Elizabeth Demers is a senior acquisitions editor at Johns Hopkins University Press with 20 years of experience in academic and trade publishing. She signs 20-30 books per year, including monographs, trade titles, and course adoption books. She commissions new books, evaluates submitted manuscripts, provides developmental edits, and attends conferences to promote books and the press. Her talk discusses strategies for networking to build professional connections in two areas: building her book list through conferences, outreach, and social media; and finding future career opportunities by getting involved in the industry and being generous with her time and recommendations.

1. {
Networking in Book
Publishing
Elizabeth Demers, Johns Hopkins University Press

2.  Current Position: Senior Acquisitions Editor in
History and American Studies
 20 Years’ Experience in UP, Commercial
Academic, Trade, and Commercial Book
Publishing
 Ph.D. in American History
 Hobbies: Curling, Running, Knitting, Bocce
The Panelist

3.  Sign 20-30 books a year, divided between trade,
monograph, and course adoption titles
 Commission new books
 Evaluate over the transom titles
 Developmental edits of books and proposals
 Attend conferences to promote books, press—
and me
 Evaluate state of the field, write reports, know
the market
 Talk—and listen--to authors, editors, and
colleagues
What I do

4. 1. Building the List/Do Your
Job Better
1. Finding Your Next Job
Networking for Career
Development: Two Tracks

5. Conferences!
 Make appointments in advance
--read program
--reach out to everyone who might be a fit
--do your homework
--contact big names and newbies
 Spontaneous booth strategies
--make eye contact
--smile, say “Hi!”
--get card; or, write down info for follow up
--follow up with email
 Wine and Dine (if your expense account allows it)
Building the List– a Face
to Face Business

6.  Read review journals and follow
authors/subjects on social media
 Don’t be afraid to reach out to the big names
 Don’t be afraid of the newbies
 Don’t be afraid to say no– but provide new
leads
 Don’t be afraid to open the mail
 If you lose a book, be gracious and
congratulatory– you will have the chance to
work with that author again
 Stay in touch
Building the List—From
Your Office

7. Early Career/Late Career–
there’s another job out there for you
But I love my job!
Challenge yourself
The future is weird
Unexpected opportunities
People come to you
Get out and meet people!
Finding Your Next Job

8.  Go to academic and professional conferences
 Be a joiner; volunteer; get involved; build skills outside
of your desk job
 Be generous with your colleagues, both in-house and
out
--recommend them
--send them good projects
--give them credit for great work
 Be generous with your time
 Be generous with yourself
 Say YES
 Use your outside hobbies and interests to expand your
network
It’s not enough to meet
people

9.  Keep up your LinkedIn profile
Take a few minutes every week to add a skill, endorse
a colleague; or add connections
 Pick a platform and make it your own
--Facebook
--Twitter
--Instagram
--Etc.
 Be your Professional You—and your Authentic You
 Be interesting
Social Networking

10. @ElizabethDemers
ED@press.jhu.edu