Plainspoken Books is a new nonfiction trade imprint focused on Midwest stories. Editor Alec Loganbill said in a press release, “As a lifelong Kansan, I recognize the cultural value of the often-underestimated Midwest. It is truly exciting to create an imprint that brings together the incredibly talented authors, journalists, and storytellers from the Midwest, supports them with authenticity and understanding, and helps develop their impact and reach far beyond the boundaries of our region.” Proposals are being accepted now.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
