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Title: Crafting Compelling Book Proposals and Building Meaningful Platforms: What Aspiring Authors Need to Know About Publishing for General Audiences
Presenter/Facilitator: Al Hsu, PhD, associate editorial director, InterVarsity Press
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 13 | 11:30 am – 3:00 pm EST
Description: You have an idea for a book. But what do you need to present your book proposal to a potential publisher? These days, it’s not just about the content of the book. It’s also about the overall package of who you are and what you bring to the publishing partnership. IVP associate editorial director Al Hsu provides a behind-the-scenes look into how acquisitions editors and publishing boards review and evaluate book proposals and what you can do to improve your proposal’s chances of acceptance for publication.
A key component of the proposal review process is the question of author platform. Every author has a platform of some sort. But how much platform is enough to make a book work? We will look beyond the usual metrics of social media fans and followers and explore a theology of platform as an expression of vocation and calling. There are three key dimensions of platform, and those attending this workshop will gain ideas for strengthening one’s platform for improved potential of proposal acceptance and successful book launch.
Participants are encouraged to bring actual potential book ideas/proposals to a “pitch session” included at the end of the workshop. Whether presenting your own or listening to others, participants will benefit from Dr. Hsu’s feedback and questions designed to refine the pitch.
Al Hsu (pronounced “shee”) is associate editorial director at InterVarsity Press, where he acquires and develops books in such areas as church, culture, mission, apologetics, and social issues. In over twenty-five years at IVP, he has worked with over 275 authors and published more than 400 titles, including award-winning books by Michael Card, Mark Charles, Andy Crouch, Makoto Fujimura, Dominique Gilliard, Os Guinness, Tara Beth Leach, Soong-Chan Rah, Sarah Shin, Rachel Marie Stone, Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Richard Twiss, and Sandra Van Opstal. He has published books in partnership with such organizations as the Billy Graham Center, the Christian Community Development Association, International Justice Mission, Lutheran Hour Ministries, Missio Alliance, Operation World, the Urbana Student Missions Conference, The Veritas Forum, and World Relief.
Al holds a PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a master’s from Wheaton College Graduate School, and has served as a columnist for Christianity Today magazine. He is the author of three books: Grieving a Suicide, The Suburban Christian, and Singles at the Crossroads. He wrote and compiled material for the expanded edition of IVP’s history Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength. on occasion of IVP’s 75th anniversary in 2022. He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two sons.
Registration Fee: $65.00