Watch the replay of our webinar held on June 10, 2026: Jeevan Sivasubramaniam is the VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler. He has been in publishing for thirty years in acquisitions and administration and has worked with over 700 authors and books. Steve Piersanti is the founder, CEO, publisher, and senior editor for Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Tim…
FEATURED EVENT
2026 BK Authors Retreat
October 9–12 (Friday–Monday), 2026
Gather with us on October 9–12, 2026, at the Marianist Retreat Center in St. Louis for four days of connection, learning, and discovery. Registration is open!
Improvisational Writing Series
First Thursday of each month at 3 pm Eastern Time, 2025
When was the last time you experienced the sheer joy of writing? Improvisational writing is designed to take the work out of writing, leaving only the delight of creativity. Each 2- or 3-minute exercise starts with a common prompt, and then everyone starts writing without paying attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, logic, or all the other “rules” that have been used to take the fun out of writing. The BK Author group invites you to a series of no-cost Zoom-based sessions, designed to make writing fun again.
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Permissions, Fair Use, Libel, and other Messy Legalities for Nonfiction Writers
Free Online Webinar | Date TBD, September, 2026
Berrett-Koehler Publishers' CEO Steven Piersanti and North Atlantic Books’ CEO Tim McKee join your favorite editorial pain-in-the butt for this free special edition of That Cranky Editorial Guy. They’ll tackle the seven most pressing questions authors have about nonfiction writing, books, and the publishing industry.
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Our Programs
Annual Retreat
The annual BK Author Retreat gatherings our author community together for several days of conversations, connections, and renewal. Our 2026 Retreat will be October 9–12, 2026, at the Marianist Retreat Center in St. Louis. Learn More
Regional Gatherings
Get to know the BK authors in your area! If you live in a metro area and are interested in organizing a simple gathering of authors (e.g. a dinner, evening social, etc.), reach out to us at [email protected] to get a list of the authors in your area.
Fresh Ink Webinars
A virtual webinar series designed to generate support among our author community for upcoming Berrett-Koehler book releases. See upcoming dates
Purchase Recordings from Past Events
“Cranky Editorial Guy” Replays & Summaries
AI can be a writer’s best ally—or biggest headache. Some authors are using it brilliantly for writing and research, while others are tripping over its blind spots or blurring ethical lines.
Learn from Rebecca Bultsma, nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and AI research expert, alongside your favorite cranky-pants editorial curmudgeon Jeevan, for five sharp lessons on how to make AI work for you—not against you.
Continue Reading Five Ways to Use AI to Aid Your Writing—The Right Way
No one can edit their own book, but there are seven simple strategies for better ensuring you do the right prep to get the best feedback, resulting in a stronger work.
Ever since that childhood debacle with the lemonade stand, there are plenty of nonfiction authors and to-be authors who hate the idea of self-promotion and marketing, so what should they do?
Continue Reading Marketing for Authors (and Authors To-Be) Who Hate Marketing
All nonfiction book proposals ask for the same basic bits of information, but what are publishers really looking for? What are the words, commitments, and things that make them sit up and take notice and what makes for a damn good proposal? In this webinar on September 10, 2025, Jeevan Sivasubramaniam (who has reviewed, no…
Continue Reading What Publishers Really Want to See in Your Book Proposal (But Won’t Tell You)
Agents can figure out if your book will sell, refine your proposal, introduce your book to the editors that are the best fit, and help you ensure you get a fair contract. They can’t work miracles.
Articles
Why does book marketing feel uncomfortable or unnatural for so many authors? It’s because most of us are doing it all wrong. Too often, we think that “marketing” means standing on a soapbox (*cough*cough*LinkedIn post*), raising our book in the air, and shouting, “Hey, everybody, look at me! I wrote a book! Look at my book! It…
Continue Reading Book Marketing: It’s Not About You (or Even Your Book)
Would you rather have 10,000 followers on social media, or 500 email subscribers?
Continue Reading 8 Reasons Why Email Is Your Most Valuable Marketing Asset
Is writing a business book worth it?
A survey of 301 nonfiction authors found that although business books rarely resulted in high royalties, the books boosted the authors’ credibility and visibility, leading to sizable increases in speaking, workshops, consulting, and other sources of revenue and impact.
Continue Reading What Is the Return on Investment (ROI) of Writing a Nonfiction Book?
Build an email list of people who value your work. Then get people to that list through consistently putting out valuable content through 2-3 channels.
Continue Reading A Tried-and-True Formula for Effective Book Marketing
Brought to you by the team at FSB Associates, Pub Site is the new, easy-to-use website platform designed specifically for books and authors. Designs, layouts, and features are all created with books and authors in mind. It is easy to use so authors can have a website up and running in no time with either their domain name…
Event Recaps
The number one reason employees stay or leave is how much they trust their immediate supervisor, not company-wide programs or benefits.
Continue Reading Targeting Turnover: A Fresh Ink Interview with Dick Finnegan
Damian Goldvarg’s new book “Lead with a Coaching Mindset” applies the 8 core competencies from the International Coach Federation to leadership. These include: ethical standards, coaching mindset, building relationships, trust, presence, communication (listening), creating awareness, and implementing learning.
Continue Reading How to lead with a coaching mindset: A Fresh Ink interview with Damian Goldvarg
The 2024 BK Authors retreat was a meaningful and powerful event that met and exceeded expectations. The combination of Idyllic surroundings, perfect sunshine, and polite, interesting, and friendly companions made for an unforgettable experience.
The BK Retreat was a blend of magic and matter-of-fact: four days of building meaningful relationships, sharpening professional skills, and experiencing peak, nearly mystical moments.
Continue Reading Learning, Laughter, and Healing: The 2022 BK Authors Retreat