If you’re in the process of writing a book, or you’ve just sold your book to a publisher, or maybe you’re just curious about how a book gets published and promoted, this In Depth segment is for you.
Our guest is Courtney Maum, author of Before and After the Book Deal: A Writer’s Guide to Finishing, Publishing, Promoting, and Surviving Your First Book, out now from Catapult Press. Courtney’s book guides writers through such topics as making time to write; setting goals; the pros and cons of getting an MFA; and, submitting your work to editors, agents, and contests. And, when that book deal comes in, how to navigate contracts, advances, developmental edits, marketing, book launches, reading tours, book clubs, film and TV options, the post-publication emotional ups and downs, starting that second book, and the academic market. Even how to prep for interviews like this one.
In the words of Rebecca Makkai: “With humor and wisdom and the input of writers from across the literary firmament, Courtney Maum has assembled the go-to book for those looking to publish seriously and make a sustainable career of writing. I wish I could turn this book into a serum and inject it straight into my students' veins. I'll have to settle, for now, for imploring them to read this book.”
Courtney will be appearing at Powell’s City of Books on, Tuesday, February 25th at 7:30pm, in conversation with Kimberly King Parsons.
- KBOO