12, 2007 - 8 answers

I'm publishing a book. How do I go about getting Library of Congress information to include behind the title page? [more inside]
posted by RossWhite on Feb 7, 2007 - 7 answers

I want a list of blogs that have been published as books. [more inside]
posted by mjao on Jan 14, 2007 - 61 answers

I have a self-publishing conundrum: I really like the size of Moleskine notebooks (3.5 x 5.5). I want to put out a book in these dimensions. Lulu and other POD publishers that I've found won't go that small (especially in hardcover). So, my question's a two parter: a. Do you know any way I can get this done (ie, alternatives to Lulu who will do that size)? b. If I can't find such a company, I'm interested in hand-writing some Moleskines and customizing the covers to make them look more "commercial"--ie, create a dust jacket or sticker or some other alternative. Solutions/suggestions for something that'll look unique and kickass?
posted by dobbs on Jan 8, 2007 - 10 answers

I'm writing a book. What's the difference between a prologue, a foreword, an introduction, and a preface?
posted by soulbarn on Nov 29, 2006 - 12 answers

What are some good sites for learning about future book releases? [more inside]
posted by holdkris99 on Nov 16, 2006 - 4 answers

What steps to go through to get a book published? [more inside]
posted by zorro astor on Oct 15, 2006 - 3 answers

I have an awesome idea for a non-fiction adventure-type book that would require a small, but not insignificant amount of capital. Is it even worth my time to pitch this to a company, what sort should I approach and how would I go about doing it?
posted by borkingchikapa on Sep 25, 2006 - 7 answers

A few years a book of mine was published by a well-known house. Now it is out of print. Last time I looked, a used copy cost $1,000 on amazon.com. [more inside]
posted by londongeezer on Sep 12, 2006 - 37 answers

A book I wrote was going to get published but then the publisher went out of business. Before they went under the publisher assigned my book an ISBN, so the never-published book still appears in various databases. How do I de-register the ISBN and remove it from the web?
posted by Fuzzy Monster on Jul 31, 2006 - 9 answers

BookFilter: I have a book ("The Essential Confucius" by Thomas Cleary) that has rough-cut pages. Instead of the pages being perfectly square, the outer edge looks raw and uneven. It's a really neat effect, and makes the book feel older and more weathered than it really is. Does anyone know how publishers produce these rough-cut pages?
posted by kaufmajm on Jul 26, 2006 - 11 answers

Creative ways to promote a self-published book online without spamming? (UK) [more inside]
posted by ClarissaWAM on Jun 19, 2006 - 5 answers

Publishing Filter - what does a particular part of a book's copyright page mean? [more inside]
posted by greycap on Apr 16, 2006 - 7 answers