In this newsletter, you'll find the scoop from industry powerhouses on the secrets to crafting a powerful nonfiction book proposal. If 2025 means a new book for you, you'll also want to listen to our latest podcasts where we talk with industry experts about NEW LinkedIn tips for authors, and trends to write a book that elevates your thought leadership
and boosts your business.
We have much to celebrate this month: two authors on Good Morning America in conjunction with book launches, being part of an author's path to a GLADD nomination, and Smith Publicity's latest industry award.
We value the partnerships with our clients, media contacts, and publishing partners, and look forward to future partnerships and a successful
2025!
Mistakes Authors
Make, What Successful Authors Do, and
a Peek Behind the Scenes on How Publishers Choose Authors
Sandy Poirier Smith, CEO of Smith Publicity
What makes an author and book stand out to an agent or
publisher? With the volume of authors competing for traditional publishing deals, authors need to be strategic about presenting their ideas, vision, and brand in a way that gets them to yes.
I attended a Women’s Media
Group event earlier this month: Crafting Nonfiction Book Proposals that Editors and Agents Can’t Resist with Michelle Howry,
Executive Editor of nonfiction at G. P. Putnam's Sons and Donya Dickerson, nonfiction Literary Agent at Aevitas.
Here are the key takeaways: insights these industry
experts wish authors knew about crafting a strong book proposal that can secure the best book deal and result in a powerful project.
Good News—Publishers are Publishing!
They shared good news from Publishers Lunch. The publishing industry is enjoying record-setting time for new book deals with double-digital growth in the number of advice, relationship, self-help,
parenting, health, crime, etc. books. Editors are acquiring, readers are reading—lists need to be fulfilled.
Understanding the Role of a Literary
Agent
The majority of traditional publishers work with authors through literary agents. Exceptions to this are niche, smaller publishers.
Agents represent the business interest of an author, and as Donya shared, they help the author find the right fit in a publisher with the ultimate goal of securing the
best financial arrangement for the author. And once a deal is signed, an agent then acts as the intermediary between the publisher and the author to help the book creation and book launch be as smooth as possible.
The relationship between the agent and author starts with crafting a powerful book proposal that they will present to publishers. Agents can’t do all the heavy
lifting.
Authors should do their best work before sending initial book proposals to an agent. Good agents play a heavy hand in improving book idea and book proposal before presenting to publishers.
Common Mistakes Authors Make When Creating a Nonfiction Book Proposal
Time Involved is Longer than Most Authors Realize. Creating a polished book proposal takes time, often involving multiple drafts and rounds (and rounds) of editing, which authors may find frustrating.
Sharing Before It’s Ready. Authors sometimes rush to “get the book proposal out there and see how publishers react.” However, you only get one chance with editors.
Proposals must be fully developed to capture attention.
Focusing on the Book’s Details. Instead of just explaining what the book is about, authors should emphasize their unique idea, sell themselves, and reference successful, related books.
Pitching Several Ideas at Once. This overwhelms agents and publishers.
Focus on ONE idea, expertise, or story.
Switching Expertise. Authors with strong platforms in one area sometimes want to write on different or unrelated topics. Stick to the category where you’re known and credible.
What Great Agents Do
While each publisher’s process is different—some more formal than
others—the fundamental questions asked by sales, marketing, rights, editorial, and other teams remain the same: they aim to support P&L discussions, decide if they want the book, and, if so, determine the author’s advance.
Questions Agents Answer When Pitching a Book
Platform. How many people is the author in front of over the year through their business,
speaking, or social media? Publishing teams ask for specific numbers.
Content. Does the book have strong ideas and “magic”? Publishers want authors to showcase exciting concepts and demonstrate audience engagement.
Author Brand. Does the book align with the author’s established expertise? Publishers may
hesitate when they research an author and see their content appears to be inconsistent.
Role of an Editor in Acquiring a Book
Michelle reviews about 900 book proposals a year, and publishes a tiny fraction of them. And, more than half published are from repeat authors.
Key Points
Book Proposals are Essential. The quality of the proposal influences every stage of the publisher's vetting process.
Feedback and Evaluation. Editors discuss potential projects in formal editorial meetings and informally, consulting colleagues in marketing and sales to gauge interest.
Profit and Loss (P&L) Analysis. Publishers evaluate financial viability by comparing similar titles’ sales and factoring in the author’s platform and past book sales.
Zoom Meetings. Initial meetings between the publishing team and the author/agent are now typically conducted via Zoom.
Common Mistakes Authors Make When
Publishers Evaluate a Project
Proposals Must Be Polished. Proposals should come from agents and be in excellent shape. Authors need to know their audience, understand their readers, and craft a book to meet their needs.
Numbers Matter. Share platform statistics
(e.g., newsletter subscribers, social media followers) and past book sales upfront. Transparency is crucial.
Helping Editors Make the Case. Equip editors with strong pitches, endorsements, and market research to help them advocate for your book internally. What is the stand out idea? Early quotes/blurb/endorsements are gold. How does this book stand out in the market?
Avoid Hyperbolic Claims. Don’t say, “I’m the only person who can write this book.” Instead, show what makes your perspective unique.
Use Storytelling. Many of the basic facts written in books are searchable and available. Therefore, what’s needed is a point of view. Provide a compelling narrative and relatable examples that make your book
stand out.
In this episode of our All Things Book Marketing Podcast, Rachael Robertson, LinkedIn Expert Brand Strategist & Consultant and Marissa Eigenbrood, Smith Publicity’s President, discuss KEY LinkedInstrategies for thought leaders and authors to leverage:
Excited to celebrate a sampling of coverage for clients' January releases!
Smith Publicity client Mayor Randall Woodfin, author of Son of Birmingham: A Memoir (Jan 2025, Diversion Books) on Good Morning America in January with Smith's Janet Shapiro, VP of Publicity.
Smith Publicity client Anne Marie Anderson, author of
Cultivating Audacity: How to Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win (Jan 2025, IdeaPress)on Good Morning America and Yahoo! Finance in January with Smith's Janet Shapiro, VP of Publicity, Macy Mohr, Associate Publicist, and Courtney Link, Publicity Manager.
December 2024 Highlights:
Smith Publicity Client Media Coverage
⭐Ben Greene, author of My Child Is Trans, Now What?: A Joy-Centered Approach to Support (Rowman & Littlefield) was nominated this month for A GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Online Journalism Article from an article we helped
Ben place. Details here! More of Ben's important work on Huffington Post.⭐
Robbie Parker, author of A Father's Fight: Taking on Alex Jones and Reclaiming the Truth About Sandy Hook (Diversion Books), featured in Todayand The Atlantic.
Jeanne Sparrow, author of Fearless Authenticity:
Lead Better, Sell More, and Speak Sensationally (Diversion Books) on Forbes, DisrupTV, and NBC
Chicago.
Jason Colavito, author of Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean (Applause) in People Magazine and Air Mail.
Rebecca Homkes, author of Survive, Reset, Thrive: Leading Breakthrough Growth Strategy in Volatile Times (Kogan Page) in Forbes and Women's Wear Daily.
Chef Richard Ingraham, author of Love: My Love Expressed Through Food featured on Cuisine Noir and Fox News.
Letao Wang, author of Oracle of the Mythic Heroes (Beyond Words) in New York Post.
Dr. Roger Kapoor, author of Working Happy! How to Survive Burnout and Find Your Work/Life Synergy in the Healthcare (American Association for
Physician Leadership) in HuffPost.
Anne Marie Anderson, author of Cultivating Audacity: How to Dismantle Doubt and
Let Yourself Win (IdeaPress) on Good Morning America and Yahoo! Finance.
Smith Publicity Award: Most Innovative PR Firm
We're excited to share that Smith Publicity has been named to PRNEWS’ 2025 Agency Elite Top 120 "most innovative PR & Communications firms" list. We are honored to have earned the trust of our
clients, media contacts, and industry colleagues. We're incredibly proud of our dynamic team. Onward to a productive and successful 2025!
Interested in
exploring book publicity & marketing services?
Understanding the Role of a Literary
Agent 
