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Find out more about the Jewish Book NETWORK program and MEET THE AUTHOR events from last year's guidelines.


About

The Jewish Book NETWORK is a membership organization of over 100 participating sites- JCCs, synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Federations, synagogues and other related organizations-that host Jewish book programs. The Jewish Book Council formed the Jewish Book NETWORK in 1999 to serve as a central address for book programming. It functions on a year-round basis, although the primary focus remains on the Fall Jewish Book Month season. The Jewish Book Council assists with program suggestions and coordinates the speaking tours of more than 160 authors who travel country-wide during the Fall season and throughout the year. The Jewish Book Council annually prepares a book providing information about the authors on tour, the Meet the Authors book, which is used by various communities as a tool to plan their own book events and as a buying guide for their book stores.

Jewish books are an essential part of Jewish culture. In recent years, the Jewish book festivals have grown into a $3 million industry. The Jewish Book NETWORK goes a long way towards assisting in the sale of books of Jewish interest by connecting authors with the coordinators of these programs.

Jewish Book NETWORK conference and Meet the Authors program

Each year the Jewish Book NETWORK hosts its annual conference around the time of BookExpoAmerica. More than 150 professional directors of Jewish book festivals and programs and their committees gather to learn about new books, discuss the business of producing Book Festivals and Book Programs, and hear from authors who wish to participate in our year-round programs.

One of the highlights of the conference is the Meet the Authors program that gives authors an opportunity to meet with the Jewish Book NETWORK members. Eligible authors must have a book of interest to a Jewish community with a copyright date of the current year (or published from Oct.-Dec. of the previous year). Last year we were able to connect 120 authors with Jewish book festival events. The Meet the Authors program is a special chance for authors to present their own individual works formally in a two minute presentation as well as to interact with book program coordinators informally at a dinner reception. This program is where the real "networking" begins as authors and program coordinators exchange information. It is with the help of these interactions that program coordinators are able to evaluate the author and determine who is best suited to bring to their own specific community. In the months following the conference, community leaders direct their requests for author appearances to the Jewish Book Council, which then confirms the requests with the respective author and makes all the logistical arrangements.

To attend a Meet the Authors program, an author/publisher must complete an application process. This process includes a participation/distribution fee and the submission of approximately 100 copies of the author's book. These will be distributed to the NETWORK members to be used in their book program selection process. It will provide the book with more exposure and save the publisher or author the time and expense of distributing these review copies individually to each community. It is the author/publisher responsibility to arrange for an author's appearance at the conference.

It is possible to participate in the NETWORK and not attend the conference; however, it is not recommended. If you choose to participate, your book will be distributed to the NETWORK members, and your name and book will appear in the publication that is prepared each year for the NETWORK. Both are used in programming and book-buying. However, many program coordinators prefer to hear an author speak before arranging an event. Those authors that appear have a distinct advantage.

The Meet the Authors program is an all important opportunity for publishers to showcase authors whose books will be of specific interest to our nationwide audience and for authors to meet the leading coordinators of book programs around the country. It is the entrance into the NETWORK Tour. At the same time it gives book program professionals the chance to meet this year's authors of note.

Jewish Book NETWORK calendar

Deadlines for participation in the Jewish Book NETWORK must be followed carefully.

FEBRUARY-MARCH: The time for authors and publishers interested in the Jewish Book NETWORK Conference to contact the Jewish Book Council office to discuss attending a Meet the Authors event. To be eligible, a book must have the current year's copyright, have at least ARCs or galleys available by May of that year, and be available for sale by September of that year.

APRIL: All application paperwork must be received at the offices of the Jewish Book Council!

MAY 1st: All books, ARCs, or galleys must be shipped to the address designated by the Jewish Book Council. This address is only released upon receipt of the participation/distribution fee. It is necessary for participating authors and publishers to have sufficient book supplies to accommodate and meet this important deadline.

LATE MAY: The Jewish Book NETWORK conference and Meet the Author events take place in the same city as BookExpo America.

JUNE-AUGUST: The period for scheduling tour arrangements. NETWORK communities submit their requests for authors, and the Jewish Book Council directs these requests to each author for approval. Summer communities often have their programs at this time. For the summer communities, their schedules are arranged between January and April.

LATE OCTOBER-EARLY DECEMBER: Many Jewish book festivals take place during this time in the fall, which also corresponds to Jewish Book Month. Though this two-month period is the heaviest touring time, most communities continue to have events throughout the year.

DECEMBER-MAY: Authors remain on tour, and Jewish Book Council receives requests for year-round programming in many communities.