How to Get into Publishers Weekly
by John Kremer

The following report originally appeared in an issue of the Book Marketing Update newsletter. The report was completely updated a few years ago (and sporadically updated name by name since then). That means that the names and addresses listed below may no longer be correct. Call to verify names or check the PW website.

Introduction

To send review copies and news releases, contact the editors at Publishers Weekly, 360 Park Avenue South, 13th Floor, New York NY 10010-1710; Main: 646-746-6400 or Editorial: 646-746-6758; Fax: 646-746-6631. Web: http://www.publishersweekly.com.

For the most recent email addresses of PW editors and columnists, see http://www.publishersweekly.reviewnews.com and click on the About Us page.

Book Reviews

When some publishers think of getting noticed in Publishers Weekly, they first think of reviews. And it is true that a PW review can really boost sales to bookstores, but the reality is that PW only reviews 75 to 100 titles per issue — that's about 5,000 titles per year, which is less than 10% of the total number of books published each year. Moreover, for smaller publishers, the fact is that PW still has a strong bias towards larger publishers when doing reviews.

To increase your chances of being accepted, send galleys three months (four months is better) prior the book's publication date (PW does not review books after publication date). Each galley should specify the title, author (with biographical information), pub date, price, ISBN, number of pages, number of illustrations, first printing figures, and advertising/promo budget (if noteworthy), and rights sales (if any). Also send distribution information as well as your company name and address if you are a new publisher. For specific guidelines or to check to see if your galleys were received, contact the editorial assistants at 646-746-6781, or fax 646-746-6631 or check the guidelines on the website: http://www.publishersweekly.com/about/forecast-guidelines.asp.

For status of reviews of adult books, email pwreviewstatus@reedbusiness.com.

Regular Features

PW does monthly news and reviews of multimedia, religious books, and audiotapes. Send info to these editors:

  • Lynn Garrett, Religion Editor, 1813 Monroe Street, Evanston IL 60202; 847-328-4043; Fax: 847-328-0048. Email: lgarrett@reedbusiness.com. Lynn also edits the PW Religion BookLine newsletter, published every other Tuesday.
  • Phyllis Tickle, Religion Contributing Editor, 3522 Lucy Road South, Millington TN 38053-5301; 901-357-5441; Fax: 901-353-1645. Email: tickrel@aol.com.
  • Shannon Maughan, Audio News Editor and Children's Audio/Video Review Editor, 10592 Perry Highway #280, Wexford PA 15090; 724-776-9482; Fax: 724-776-9449. Email: smaughan@zoominternet.net

Round-Up Articles

About twice a month, PW does a round-up article on a specific subject. For instance, the February 14th issue might focus on editorial and marketing trends in gardening books. The only way you will know about these deadlines far enough in advance is to read PW or check out their calls for information website at http://www.publishersweekly.com/about/cfi. Daisy Maryles, Executive Editor (Email: dmaryles@reedbusiness.com), receives all info, books, and illustrations for these round-up articles (unless otherwise specified).

Another way to find out about upcoming round-ups is to ask the PW advertising department to send you PW's editorial schedule. Some round-up articles are annual features. For instance, PW always publishes a travel books round-up around the first week in February. The deadline for such round-up articles is generally 7 to 8 weeks earlier.

These round-up articles are one of the prime places for small niche publishers to get noticed. Be sure you get your info in right away—and make sure you include your phone number (day and night) and fax number so they can interview you. When sending info, include an anecdote, statistic, forecast, or other tidbit that will entice PW to call you. For instance, if you make a prediction, make it dramatic.

Send Photographs

PW needs more interesting photographs. If you can send an interesting photograph of your author, your publishing company, or whatever, send it along with a concise caption that also stirs interest. PW features photos on its highlights page as well as in news stories and feature articles. Clive Chiu is Art Director; Email: cchiu@reedbusiness.com.

Letters to the Editor

PW “welcomes letters from our readers.” Send letters (no more than 250 words) to Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief (646-746-6751) at the PW address or fax to 646-746-7216.

They also occasionally run a full-page My Say column (average of 900 words on a current issue or problem facing publishing) or Booksellers Forum. Send columns to Daisy Maryles, Executive Editor; 646-746-6767. Email: dmaryles@reedbusiness.com.

Other Regular Columns

When appropriate, also send information to some of the following departments:

People — Calvin Reid, News Editor; 646-746-6765. Email: creid@reedbusiness.com. Edits this column that notes people who have been promoted or changed jobs. Whenever you hire someone new, send Calvin the news. Include a black and white photo if you want more notice. Be sure to include the person's new title.

Deals — Matthew Thornton. Compiles this column of publishing news and tidbits, which now includes rights information.

Book News — Charlotte Abbott, Book News Editor. Email: cabbott@reedbusiness.com. Charlotte covers books that are working well in the marketplace but may not yet have made the bestseller lists. Send her info on titles that are going back to press, upcoming media coverage, instant books, or other new titles added to seasonal lists.

Bookselling — Editor, Bookselling; Fax: 646-746-6631. This column reports on new bookstores, store promotions, and other bookselling news. If you are offering bookstores a new promotion for their stores, send that info to Kevin.

Sidelines — Cynthia Clark, 633 Valley Road, Upper Montclair NJ 07043; 201-744-5227. The PW columnist responsible for reporting on sidelines (greeting cards, posters, games, etc.).

Gay/Lesbian Roundup — Charles Hix, P O Box 486, 10 Arch Bridge Road, Bethlehem CT 06751-0486. Handled the fall 2002 listings for gay and lesbian titles.

Behind the Bestsellers — Daisy Maryles, Executive Editor, 646-746-6767. Email: dmaryles@reedbusiness.com. Writes a weekly column on the stories behind the bestselling books for that week (or up-and-coming books). Send her news of any books which you think might become a bestseller or which you intend to push hard. Keep her informed of your rights sales, publicity campaigns, regional successes (especially any bestseller lists your book makes), marketing breakthroughs, etc. She also writes occasional stories on innovative marketing and promotional campaigns.

PW Interviews —Michael Coffey, Senior Managing Editor; 646-746-6770. Email: mcoffey@reedbusiness.com. This weekly column features an in-depth interview with a well-known or significant author (no first-time authors). They have featured authors in all genres writing for various age groups.

Hollywood Reader — Jason Anthony, Columnist. Covers book to movie rights, deals, and related sales.

Contributing Editors — Joseph Barbato covers small publishers and web sites. Other contributing editors: Tracy Cochran, Robert Dahlin, Gayle Feldman, Heather Vogel Frederick, Margaret Langstaff, Suzanne Mantell, Karen Raugust, Sonia Jaffe Robbins, Jill A Tardiff, and Natasha Wimmer.

Make News

Publishers Weekly also reports on the news within the publishing industry. Here are the people responsible for reporting that news.

  • Sara Nelson, Editor-in-Chief; 646-746-6751.
  • John F. Baker, Editorial Director; 646-746-6752. Email: jobaker@reedbusiness.com. Besides covering rights sales, he also writes occasional stories on aspects of sci-tech and scholarly publishing.
  • Jim Milliot, Senior News Editor, Business and Finance; 646-746-6867. Email: jmilliot@reedbusiness.com. Send him news of your mergers, acquisitions, and year-end or quarterly financial statements (but only if they are good and you want them reported).
  • Calvin Reid, News Editor; 646-746-6765. Email: creid@reedbusiness.com. Fax time-sensitive material to 646-746-6631.

Editorial Inquiries

To check editorial schedules and previous reviews, contact the following people:

  • Gary Ink, Research Librarian; 646-746-6511. Email: GInk@reedbusiness.com. He can provide citations to articles and reviews in past issues. Also contact him for permission to quote from or reprint any article. Book reviews may be reprinted without permission.
  • Isabell L. Taylor, executive assistant; 646-746-6758. Email: itaylor@reedbusiness.com. Call her for general scheduling questions and editorial inquiries.
  • Rachel Dicker; 646-746-6862. Email: rdicker@reedbusiness.com. For inquires concerning licensing of PW information as well as electronic links and reproduction.
  • Karen Bilich; 646-746-7054. Email: kbilich@reedbusiness.com. She's in charge of the PW web site.
  • Chris Schroll; 847-390-2367. Contact to order multiple reprints of articles.

Keep It Regional

PW has regional reporters who actively seek out publishing news from their region. Keep them informed.

New England — Judith Rosen, 196 Larch Road, Cambridge MA 02138; 617-876-2469; Fax: 617-354-4811. Email: judith@twodogs.net.

Midwest — Claire Kirch, 8 N Second Street #306, Duluth MN 55802; 218-727-8373; Fax: 218-727-8373. Email: clairekirch@aol.com.

West Coast — Bridget Kinsella; 510-465-3853. Email: bkinsella@reedbusiness.com.

South — Bob Summer, P O Box 22392, Nashville TN 37202; 615-352-4473; Fax: 615-256-4105. Email: bsummer@dellnet.com or bsummer37@msn.com. Shipping address: 6300 Edsel Drive, Nashville TN 37209.

Canada — Nathalie J. Atkinson, Toronto, Ontario; 416-532-5553. Email: njatkinson@sympatico.ca.

Far East — Sally Taylor; 415-824-1563; Email: SallyTaylo@aol.com. Also covers the Americas and Africa.

London — Amanda-Jane Doran; 44-1892-528-322; Email: AJDoran@booksandpictures.fsnet.co.uk.

Advertise

If you want a guaranteed appearance in Publishers Weekly, just advertise. It is one way to support your bookstore sales and your book reviews. Few smaller publishers have reported any success with full-page ads, but some have reported cost-effective results with the 1/6 page co-op ads sponsored by Publishers Marketing Association, SPAN, or other publishing associations. Another option is to join in a co-op advertisement sponsored by your distributor.

PW Sales Offices

Advertising Inquiries: Howard Katz; 646-746-6549.

New York, New England, and Mid-Atlantic — 360 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10010; Fax: 646-746 -7216. Patricia Fiore, 646-746-6809. Email: pfiore@reedbusiness.com. Rob Wardlaw, 646-746-6795. Email: rwardlaw@reedbusiness.com.

Midwest and Canada — Matthew Hurley, 291 Carriage Court, Bolingbrook IL 60490; 630-759-7136; Fax: 630-759-7099. Email: pubwkly@aol.com.

West — Roy J. Kops; 650-369-0484; Fax: 650-369-2025. Email: rkops@reedbusiness.com.

International Development — Jim Levitt; 818-905-9989; Fax: 818-906-2025.

Classified Ads — Tamika Brown; 646-746-6774; Fax: 646-746-6536. Email: tbrown@reedbusiness.com.

PW Online

Check out Publishers Weekly on the world wide web at http://www.publishersweekly.com.

PW Daily. To register for other newsletters, go to: http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews.com/newuser.

Diane Patrick, Compiler, Authors on the Air. To be included in the compilation, email dpatrickpw@aol.com.

PW Newsline. To change delivery options or email address, or to register for this or other newsletters: http://publishersweekly.reviewsnews.com/subscribe.asp.

Check out their Country Reports, which feature up-to-date information on publishing in other countries. Check it out at http://www.publishersweekly.com/countryreports.

Copyright © 2009 by book publicity expert John Kremer
Email: JohnKremer@bookmarket.com

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