Together with the Book Pitches evening panel discussion (described below), SEALS attendees have the unique opportunity to make 15 minute book pitches directly to book publishers. These pitches are going to publishing professionals (rather than as representatives of given presses), so the publishers can give honest and constructive advice to those invited to participate.
To pitch a book and get feedback on it, please send an email with the subject line Book Pitches to Nancy Levit at levitn@umkc.edu, and include the following information in the body of the email: Your name, school, the title of your book, the type of book you envision (e.g., casebook, scholarly, professional reference book), and a one or two paragraph (roughly 300 words) description, and the days you will be at SEALS and available to meet. Please attach your CV, but attach no other documents.
WORKSHOP ON PUBLISHING
Book Publishers Symposium: How to Pitch a Book
6:30-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 1
Book publishers will explain what they are looking for in book pitches and will offer suggestions on how to construct and present book proposals. They will cover norms in the publishing industry about simultaneous submissions, expected contents in a book proposal, and what to put in a cover letter (for example, estimating the market and whether the book will have enduring significance; situating the proposed book in the existing literature by comparing other chief books in the area and explaining how this book will differ).
Moderator: Professor Nancy Levit, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Speakers: Ms. Pamela Siege Chandler, West Academic; Mr. Thomas LeBien, Harvard University Press; Mr. Niko Pfund, Oxford University Press; Mr. Keith Sipe, Carolina Academic Publishing; Mr. Joe Terry, Wolters Kluwer