We are super excited to invite you to the much-anticipated 2025–2026 Ideas on Fire First Book Publishing Series—a powerhouse 6-part FREE webinar series to help you go from draft to published.
Publishing your first book is an exciting accomplishment for any scholar. But there’s a lot to navigate before you get to see your book on the shelves and on syllabi.
Join Ideas on Fire and acquisitions editors from leading scholarly presses for a free webinar series that guides you through critical stages of the academic publishing journey for first books.
Registration is now open and you can book your spot at the links below.
All webinars are free and open to the public. Can't make a webinar live? No problem—the event recordings will be sent to all registrants afterward.
See you soon!
Finding the Right Publisher for Your First Book
October 8, 2025. 12:00 – 1:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Learn how to research scholarly presses, identify good fits for your first book, and craft targeted pitches based on what publishers are currently seeking.
Speakers:
- Dawn Durante, Editorial Director, University of North Carolina Press
- Dominique Moore, Senior Acquisitions Editor, University of Illinois Press
- Mike Baccam, Acquisitions Editor, University of Washington Press
- Cathy Hannabach, CEO, Ideas on Fire
Crafting a Winning First Book Proposal
November 10, 2025. 12:00 – 1:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Create a winning first book proposal by approaching it as a pitch process aligning your book with publisher goals.
Speakers:
- Sara Cohen, Editorial Director, University of Michigan Press
- Alyssa Napier, Acquisitions Editor, Columbia University Press
- Noah Springer, Acquisitions Editor, MIT Press
- Cathy Hannabach, CEO, Ideas on Fire
Working Productively with an Editorial Team
January 20, 2026. 1:00 – 2:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Build successful relationships with developmental editors, copyeditors, production editors, and indexers to navigate feedback and manage timelines in the collaborative publishing process.
Speaker:
- Cathy Hannabach (CEO, Ideas on Fire)
Navigating Peer Review on Your First Book
February 10, 2026. 12:00 – 1:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Decode reviewer comments, respond strategically to critiques, and revise effectively to ensure the best possible book that both you and your publisher can be proud of.
Speakers:
- Elizabeth Ault, Senior Acqusitions Editor, Duke University Press
- Shaun Vigil, Acquisitions Editor, Temple University Press
- Cathy Hannabach, CEO, Ideas on Fire
Publishing in a Series for Your First Book
March 2, 2026. 1:00 – 2:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Understand book series requirements, pitch effectively to series editors, leverage series affiliation for greater visibility and sales, and position your first book within established scholarly conversations.
Speakers:
- Jennifer C. Nash, Series Editor, Black Feminism on the Edge, Duke University Press
- Adrienne Shaw, Series Editor, Critical Cultural Communication, NYU Press
- Chris Barcelos, Series Author, Reproductive Justice, University of California Press
- Cathy Hannabach, CEO, Ideas on Fire
Marketing Your First Book
April 13, 2026. 1:00 – 2:00 pm US Eastern (convert to your time zone)
Create compelling book descriptions, build your author platform, leverage online and offline marketing tactics, and build lasting networks to ensure your first book makes a big impact.
Speakers:
- Allison Means, Associate Director/Marketing Director, University of Iowa Press
- Cameron Ludwick, Associate Director for Marketing and Sales, Duke University Press
- Cathy Hannabach, CEO, Ideas on Fire
