
Are Libraries the Hidden Book Market? with Erin Cox of Words & Money
From New Books Network by New Books
April 28, 2026
About this episode
This episode explores how libraries can be a powerful marketing tool for authors and publishers.
What if the most powerful tool in your book marketing strategy isn't social media — it's your local library? In the debut episode of The Publishing Playbook, host Sarah Russo of Page One Media sits down with publishing veteran Erin Cox to unpack one of the industry's most overlooked opportunities: libraries. With a career spanning publicity at Scribner and HarperCollins, agenting, and her current role as publisher of Publishing Perspectives and co-founder of Words and Money, Erin brings rare, 360-degree expertise to the conversation. Together, Sarah and Erin break down how libraries actually buy books, why they're a powerful (and underutilized) marketing channel for authors, and the misconceptions that are costing publishers real money. Whether you're a debut author, a seasoned writer, or publishing-curious, this episode will change how you think about getting your book into readers' hands. Words & Money: https://www.wordsandmoney.com/ Publishing Perspectives: https://publishingperspectives.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
People in this episode
Host: Sarah Russo
Guest: Erin Cox
Topics covered
- libraries
- book marketing
- publishing industry
- author strategies
- book sales
Keywords
- libraries
- book marketing
- publishing
- authors
- book sales
- Erin Cox
- Sarah Russo
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Words & Money, Publishing Perspectives, Scribner, HarperCollins
More episodes of New Books Network
- Jake Dyble, "Managing Maritime Risk in Early Modern Europe: General Average in Law and Practice in Seventeenth-Century Tuscany" (Boydell Press, 2025) · June 12, 2026 · 36 min
- Ro Skelton, "“Naow’s Boutique” (Fall, 2025) · June 12, 2026 · 42 min
- Jeffrey R. Di Leo et al. eds., "Theory as World Literature" (Bloomsbury, 2025) · June 12, 2026 · 32 min
- Laurie D. Graham, "Calling It Back to Me: Poems" (Random House, 2026) · June 12, 2026 · 51 min
- Radio ReOrient Season 14 Round Up, hosted by Saeed Khan, Amina Easat-Daas, Marchella Ward and Claudia Radiven · June 12, 2026 · 47 min
- AI, Algocracy, and Democracy's Challenging Road Ahead with Andrew Sorota · June 12, 2026
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the New Books Network podcast page.