For our 2024 blog series, we’re highlighting industry professionals to find out more about their time in the book world. Follow along for insight on what catches a reviewer’s interest, things to avoid when pitching a media outlet, what librarians are searching for and more.
Today, we’re chatting with Rachel Strolle. She is the Teen Services Coordinator at a public library in the western suburbs of Chicago, where she runs teen programming, coordinates middle school outreach, and maintains the teen book collection. She is the Communications director for YALLFest book festival in Charleston, SC and for YALLWEST book festival in Santa Monica, CA. She has covered books in publications such as Buzzfeed, Reader’s Digest, Paste Magazine, the Barnes & Noble Teen blog, and Bitch Media, and been an adviser for a few other book festivals. Previously, she was an indie bookseller, where she ran a highly successful Blind Date with a Book program and co-created and ran bookish summer camps for teens. She is still not over the cancellation of Pushing Daisies.
1. As someone who hears about A LOT of books, what makes one stand out to you?
Sometimes it’s a really snappy pitch (you’ll read about one in question 4!), sometimes it’s being in an area that I’ve been looking for stuff (you tell me a book has a 14 year old lead in YA? Immediate yes. You tell me it’s a YA with absolutely no romance? Immediate yes). And I’ll be honest, sometimes it’s random or based on what I’ve watched recently…pirate books had a huge chance right after I watched Our Flag Means Death, so some things are timing!
2. What’s the worst thing an author (or publicist!) can do in telling you about a book they’d like you to consider for coverage?
Misleading about genre! I feel like this happens the most in romance, saying things are a romance when there’s no HEA/HFN is baffling to me.
3. What makes your job easier?
A few publishers have started doing request forms by google form, and it’s a lot less overwhelming than remembering which individual emails I’ve responded to.
4. What’s the most memorable (or maybe funniest) pitch that’s ever come your way?
Oh, absolutely it was for India Holton‘s The League of Gentlewomen Witches and it was “He tells her “Step on me” knowing her boots are literally weapons?”. Thank you Stephanie Felty!
5. Did you always know you wanted to be involved in the book world?
Yeah! Every single job I’ve had in my life has been books in some way or another, it just makes sense somehow. Bookseller, librarian, author/media escort/driver for book events, book festival coordinator…the list goes on.
6. What is your most recommended book and why?
My go-tos in YA are typically influenced by what gets taken immediately when I talk to teens at my library so it’s The Cheerleaders by Kara Thomas, anything by Lamar Giles, Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee, and I Wanna Be Where You Are by Kristina Forest. Thrillers are the big ask from the teens, followed closely by things that are sad, and then romance of course always has fans! I’m quickly getting to a point where Kate Chenli‘s A Bright Heart is going to be up there for fantasy, it’s got such a great hooky pitch with the main character basically dying right away and then getting a reset. My two absolute favorite YAs I’m terrible at pitching (Fire by Kristin Cashore and Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert). In adult, it’s probably The Poppy War in fantasy and Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen – past that, I feel like just because adult readers typically have super specific requests, and because there’s more to select from, things move around rec-wise a little bit more. But I think Poppy War is a near perfect fantasy series and then Chen’s books are a great go-to for readers branching into the speculative.
7. What is a book that surprised you recently?
America Redux which is a YA nonfiction title that came out last year. It’s sort of indescribable how cool it is to look at and it’s such a clever way to present historical information to teenagers.
8. What is your favorite part about working in the book community?
Getting to experience all the stories! Not just the books but also the way they’ve connected people and the way so many of the most beloved people in my life have come from the book world. But also the books.
Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
Interested in what’s possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.
