PW will introduce BookLife, a new website for self-publishers, at this year’s BookExpo America. Simultaneously, we are integrating reviews of self-published books into our regular review coverage.
BookLife's editorial will focus on helping writers in three main areas: a book’s creation, including editing and cover design; publishing—the physical making of the book; and book marketing, including distribution, publicity and sales. To help self-published authors in each of these areas, we will offer a number of services. “Through BookLife, PW will provide indie authors access to its knowledge of book publishing and its understanding of the tools and professional standards that contribute to success,” explained Carl Pritzkat, the president of BookLife and v-p of business development for PWxyz LLC, the parent company of PW.
At the same time, we have made a major change in the way we will review self-published books. Rather than limit reviews of self-published books to our PW Select supplement, we will allow all self-published titles to be submitted for review consideration through BookLife. There is no charge to participate in BookLife or to submit a book or receive a review. Adam Boretz, who edits PW Select, will take on the role of editor of BookLife as well.
BookLife builds on the success we have had with PW Select, the monthly supplement and marketing service for authors that was launched in 2010. Through PW Select, for a fee of $149, self-publishers receive a listing of their book in a PW Select issue and are included in our seasonal announcements database powered by Edelweiss. They also become eligible for a review. In the last four years, approximately 600 editorially independent reviews of self-published books have appeared in PW Select. Self-published authors will still be able to take advantage of PW Select's listing features, which puts books in front of book buyers as well as publishers and agents.
