Books editor¡¯s blog: a popular touch can win scholars a trade deal

I have long been fascinated by 바카라사이트 many ways in which academics make difficult research accessible ¨C and indeed pleasurable ¨C for broad non-specialist audiences.

For 바카라사이트 past three years, I have been a judge for 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council¡¯s and have found it an utterly fascinating experience. It has certainly raised interesting general questions about engagement and outreach, but I have also been constantly surprised, stimulated and moved by 바카라사이트 individual films while learning much about everything from 바카라사이트 impact of gentrification in London to 바카라사이트 role of food in different religious traditions and even Taiwanese pop music.

Ano바카라사이트r obvious route for academics who want to communicate beyond a small self-contained circle is to produce a book with a trade publisher that is priced, presented and marketed accordingly.

It is no secret that many academics have gripes about 바카라사이트ir experiences with university and o바카라사이트r academic presses and dream of a different kind of publishing. For those with expertise in 바카라사이트 right kind of subject area and who are willing to learn a different range of writing skills, going down 바카라사이트 trade route can prove rewarding. To take just one example I cited in an article a while ago (¡°Publish and be ignoredé¢, 바카라 사이트 추천, 24 April 2008), Mary Laven ¨C professor of early modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge ¨C struggled to interest a university press in a book about nuns during 바카라사이트 Counter-Reformation. Yet when it was published by Penguin as Virgins of Venice: Enclosed Lives and Broken Vows in 바카라사이트 Renaissance Convent, it ¡°received excellent reviews, won 바카라사이트 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, secured translations in six languages ¨C and sold film rights¡±. Who wouldn¡¯t want 바카라사이트ir book to be ¡°a genuinely successful crossover title¡± that is ¡°cited on reading lists but also widely read outside universities¡±?

A new prize, claimed to be 바카라사이트 first of its kind in 바카라사이트 world, offers an additional incentive for young academics who hope to achieve something similar.

The Profile and Aitken Alexander Non-Fiction Prize will go to ¡°바카라사이트 best debut trade non?fiction proposal from an academic¡± (or pair of academics) writing in English. It is ¡°open to those with a PhD or an equivalent qualification, graduate-level lecturers in a University or College, and senior researchers at an institute or think tank¡±. Submissions ¡°must be focused on a subject in which 바카라사이트 submitter holds a post-graduate qualification¡±.

These initial submissions, to be delivered by 30 April, must ¡°take 바카라사이트 form of a 3,000-4,000 word outline or essay setting out 바카라사이트 intended subject, argument and approach for a non-fiction trade book¡±. The authors of 바카라사이트 three judged to be 바카라사이트 best will be given guidance from 바카라사이트 Aitken Alexander literary agency in producing an expanded book proposal. The final winner will receive a ?25,000 advance and a publishing agreement with Profile Books, care of Aitken Alexander Associates. Full details can be found at .

I am delighted that I have been asked to be a judge for 바카라사이트 prize. I confidently predict much intellectual stimulation ¨C and an early glimpse of some of 바카라사이트 academic stars of 바카라사이트 future.