News for Authors

The Ever-Changing Landscape of Ebooks

by Liisa McCloy-Kelley|November, 2017

It turns out that unlike many other types of “old” media, the physical form of a book provides a really great user experience. A book has a good tactile feel and an easy-to-understand interface that has been around for hundreds (even thousands) of years. Read more

Behind the Scenes: A Tour of Penguin Random House’s Audio Studios

by Dan Zitt|November, 2017

Penguin Random House Audio has been producing award-winning audiobooks for more than thirty years, and is on pace to record more than nine hundred titles in 2017.  Many of these books are recorded in our fifteen state-of-the-art in-house studios—five in New York and ten in Los Angeles—which allow us to record all kinds of audiobooks, ranging from single-voice narration to large-scale full-cast recordings with many narrators. Read more

Dealing with Conflict on Social Media

by Emily Hughes|November, 2017

Please note that the advice provided here is for informational purposes only. If you are dealing with serious threats to yourself and your family, or threats of legal action, you should consult with a lawyer. Read more

Navigating the Podcast World

by Phillip Stamper-Halpin with Zemen Kidane|October, 2017

As we’ve covered in previous posts, the podcasting trend has skyrocketed in recent years. But who are podcast listeners, how many of them are avid readers, and how can authors reach this key market? In this article, we compare readers and listeners to find some common ground. Read more

Behind the Scenes: Our Digital Video Team and In-House Studios

by John Clinton|October, 2017

Our in-house digital video team offers our authors and publishers the highest-quality state-of-the-art video presentations for the largest audiences. Now in our third year of operation, we continue to work with authors from all PRH divisions at our in-house studios, at major author events (BookCon, ComicCon, BookExpo, ALA), and on location for special projects. Read more

Facebook Pivots to Video, Introduces Watch

by Milena Schmidt|October, 2017

Penguin Random House is among a select group of partners, including A&E, BuzzFeed, and others, who are creating video for the newly launched Facebook Watch. Read on to learn more about this initiative and how we’re using it to connect readers with books and authors.   Read more

All About Pre-Orders

by Phil Stamper-Halpin with Julie Cepler|September, 2017

From Apple launch events to Netflix viral campaigns, creating early buzz for a new product in any industry is key to its initial success. Read on to learn more about how marketing/media campaigns in support of pre-orders can help capture that early buzz in the book world. Read more

First-Year Experience: How Penguin Random House Reaches College Readers

by Sara Clemens & Alan Walker|September, 2017

First-Year Experience (FYE) is a program run by colleges and universities to help students transition from high school to college. To foster student participation in co-curricular events, hundreds of schools across the country include a Common (or Campus) Read as part of their FYE program for incoming freshmen. Read more

Author’s Toolkit: How to Pitch Your Book to Anyone

by Phil Stamper-Halpin|September, 2017

Whether you’re speaking at a local bookstore or you find yourself in an elevator with an inquisitive friend, as an author you will find yourself pitching at every turn. This toolkit will help you develop pitches to navigate any situation. Read more

Season of Stories – Serialized Storytelling Delivered Right to Your Inbox

by The Author Newsletter Team|September, 2017

At Penguin Random House, we strive to put the right book in the right reader’s hands and to enhance opportunities for discovery while paying close attention to emerging platforms and trends. In October 2016, we launched Season of Stories, an eleven-week serialized reading event. Read more