Ideas on Fire First Book Publishing Series
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.
Over six focused sessions, you’ll learn essential skills including selecting the right publisher, writing a compelling book proposal, working productively with an editorial team, finding a right-fit book series, navigating peer review, and executing effective marketing strategies that ensure your scholarship reaches its intended audiences.
All webinars are held on Zoom. Registered participants will receive event recordings afterward, so you can catch up on any session you are unable to attend live.
October 8, 2025
12-1 pm Eastern
Finding the Right Publisher for Your First Book
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)
November 10, 2025
12-1 pm Eastern
Crafting a Winning First Book Proposal
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)
January 20, 2026
1-2 pm Eastern
Working Productively with an Editorial Team
Build successful relationships with developmental editors, copyeditors, production editors, and indexers to navigate feedback and manage timelines in the collaborative publishing process.
Speakers: Miranda Baur (Editorial and Production Manager, Syracuse University Press), Cathy Hannabach (CEO, Ideas on Fire)
February 10, 2026
12-1 pm Eastern
Navigating Peer Review on Your First Book
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)
March 2, 2026
1-2 pm Eastern
Publishing in a Series for Your First Book
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)
April 13, 2026
1-2 pm Eastern
Marketing Your First Book
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)
Speakers
Allison Means
Assistant Director/Marketing Director
University of Iowa Press
Cathy Hannabach
CEO
Ideas on Fire
Sara Cohen
Editorial Director and Acquisitions Editor
University of Michigan Press
Mike Baccam
Acquisitions Editor
University of Washington Press
Dawn Durante
Editorial Director and Acquisitions Editor
University of North Carolina Press
Shaun Vigil
Acquisitions Editor
Temple University Press
Dominique Moore
Senior Acquisitions Editor
University of Illinois Press
Elizabeth Ault
Senior Acquisitions Editor
Duke University Press
Miranda Baur
Editorial and Production Manager
Syracuse University Press
Alyssa Napier
Acquisitions Editor
Columbia University Press
Cameron Ludwick
Associate Director for Marketing and Sales
Duke University Press
Noah Springer
Acquisitions Editor
MIT Press
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
FAQ
Who is this series for?
The Ideas on Fire First Book Publishing Series is aimed at scholarly authors in the humanities and social sciences who are writing their first book and seeking to publish with a scholarly press.
Authors at all stages of the publishing process (pre-proposal, pre- and post-contract, post-peer review, in production, just published) can benefit.
Acquisitions editors, production editors, book marketers, and academic publishing professionals will also find the series useful in providing a window into their colleagues’ roles as well as providing a vital resource they can share with their authors to ensure a fulfilling and sucessful publishing process.
Professional developmental editors, copyeditors, and indexers also will find it relevant in contextualizing their work in the broader publishing process and serving as a key resource they can share with their authors.
Is the series really free?
Yep, totally free.
Should I register for just one webinar or the whole series?
You can register for as many webinars as you’d like in the Ideas on Fire First Book Publishing Series.
If you can’t attend an individual webinar live but are interested in the topic, please register anyway to receive the event recording afterward so you can catch up on what you missed.
What if I can't attend live?
No problem. Please register for all the webinars you are interested in and you’ll be sent a recording afterward so you can catch up on what you missed.
Will there be live captions and other accessibility elements?
Yes. All webinars will be held on Zoom and have live captions. Here are event-specific resources:
All webinars will also be recorded—event recordings and written transcripts will be emailed to all registrants afterward.
Is this series ever delivered in person?
This particular series is designed for maximum accessibility and thus is online, but at Ideas on Fire we offer in-person and online workshops and other events addressing all parts of the writing and publishing process. Learn more about our workshops as well as how to bring us to your campus or organization.
Do you have any additional scholarly publishing resources?
Tons! Ideas on Fire provides personalized developmental editing, manuscript review, copyediting, proofreading, and indexing services for interdisciplinary scholars. Learn more about how to work with us and check out our extensive portfolio of award-winning books.
We also provide an extensive free scholarly publishing resource library full of articles, advice, and inspiration.
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