LOUISIANA – Mel Harrison’s news standalone novel in his award-winning Alex Boyd spy series, “Crescent City Carnage” (October 22, 2024) by Mel Harrison, takes special agent Alex Boyd and his wife Rachel Smith on another thrilling hunt after only a day into their long-awaited vacation to New Orleans. When the couple goes to join their […]
Lit Happens
Fall movie releases and book recs, part 1
I feel like there are more good movies coming out this fall than there have been in quite some time, or maybe I’m just paying more attention lately! If one of these new releases caught your eye and you’re looking for a book with the same vibe, we have a list for you! And keep […]
May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor: Getting Noticed by the Celeb Book Club Holy Trinity
If you’re a reader (or alive and breathing on planet Earth) then you’ll be familiar with the three most powerful celebs in terms of book recommendations – Reese Witherspoon, Jenna Bush-Hager, and Oprah Winfrey. You’ve probably observed the overnight celebrity effect that any of these women can have on debut novelists to seasoned authors. Their […]
Designing an eye-catching book cover from start to finish
Author Nancy McCabe interviews cover designer Maryann Appel about the process of designing a book cover. The cover of my young adult novel Vaulting Through Time was designed by Maryann Appel, who designs all of the book covers for CamCat Publishing. I was impressed by the range of designs that she creates — and, in […]
What makes a good pitch?
Whether you plan on marketing your book on your own or hiring help from a professional, you’ve likely heard of the importance of “the pitch.” What on earth is a “pitch” and why does it matter for your marketing and publicity efforts? A pitch is how you describe your book to influential people, to pique […]
Selecting the right genre to successfully market your book
*Points to the sign* If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, book marketing is daunting! And understanding how to effectively position your book within the right genre is a crucial step. Your book’s genre plays a pivotal role, both in defining your work and in guiding how it’s marketed and received. […]
Exploring complicated friendships throughout literature
I see people talking about Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels frequently, but I haven’t heard a lot about the HBO adaptation. Perhaps it’s the internet circle I run in, or perhaps it’s just that it’s not as flashy a show as, say, House of the Dragon or something similar. But what I have heard about it […]
Books Forward Authors in the Media: September 2024
What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins. Janine Kovac wrote a piece for Salon about how dancers embrace their lives after retiring from dancing. History Central featured an excerpt from Manny Shwab and the George Dickel Company […]
Industry Interview with owner of Women Writers, Women’s Books, Barbara Bos
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 Barbara Bos, the managing editor and […]
NetGalley vs. Edelweiss: the difference between the digital advanced reader review platforms
When publishing a book, authors know that there is very little that is more valuable than an advanced reader– someone who is willing to read and review your book before publication – lending your book credibility from an unbiased perspective. But how do you get your book out to a wide audience without breaking the […]