Developing Your Research Career – Publishing a Book

Speakers: Stephen Frosh (Birkbeck) & Catherine Gray (Palgrave)

This session is offered by Stephen Frosh, who has published 15 academic books and edits two series for Palgrave, and Catherine Gray, who is Publisher, Social and Professional Studies, in the College Division of Palgrave, responsible for paperback publishing aimed primarily at students but also practitioners in a number of academic fields. Stephen will talk about issues involved in preparing a proposal and selecting a publisher, and the kinds of things that reviewers are looking for. Stephen will also comment on the importance of books in relation to the advancement of academic careers. Catherine will describe the commissioning process from the publisher’s perspective, including issues such as whether a book might be seen as ‘academic’, ‘student’ or ‘trade’; what makes it more likely that it will be taken on by a publisher; and the realities of publishers’ aspirations about sales. This event has been recorded and is available as a podcast at the following URL: http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/2011/11/developing-your-research-career-publishing-a-book/