Writing It!

Episode 79: Books that Change the Conversation with Fred Appel

June 29th, 2026  |  41 mins 20 secs

crossover books, editor, peer review, university press

We’re speaking with Princeton University Press publisher, Fred Appel about what distinguishes Princeton University Press and what he and his colleagues look for in the book proposals they receive. We talk about the editor-author relationship, how an academic book can land in the trade/crossover section of a university press; the problem with proposing that your book is for the “general reader”; word count; appropriate time to completion; the advantage of publishing your accessible book with a university press, instead of a trade press; and what make for a great book title.