Ashante Thomas's Blog

Freelancer ▪ Acquisitions Editor

June 7, 2022

Naming Your Book

A book’s title is arguably as important as its content. A vague title or one too common runs the risk of being overlooked by retail customers. A title that’s too niche is also unlikely to gain traction. One must also make sure the book’s title complements the cover art. Simple, short titles look great on… Continue reading

Tips for Authors

#books, #cover, #publishing, #title, #writers
March 28, 2022

Bragging on Yourself, Selling Yourself

Some see humility as a virtue, and I concede there is a time for it. However, that time is never when writing your proposal or pitching yourself to a publisher. When writing your proposal or pitching yourself, you as prospective author should detail: Your expertise—What are your credentials? Have you received any national or international… Continue reading

Tips for Authors, Uncategorized

#books, #publishing
January 9, 2022

Preparing to Meet an Acquisition’s Editor

Whether you contact the editor or she prospects you to discuss your book idea, you should bring your A game to the meeting. That is: Be professional—Arrive on time, minimize distractions as much as possible, and be ready to discuss your work and your book idea. Editors often schedule meetings back-to-back so it’s a good… Continue reading

Tips for Authors

#bookproposal, #books, #publishing, #writers
December 6, 2021

Learning from a Publisher’s Rejection

So, you prepared your proposal (summary of your book idea, where you think it’ll fit in the market, your credentials, and all that other requested info) and submitted it for your dream publisher’s consideration. After your painstaking work, an acquisitions editor (the publisher’s representative) rejects it. How do you handle that? The following are a… Continue reading

Tips for Authors

#books, #business, #professionalism, #publishing, #relationships, #writers
October 30, 2021

Identifying 3 Ways Authors Can Promote Their Books

The benefits of a traditional publisher are numerous. Its advertising and merchandizing partnerships are certainly chief among them. That said, all authors—both self-published and traditional—can help promote their own book. Authors can: Update their email signatures and bios to include a link to bookseller—Not only does this advertise that they’ve written a book, it also… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#books, #marketing, #publishing, #selfpromotion, #socialmedia, #Twitter, #writers
July 18, 2021

Submitting Your Proposal (for First-timers)!

So you’ve finally written your book and compiled a list of publishers whose audience will love it. But what do you send? Each publisher has its own guidelines—usually found on its website, but send the following and no detail will be left to chance. Cover letter (or email) summarizing your manuscript, your expertise, other publishers… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#ashantethomas, #books, #publishing
August 8, 2020

Working During COVID-19

Like many offices, mine shifted to remote work at the start of the pandemic. That shift is something I’m grateful for and yet, I notice that it creates new challenges. Isolation from coworkers and office resources (printers, mail service, and so on) are chief among them. The following are ways I’ve been handling this time:… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#pandemic, #publishing, #remoteWork
May 17, 2018

Recounting Four Takeaways From ACES 2018

To keep my copyediting skills sharp, I was off to the 2018 national conference of ACES: The Society for Editing in Chicago, IL. It was a great opportunity to learn new practices in the industry. The following are four lessons I’m taking away from the event. Language: Understand that we, the people, choose how we… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#ACES2018, #copyediting, #editing, #grammar, #publishing
July 7, 2017

Laying the Right Foundation (Author Onboarding)

I read a Harvard Business Review article, “Your New Hires Won’t Succeed Unless You Onboard Them Properly,” that highlighted the importance of proper onboarding for talent retention. The writer pointed out that companies that streamline the steps and interactions needed to make a new hire’s first days successful and welcoming see less turnover. In essence,… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#books, #productionschedule, #publishing, #writers
March 17, 2017

Reviewing the Edit Versus Formatting Review (for Authors)

Some publishers, including the one that employs me, give authors two reviews during the publishing process. The first—the review of edit—occurs after the manuscript has been developed and copyedited. During this time, the author sees his or her manuscript for the first time since sending it to the publisher. The author should read the file… Continue reading

Uncategorized

#books, #publishing, #writers

About Me

Rooted in the rhythms of Motown and most at home on Midwest hiking trails, I am an editor with a career that bridges trade and scholarly publishing. Whether working in continental philosophy, Holocaust studies, or my current focus on health and fitness, I respect the creative process and the dedication it takes to bring a book to life. When I am not tending to my backyard patch of cabbage, I use this space to clear my mind and share practical insights. My goal = help nonfiction authors demystify the publishing journey and enjoy a much richer experience from manuscript to marketplace.