PW Select FAQs
Frequently asked questions related to the PW Select marketing program.
What is PW Select?
PW Select is a monthly book marketing program for self-published authors, and a supplement that appears in Publishers Weekly—it's full of feature stories about the self-publishing industry, news, reviews, book announcements listings, author profiles, and more. It was designed to provide self-published authors a unique platform to promote their books to industry insiders, editors, booksellers, librarians, and agents. You can check out some of our recent PW Select issues here.
Whom can I contact with questions about PW Select?
Please email pwselect@publishersweekly.com with any questions, concerns, comments, or for assistance with PW Select.
What do I get when I register for PW Select?
When you register, you reserve a spot for your book in the announcements listings in PW Select—which is bound into issues of Publishers Weekly and appears online at publishersweekly.com. Your PW Select registration also includes a six-month digital subscription to Publishers Weekly and a print copy of the PW Select supplement that features your book. As part of the program your book is also featured on the home page of PublishersWeekly.com and BookLife.com as well as the BookLife Report e-newsletter, plus it is highlighted on BookLife's Facebook and Twitter channels.
(NOTE: The digital subscription is to the digital edition of the print magazine via our App or online reader, does not include Web site paywall access and does not entitle subscribers to a second free PW Select listing.)
What is the timing for receiving my PW Select benefits?
Immediately upon signing up for PW Select, you will see your book featured on the home pages of both PublishersWeekly.com and BookLife.com; it will remain there for 72 hours. You'll also receive login information for your Publishers Weekly digital subscription. The following week, you'll see your book featured in the BookLife Report email newsletter, which reaches over 28,000 subscribers. In the month following your submission, you'll see your book listed in Publishers Weekly–and you'll receive a print copy of the issue in which it's listed. (See the table at the bottom of this page for the specific issue date in which your listing will run.) And in the weeks following, your book will be featured on BookLife's Facebook and Twitter channels.
How do I register for PW Select?
First if you don't already have an account, you need to create a free account on BookLife.com by clicking on the "Register" button in the upper-right corner of this screen. This registration process will take you through how to upload your book's information. Once you've finished doing this, on your book information page you'll see a "Submit Project for PW Select" button. Click that, and follow the simple instructions. (Click here for detailed sign up instructions.) Note: Publicists are welcome to create accounts for their clients, but all accounts must be under the author’s name.
What are announcements listings?
Every year, PW publishes seasonal announcements of forthcoming books. Our listings include bibliographic, marketing, and editorial information about these soon-to-be published books, providing booksellers and librarians with the inside scoop about important new releases and helping them determine which books to buy. Our PW Select supplement works the same way: it lists the same information about self-published books, enabling authors to share and promote their books to booksellers, publishers, agents, and industry insiders. Here's an example of our announcements listings in PW Select:
Oversoul: Stories and Essays. Mitchell S. Jackson. The Collections House, $4.99 e-book (92p) ISBN 978-0-9853409-1-9 Amazon
A collection of short fiction and essays explores fictional and nonfictional characters struggling with such vices as drugs and avarice while dealing with the fallout of strained family ties and ill-conceived notions of love.
What's an ISBN?
An ISBN—short for International Standard Book Number—is an internationally recognized number that uniquely identifies every book published all over the world. You will need either an ASIN or an ISBN to list your book in PW Select and can purchase one at isbn.org or through a variety of other sources.
What books are eligible for PW Select?
Any book published by an individual creator that is available for purchase in the United States is eligible for PW Select.
What formats of books does PW accept for listing in PW Select?
All formats are eligible for a PW Select listing, although only two can be specifically listed.
If my book is available in multiple formats (e.g. as a paperback and an e-book), do I need to purchase separate listings for each?
No. When you purchase a listing in PW Select, you can include two different formats.
MY BOOK’S IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. CAN I SUBMIT IT FOR PW SELECT?
As long as it’s available in the U.S. for purchase, yes. When entering the title, please include the English translation for it. For the description, please enter only an English description with a note that mentions the book's original language.
What do I get with my digital subscription to PW?
By registering for PW Select you get a six-month subscription to the digital edition of PW, viewable online or via our iOS app. When you register, we'll send you instructions for setting up your digital subscription. The PW Select digital subscription does not include full access to publishersweekly.com.
Will my book be reviewed as part of the PW Select program?
No. If you would like to submit your book for review consideration, please do so through your BookLife account. You have two options: Publishers Weekly review consideration is free though not guaranteed; a BookLife Review is guaranteed but you pay for it. Here's more information about both.
May I submit my book to PW Select multiple times?
Yes, but before you do so, email pwselect@publishersweekly.com so we can streamline the process for you.
