Idea Driven Books: Authors Needed

Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Group U.S.A., is looking for books that do not fit easily into typical sales and marketing categories. Jack Morrissey, the new executive editor, is looking for authors who can breath style into the sometimes esoteric, stuffy side of non-fiction publishing, which includes history, science, psychology and spirituality.

Mr. Morrissey rescued the now-popular Dilbert comic strip from the slush pile, recognizing different, if not quirky, material. He has a keen wit and sense of humor, enjoying the same from authors.

Traditional subjects presented in new ways, which bring about personal transformation is what Riverhead is interested in publishing. Morrissey believes that important ideas can be found in overlapping categories such as history and architecture; politics and humor; science and memoir; and self-help and science. It gives us room to explore a wide range of topics for discussion.

Riverhead believes the distinctions between fiction and non-fiction are blurring, giving writers and publishers new opportunities. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown is one example of the “blurring” effect. He (Mr. Brown) creates a world in which you learn something, a trend that is likely to continue in fiction.

Riverhead is looking for intelligent books in which the reader learns something new or grapples with a fresh idea and will be releasing about 30 titles a year to that end. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, Mr. Morrissey appreciates the courage it takes to turn over your work for the world to see, so he is very sensitive to authors. Writing an idea driven book is what turns on this editor. Start your submissions, writers.

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