Writing a book is hard. But getting a publisher to say yes to your book? That is an entirely different challenge, and one that most aspiring authors know almost nothing about. 

What actually happens when a proposal lands on a publisher's desk? Who else needs to sign off before an offer is made? And in a world where anyone can ask AI to explain any topic, why has "great content" stopped being enough on its own? 

This one is a little different from my usual episodes. It's a recording from a live webinar I did with Izzy Yates, head of Penguin Publishing Lab at Penguin Random House Australia, who has published my last three books, including my newest one, The Energy Game.  

We unpack the full journey of a book, from proposal to bookshelf, including how Penguin's internal acquisitions process works, why pre-orders matter far more than most people realise, what actually gets retailers excited, and whether you can land a deal without a big platform. 

If you have ever thought about writing a book, or you are in the middle of writing one right now, this is the conversation I wish I had heard before I started. 

Izzy and I discuss:

• What made my first book proposal stand out, and the key ingredients Izzy looks for in every strong proposal 

• The formula publishers use to evaluate a book: the quality of the idea multiplied by the size of the author's platform, and why it's more nuanced than it sounds 

• Why authors who weave personal story into their content are having more success than those who rely on expertise alone 

• How Penguin's two-stage internal process works, from publishing meeting to acquisitions meeting, before any offer is made 

• The full editorial journey from first draft to printed book: structural edit, copy edit, and proofread 

• How titles and covers are developed collaboratively, and what the team considers when landing on a final design 

• Why pre-orders matter so much and how they create a virtuous cycle with retailers and chart placement 

• Whether you can get a book deal without an existing audience or platform 

• What topics and themes Izzy sees as most resonant right now, particularly in the health and personal development crossover space 

Pre-order The Energy Game: https://amzn.to/48ID29M and book your ticket to the Melbourne book launch at the Malthouse Theatre on July 29 with Lisa Leong here.