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Marketing the Big 5 Way

Recorded

November 5, 2025

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Business

So you’ve written the book of your heart, queried into the slush pile and successfully found an agent, who then sold your book to an editor at a Big 5! Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes once your book is acquired?

Leila Siddiqui has spent ten years working in marketing in two of the Big 5 publishers and will walk you through what to expect when the book has passed acquisitions and finds a publishing date. The publishing journey is often referred to as a “hurry up and wait” with moments of intense marketing activity and then maddening calm.

You’ll learn about what marketers do at acquisitions, after the book is acquired, how they partner with the sales team to position the book to retailers, and how they bring the book the audiences. Whether you’ve self-published, on the editor submission journey with your agent, or a seasoned traditional author, there’s always something to learn about the publishing process from an insider. 

Host

Leila Siddiqui
Leila Siddiqui is a Senior Manager of Digital Strategy at DK, a division of Penguin Random House. She previously worked for Simon & Schuster and Dutton, and is a freelance book marketer on Reedsy. Her titles range from romance, historical fiction and contemporary fiction to nonfiction such as memoirs, travel, history, and popular science. She […]

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