by B. B. James

Created on: September 24, 2009

The intellectual capital of America for more than 300 years, Boston boasts a number of high-quality publishers. Though far fewer publishers operate in Boston than in New York, a vibrant intellectual atmosphere is created by Harvard, MIT, Boston College, Boston University, and a dozen more colleges and universities. For a person seeking to break into book publishing, Boston is a good place to be.

The largest publisher based in the Boston area is Houghton Mifflin, the second-largest textbook publisher in the nation. The company was considered stodgy (though highly profitable) until a few years ago, when it caught the online bug. It has been transforming its offerings in order to serve the demanding college-university-high school audience that expects interactive, exciting texts. For a person seeking to break into the business side of publishing, the firm is a great option. But it's not the place to fulfill one's writing or editing dreams. Houghton Mifflin is closer to an industrial manufacturer than a haven for artists and wordsmiths.

Beacon Press is the most prestigious independent "regular" book publisher in the city. Located in the lovely Chestnut Hill area, Beacon Press still exudes the old-time musty feel that many of us associate with book publishers and bookshops. But Beacon's backlist is anything but old-fashioned. The company has made its mark by publishing groundbreaking works for the general public in women's literature and the environment. Those areas remain the firm's tremendous strengths. The downside for a person seeking employment is that Beacon Press has never been very profitable, nor very large. Jobs are few and far between - though internships are often available.

The university presses at Harvard, MIT, BU, and BC are excellent, though Harvard's multiple presses dwarf the others in influence and number of titles. Harvard's range from the University Press to the famed Harvard Business School to the almost-equally-famed Kennedy School of Government. Each publishing house operates independently, and each has its own demanding specialties. Sending unsolicited manuscripts to Harvard publishers is a waste of time, but getting in through the operations or marketing department (especially for a person who has online skills) is a distinct possibility. And being around that intellectual ferment can't be topped.

One of the more interesting specialty publishers is Rockport, which is based in nearby Gloucester. Rockport specializes in books about architecture,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>