Book announcement: Empire of Ink
Notes from a reluctant self-promoter
Today’s the day.
After fifteen years of research, writing, and more than a few extended detours en route, my new book Empire of Ink: The Printers, Rogues, and Radicals Who Invented the American Newspaper is officially out in the world.
One of the less savory realities of modern publishing is that authors are increasingly expected to promote their own books (I mean this as no slight to the folks at Basic Books, who have been a dream to work with so far). But as a lifelong introvert, this does not in any way come naturally to me - nor, I suspect, to most writers.
But I will take some inspiration from the literary forebears who have been my boon companions over the past few years. Benjamin Franklin was a master self-promoter who hawked his books relentlessly in the pages of his own newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette. Benjamin Day built the New York Sun through a steady diet of publicity stunts and rhetorical chest-thumping. And Mark Twain understood, probably better than any other writer of his age, the value of making oneself conspicuous. He was, as I argue in the book, our original influencer.
White suits and tall tales are not quite my thing, but nonetheless I’m taking a few halting steps toward conspicuousness. So, begging your indulgence for another moment, I’ll share a little of the early response:
The New York Times review appeared Sunday and described the book this way: “a spunky history of newspapers… finding in the actual cut-and-paste culture from then much in common with today's jostling, jousting online media."
Kirkus dubbed it “a fresh, often startling account of newspapers’ early years.”
Shelf Awareness gave it a starred review, calling it “a masterful work of historical exposition that serves as a vital reminder of why the print medium matters.”
And I was especially touched by the write-up in The Daily Catch, which serves the Hudson Valley community where I now spend much of my time. For a book that’s largely about the history of local newspapers, getting written up in my hometown paper felt like a special thrill.
As I set down my pen for a while, I’m feeling deeply grateful to the many people who helped bring this project to life—family, friends, editors, publicists, booksellers, colleagues, and early readers—all of whom shaped it in ways large and small.
And to you, dear reader: if you’d like to help this book along on its journey, there are two simple things you can do:
Tell a friend. Feel free to share this post with anyone you like.
Leave an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you get your books.
Mostly, though, I’m relieved—and admittedly, okay, kind of excited—to let it go and exhale.
— Alex