Office of Scholarly Publications at Georgetown University: Why should academic authors join the National Press Club?

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Why should academic authors join the National Press Club?

The National Press Club is the nation's premier organization for journalists. But did you know it is also interested in welcoming academic authors like you as members? In fact, as a nonfiction author with books published by certain recognized presses (university presses qualify, as do the great trade houses), you may qualify for the Club's first tier of membership. Here is how the National Press Club defines Active Members: "Generally editorial members of the 'working press,' college-level journalist instructors and published non-fiction authors." In other words (if you're in the core audience for this blog), quite possibly published scholars like you.

The National Press Club is a leader in highlighting the work of important, newsmaking authors. Its annual Book Fair in November offers national exposure via C-SPAN, plus personal contact with journalists, book buyers, and literary pundits. It also enjoys substantial media coverage, including Book TV and satellite radio, which can help boost book sales and publicity. Last year’s event attracted over 1,000 visitors to meet the 70 highlighted authors. Those who have participated include: Bill Bryson, General Wesley Clark, Walter Cronkite, Senator Byron Dorgan, Bob Edwards, John Eisenhower, Francis Fukuyama, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Marvin Kalb, Larry King, Jim Lehrer, George McGovern, Bill O’Reilly, E. Annie Proulx, Nora Roberts, Bob Schieffer, and Scott Simon. For mainstage book events the Club has welcomed Michael Crichton, J. K. Rowling, Chuck Palahniuk, John Irving, and Barbara Kingsolver. Georgetown University authors invited to participate in National Press Club book events or Book Fair include James J. O'Donnell, Pietra Rivoli, Maureen Corrigan, David Gewanter, and G. Ronald Murphy, S.J. Upcoming authors for 2007 include Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger, The Secret Life of Lobsters author Trevor Corson, Frida author Barbara Mujica, Jack Valenti, Newt Gingrich, and Senator Charles Schumer.

Requirements are rigorous. Two active members must nominate you, and you need to assemble a portfolio of your published work. Then your application will be submitted to the membership committee and perhaps even the board. If you think your books and writing for the media may qualify for National Press Club membership, please write to me (as an active member, I serve on the NPC Book Committee, Book Fair Subcomittee, and I'm a producer for the XM radio program "From the National Press Club") about your potential for nomination. Even if you're not sure, it is worth having the discussion now, because the rewards of joining this dynamic and powerful organization are so great.

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Writing a Book? Literary Advising at Booklab

Booklab works with authors outside Georgetown as well as faculty. Literary education is available either by the hour (advising) or by the project (nonfiction proposals, expert manuscript readthroughs, etc.). Write to us for more information and a course fee schedule.

If you're not a Georgetown author and you have a question, you can have it answered for free if you give us permission to post it on the blog. You will remain anonymous unless you wish to be identified by first name.

And yes, we occasionally lurk on Twitter as Georgetownbooks.

Click here to see a list of books we recommend about writing.

Literary Events

William Morris Endeavor Agency Visited Booklab. Eric Lupfer of the William Morris Endeavor Agency was my guest for a Georgetown University faculty book talk at noon on October 15 in the Leavey Center. Over 70 faculty members attended, including special guests from the Center For Advanced Holocaust Studies at the Holocaust Museum, and some from Mary Washington College. Eric focused on his own approaches, work he admires, and backstage realities at a major literary agency.
Matthew Carnicelli Visited Booklab. This former Dutton editor turned literary agent, first in his own boutique and now with Trident Media, captivated an audience of 70 faculty members with his insights on how scholarly research can form the basis of engaging and popular books. He discussed some of the mechanics of approaching agents, but his core message was what he particularly looks for in an engaging crossover book.
Cary Goldstein Visited Booklab. Director of Publicity and Acquiring Editor Cary Goldstein at Hachette's estimable imprint TWELVE discussed how academic authors can become quoted experts in today's voracious news climate. He analyzed nonfiction from both of his unique perspectives: as an acquisitions editor, and as a senior-level publicity strategist. He also discussed TWELVE and what distinguishes its editorial and promotional approach from other houses.
Smithsonian Books Editor and Georgetown Alumna Visits Georgetown. Elisabeth Kallick Dyssegaard, a senior editor at Smithsonian Books who was an executive editor at Random House and Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and who has been reponsible for several literary bestsellers, will co-teach a book proposal seminar in the spring. Please see the blog at the left for details.
Sebastian Junger Visited Booklab. Bestselling author Sebastian Junger -- who used to be a Washington, DC journalist and who is still a reporter at heart -- is also a great supporter of Booklab. He discussed his work with faculty. We met in the historic Philodemic Room, where he offered such unorthodox advice as "Write what you DON'T know... you'll learn along with your readers and tell a better, more thorough story." Afterward he accompanied our team to the National Press Club for its annual Book Fair and Authors Night.
Georgetown Author Barbara Mujica at Chapters Literary Bookstore. Georgetown alumna and Chapters co-owner Terri Merz hosted Barbara Mujica at Chapters for a special wine reception.
Oxford University Press Visited Georgetown. The Faculty of Languages and Linguistics hosted Cynthia Read, the executive editor of Oxford USA, on April 17 for a conversation and question and answer session.
University of Arizona Press Visited Georgetown. Carole Sargent welcomed Dr. Christine Szuter, Director of the University of Arizona Press, at the Book Lab townhouse on Wednesday, March 14 at 10:30 a.m.
The Authors Guild at Georgetown. Executive Director Paul Aiken and General Counsel Jan Constantine answered professors' questions about university press contracts, and authors submitted contracts ahead of time for detailed review.
Father James V. Schall read from his new book The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking, in late October.
Gemstone of Paradise: The Holy Grail in Wolfram's Parzival, by G. Ronald Murphy, S.J. was the subject of a book talk at the National Press Club's Eric Friedheim Library. Father Murphy regaled the audience with his fascinating story of actually finding the Holy Grail.

Office of Scholarly Publications
at Georgetown University

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Why should academic authors join the National Press Club?

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