Podcasts: Listening, Research, and a Publicity Tool

By John Bond

Podcasting is fifteen plus years old.  Whether you have been in it from the start, or it is new to you, listen up.  It is a valuable medium for published authors, aspiring writers, academics, and interesting people.

If you are not a devotee, you likely have a friend or colleague that says frequently, “I was listening to a podcast recently about…” Or they say, “Do you listen to XYZ podcast? You really should.”  I admit to being that guy.

Podcasts now cover archaeology, the Royal Family, ice hockey, the Tudors, Indian cooking, and everything in between.  I’d be interested in any topic that isn’t being covered in podcasts.

If you are new or newish to podcasting for entertainment or research but want to know more, read on. There is something here for everyone, and I have my top tip at the end!

Podcasts: Listening, Research, and a Publicity Tool Read More

2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring Call for Proposals Now Open

The TAA Conference Committee invites proposals for its 2025 Textbook & Academic Authoring Conference, which will be held online June 6-7. Presenting at TAA’s 2025 Conference provides an opportunity to share your knowledge, experiences, and ideas with other textbook authors, academic authors, and industry professionals. The theme is “The Future is Now.” We welcome proposals from first-time and veteran presenters! The deadline for submitting a proposal is October 13, 2024.

2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring Call for Proposals Now Open Read More

How to Organize a Book Launch

Congratulations! Your book is in print. It’s time to party.

Ok, do you literally want to have a party where people come and celebrate this significant milestone with you? If so, read on.

A book launch is an event that occurs on or around the official release date of your book where people come together to celebrate your book publication and learn more about your book.

You can host a book launch at a local bookstore.

If you’d like for your book launch to happen at a local bookstore, the first step is to find a bookstore that hosts events and has staff who support events. The second step is to pitch to them. Bookstores struggle to find audiences for book events so your job will be to convince them that you have an audience. For most writers, that audience includes your friends, neighbors, and colleagues. This is why it’s easiest to have a book launch in the city or town you live in.

How to Organize a Book Launch Read More

Nominate Your Textbook for a 2024 TAA Textbook Award

Nominations for TAA’s 2024 Textbook Awards is now open. Recognize your textbook today by nominating it for one our industry-respected awards:

McGuffey Longevity Award – to recognize long-standing textbooks and learning materials that have been in print for at least 15 years.

Textbook Excellence Award – to recognize excellence in current textbooks and learning materials.

Most Promising New Textbook Award – to recognize promising textbooks and learning materials in their first edition.

Learn more and start preparing your nomination.

Nominate Your Textbook for a 2024 TAA Textbook Award Read More

To Promote Your Book, Consider a Webinar

In addition to all the social media, a webinar is an excellent promotional tool for your book. Combining PowerPoint slides and audio and posting on your website, YouTube, and the ubiquitous social media, a webinar delivers valuable information and shows you’re the one to deliver more. But you’ve gotta do it well, or people (potential readers/buyers of your book) will click off. As the proud veteran of one webinar (I blush to admit with some excellent feedback), here I share what I learned about designing and delivering an excellent webinar.

For the webinar on my book Trust Your Life: Forgive Yourself and Go After Your Dreams (Unity Books, 2011), I had wonderful help and structure from the publisher’s promotion director. You can achieve similar results alone or with a few seasoned colleagues. In any case, the steps are similar.

To Promote Your Book, Consider a Webinar Read More

Nominate Your Book For a 2024 Textbook Award

Recognize your textbook by nominating it for one our industry-respected awards. The 2024 Textbook Awards nominations are now open:

McGuffey Longevity Award – to recognize long-standing textbooks and learning materials that have been in print for at least 15 years.

Textbook Excellence Award – to recognize excellence in current textbooks and learning materials.

Most Promising New Textbook Award – to recognize promising textbooks and learning materials in their first edition.

Learn more and start preparing your nomination.

Questions? Contact Kiley Thornton, Director of Membership & Programs, at kiley.thornton@taaonline.net

Nominate Your Book For a 2024 Textbook Award Read More