News for Authors

Throughout 2015, the teams at Penguin Random House have rolled out many innovative programs aimed at introducing our books to the widest possible audiences. Read on to learn about some of the ways we have reached new readers in 2015, and how you can get involved.
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Soliciting blurbs makes many authors anxious—even though gaining an endorsement from someone you greatly admire can be an ego boost and an asset to your book. But the solicitation process also requires a sense of realism and practicality. We talked to four Penguin Random House editorial team members about the process of blurbing. Read more

A picture is said to speak a thousand words, and determining the best visual to use for your social media profiles can be a daunting task. We asked publicity and social media experts to share tips and best practices to help you literally put your best face forward, across different platforms. Read more

We recently learned about the challenges authors face in maintaining continuity while writing. Fortunately, a key stage in the editorial process helps ensure that a book is, ultimately, the best version of itself it can be. Some authors have been known to praise copy editors as publishing’s unsung heroes. We checked in with a Random House copy editor to learn about what she looks for in a manuscript and how she gets the job done. Read more

What proportion of adults still read books? Are ebooks continuing to grow? Are independent bookstores hurting? What is the future of ereading? The last couple of months have seen the release of some illuminating market data and a flurry of informative media articles. We look at what this information may mean for the overall health and direction of our industry. Read more

The most important thing to keep in mind when developing your newsletter is that you are writing for people who actively want to hear from you. A newsletter is a great way to get your most-invested readers interested in your new book and to keep in touch between publications. You can also use it to draw attention to your social media channels or find new followers. Read more

The last couple of years have seen increasing growth and interest in nonfiction for young readers, driven by the Common Core State Standards and publishing innovation. We talked to booksellers, librarians, and experts to get their perspective on trends in this increasingly vibrant section of the book market. Read more

Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, you can become immersed in telling a story and lose sight of details such as character traits, plot, chronology, and more. We asked authors to share anonymously how they develop characters and maintain continuity within the unique worlds they’ve created. Read more

From Reddit AMAs (“Ask Me Anything”) to Periscope, live content is becoming an increasingly popular approach to interaction on the web. Nowadays, it seems every social media platform is making a play in this space. For authors, this can be a valuable (and relatively easy!) way to powerfully engage with readers and fans. Below is a quick roundup of a few opportunities for dipping your toe into the live content pool. Read more