Bookshelves filled with a variety of hardcover books in different colors and sizes, organized on wooden shelves.

Welcome to Book School

Here, you’ll learn publishing industry fundamentals and finally understand how books reach readers.

College called. This time, you get to pick the class.

Learn how the book business really works. Join publishing professor, literary agent, and industry leader Sara Wigal for a practical, engaging, and candid look at the business behind the books we love.

How Do Books Become Bestsellers?- Recorded Video Lecture How Do Books Become Bestsellers?- Recorded Video Lecture
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How Do Books Become Bestsellers?- Recorded Video Lecture
$30.00

How Do Books Become Bestsellers?

Through an asynchronous video seminar, Your Publishing Professor, Sara Wigal, takes you behind the scenes of the book publishing industry to explain how books become bestsellers—and what bestseller status really means.

Whether you're an author preparing for a book launch, a publishing professional, or simply curious about how bestseller lists work, this seminar will help you understand the business, strategy, and sales data behind the coveted bestseller status.

In this seminar, you'll learn:

  • How books become bestsellers and what actually drives bestseller status

  • How bestseller lists work and how different lists calculate and curate their rankings

  • The differences between major book bestseller lists and sales rankings

  • What it really takes to get a book on a bestseller list

  • The true value of a bestseller designation

  • How book sales, book launches, marketing, publicity, and distribution can affect a book's success

  • An example of someone who tried to “cheat” the bestseller list…and how that worked out for them!

  • Legitimate bestseller strategies authors and publishing professionals can use to support a book's success

Purchasing this option provides you with:

  • Private access to a recorded YouTube seminar explaining how bestseller lists function within the book publishing ecosystem

  • An expert, behind-the-scenes look at bestseller lists, book sales, book marketing, and bestseller strategy

  • Practical information you can use to better understand—and support—the success of a book

No bestseller promises. No gimmicks. Just a clear explanation of how bestseller lists actually work and what authors and publishing professionals need to know.

Publishing 101 Online LIVE Lunch & Learn - Seminar - January 27, 2027 Publishing 101 Online LIVE Lunch & Learn - Seminar - January 27, 2027
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Publishing 101 Online LIVE Lunch & Learn - Seminar - January 27, 2027
$50.00

Whether you want to work in publishing, publish your own book, or better understand the business behind books for another reason, this introductory class provides an insider's guide to how books are acquired, marketed, sold, and discovered in today's publishing marketplace.

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  • "During my time at Belmont University, Sara Wigal provided the foundational industry knowledge and mentorship that launched my career in publishing. She has a remarkable gift for cultivating talent; she mentored not only me but also colleagues who are vital to our publishing process. Sara is dedicated to developing the next generation of industry professionals—and she does it exceptionally well."

    —Kayleigh Cook, Director of Production, Ballast Books and Blue Balloon Books

  • “The students I've met in Sara Wigal's publishing program are exceptional. Under Sara's careful guidance, they learn both the big picture of the book business and the granular details that help young professionals stand out early in their careers. I had never hosted an intern before working with one of Sara's students—and the experience was so positive that I found myself wondering why I'd waited so long. Sara supports genuine intellectual curiosity with rigorous classroom standards, and the result is a generation of young professionals who are truly ready to contribute from day one. Her network of industry connections gives these students something rare: ongoing mentorship and real-life opportunities that set them up for lasting publishing careers.”

    — Karen Anderson, Associate Publisher and Strategic Book Coach, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling Author

  • “Sara Wigal is a dedicated educator and advocate for aspiring publishing professionals. She consistently connects students with industry opportunities and helps them develop the skills and professionalism needed to succeed. At Sourcebooks, we've hired one of her students and have been impressed by how well-prepared they were to contribute from day one. Her commitment to supporting students and strengthening connections between academia and the publishing industry is invaluable.”

    —Gigi Curran, Associate Director, Talent Acquisition, Sourcebooks

  • “Sara Wigal is like the Mayor of Literary Nashville. She's my first call when we need referrals for interns, when someone needs work in the publishing scene, or I'm trying to get connected to this specific person, do you happen to know anyone who knows them— oh wait, she's already dropped their contact in my inbox. I've personally hired two of her grads, and they are sharp, curious, creative thinkers, widely-read and adaptive, and I know those skills were nurtured in her program. It's a joy to attend her class, it's a joy to be part of the WriterFest community, and it's a joy to know Sara Wigal.”

    — Rachel S, Marketing Director, HarperCollins Christian Publishing

  • "If you feel like marketing yourself is difficult, the Author Branding 101 is a great place to start. Sara shared actionable steps I took immediately to improve my website and social media presence. In our follow-up, she’s a wealth of knowledge and provided thoughtful guidance."

    Ashley Manley, Romance Author

  • “Over the past several years, I've had the opportunity to work with multiple interns who studied under Sara Wigal, and I've been consistently impressed by the preparation they bring to the experience. They arrive curious, eager to learn, and excited about the publishing industry, with a solid foundation that allows them to contribute meaningfully from the start. Just as notably, they speak highly of Sara's mentorship and the support she provides as they prepare for professional careers in publishing.”

    —Tim Cobb, Senior Production Manager, Ministry Resources, Abingdon Press | The United Methodist Publishing House

  • The Author Branding 101 course is very helpful. I liked the fact that Sara was very informative, but also very efficient in her time. It is an hour of very worthwhile information. Bring a notebook.

    Leslie Hooten, Author

  • “From knowing her as Professor Wigal to now 'Sara,' I would not be in the position I am today without Sara’s continuous support, mentorship, and expert knowledge. The confidence and skill I built in the classroom under her guidance has led me to work my dream job, which was also made possible by her passion to connect students with industry professionals. She is by all accounts, the best of the best. "

    —Madi Hall, Publicist, Spellbound Public Relations 

  • Attending the Publishing 101 seminar will give you a comprehensive overview of the history of publishing and an understanding of the current state of the publishing industry from an instructor who is actively involved in the industry and clearly exhibits a love for authors and their stories.

    The Rev. Dr. Mark A. Carver

  • "Sara’s Publishing 101 course has been the first experience I’ve had where I felt like I was getting a real 'peek behind the curtain' of the publishing industry. She takes her specialized knowledge and uses it to help her students grow from publishing hopefuls into well-informed, early-career professionals."

    Jordan