Long before publication day, decisions about formats, print runs, and markets have already shaped a book's chances. How the publishing process sets a book's fate in advance.
Bookshops sit at the end of the publishing chain, trading in a product that is heavy, fragile, and slow to sell. How bookshop margins actually work, from discounts to shelf space.
A literary agent is the gatekeeper, negotiator, and career advocate between a writer and a publisher. What the job involves, how agents are paid, and why the role matters.