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Biases, Blind Spots, and Blunders: Two Publishing CEOs Answer the Questions All Nonfiction Authors Ask (or Should Be Asking)

Free Online Webinar | June 10, 2026

Berrett-KoehlePublishers‘ 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.

Biases, Blind spots, and Blunders: Two Publishing CEOs Answer the Questions All Nonfiction Authors Ask (or Should Be Asking)

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

10:00–10:45 am Pacific Time (1:00–1:45 pm Eastern Time)

Free to Attend

Berrett-KoehlePublishers‘ CEO Steven Piersanti and North Atlantic Books’ CEO Tim McKee join your favorite editorial pain-in-the butt on June 10 for this 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, including:

  • What is the most common mistake authors make?
  • When there’s a strong book idea, how do authors still manage to self-sabotage it?
  • What can authors not afford to overlook about the publishing industry?
  • Which book expectations are realistic—and where are reality checks needed?

. . . and more, followed by live Q&A.

Two CEOs from globally distributed publishing houses. Straight facts with no fluff. Best of all, like all our Cranky Editorial webinars, it’s completely free.

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam is the VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler Publishers. He has been in publishing for thirty years in acquisitions and administration and has worked with over 700 authors and books.

Past “Cranky Editorial Guy” Recordings & Summaries

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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.

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What Publishers Really Want to See in Your Book Proposal (But Won’t Tell You)

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)

Threat, Benefit, or Both? What AI Means for Your Book and the Publishing Industry

Is AI the end of book publishing and authors as we know it? This conversation features Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, and Thad McIlroy, a published author and journalist, founding partner of Publishing Technology Partners, a contributing editor to Publishers Weekly, a board member at Johns Hopkins Press, and the principal of The Future of Publishing.

Continue Reading Threat, Benefit, or Both? What AI Means for Your Book and the Publishing Industry

Are Editors Even Important or Needed Any More?

It’s a good question: Are they? Many authors have indicated how even with traditional houses, they receive minimal editorial guidance or work. And I hate to admit it, but I have looked at many traditionally published books over the last couple of years and wondered—did an editor even look at this? Is this also turning the tide towards self-publishing since editorial shaping was one of the hallmark advantages of traditional publishing houses?

Continue Reading Are Editors Even Important or Needed Any More?