News for Authors

In this newsletter, we are pleased to share an in-depth marketplace analysis to help create a collective understanding around key 2023 marketplace developments and provide actionable analysis on what we can all do in the year ahead. Following an introduction from Nihar Malaviya, CEO of Penguin Random House, a member of our Sales team, Reid Welsh, Senior Director, Sales Analysis, shares trends and developments about our ever-evolving book marketplace. From the impact of publishing during elections to category growth drivers, this presentation explores the opportunities, realities, and myths of the current marketplace.

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School visits are a memorable way for students to learn about the power of writing stories. They are helpful for teachers because they support literacy instruction, and they are awesome for authors and illustrators because you can interact with readers. But planning a school visit can be daunting. Focus on preparation and personalization. Kids remember the special stuff that happens at school. Be sparkly!

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BookTokers are dedicated. They care about words and ideas, and, yes, they care about you and your book. Creating book-oriented TikTok videos as an author can feel daunting, scary, and anything but fun. But I’m here to help! My latest book, Take Your Own Advice, has been a massive success on TikTok, garnering attention and positive videos.

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Robert Jones, Jr., is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Prophets, which won the 2022 Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction, was a finalist for the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction, and was named one of the best books of 2021 by Time, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post, among others. His writings have been featured in The New York Times, Essence, and The Paris Review, as well as in the critically acclaimed anthologies Four Hundred Souls and The 1619 Project. He has also been a guest panelist for PRH’s online seminar for authors, Author University. This interview was originally conducted in June 2022 for Igloo, Penguin Random House’s internal news hub.

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According to Eboni Rafus-Brenning, Manager for Diversity Recruitment at PRH, a diverse, equitable and inclusive publishing company is a major keystone for creating a receptive and productive environment for authors and their readers alike. New hires recruited from outside of publishing, like VP of Growth Marketing Anne Bono, can offer insights from other industries to help propel authors forward. Read on to learn more about why diversity matters at your publishing house—Eboni will take it from here!

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It’s no secret that manga and graphic novels have been growing in popularity year over year, and that growth doesn’t show any signs of stopping. Every week, fans visit their local comic shop to pick up the latest comics, learn the latest news, and engage with passionate retailers and fellow fans alike. In March 2021, Penguin Random House launched a dedicated sales team to service this dynamic market and work with these incredible retailers.

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My colleagues and I have been anxiously awaiting the holiday season, since it’s the perfect time to slow down and reflect on the year past. Now that the holidays are upon us, I contacted multicultural marketing experts Anthony Key, director of multicultural marketing for Penguin Random House, and Christine Hung, executive director of audience development for Knopf Doubleday, to chat about the future of multicultural marketing. Here are some insights from our conversation.

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Calling all creators! Penguin Random House and CreativeLive, an online education platform with a creative community of experts, are proud to present a free series starting August 10, modeled on the successful 30 Days of Genius series. CreativeLive worked with authors from John Grisham to Margaret Atwood, who reveal what storytelling means to them and describe the stories that inspired their work. Read more

A survey released last month by the Audio Publishers Association (APA) shows that the audiobook category grew disproportionately, in both titles published and unit sales, compared to the overall book industry in 2014. The APA’s annual sales survey revealed that sales in the audiobook category totaled more than $1.47 billion in 2014, up 13.5 percent from 2013, and the category also saw a significant increase in the number of titles published. The survey attributed that growth to the growing popularity of digital downloads and increased awareness of the audiobook format. Read more

When we think about how authors can promote their books, we often think about their websites and social media reach. But did you know that some of your biggest assets may be closer to home: your friends, family, acquaintances, and other connections? We caught up with Christina Foxley, senior marketing manager for Harmony Books, to find out what advice she typically offers to help authors build their networks and create ambassadors for their books. Read more