The Report: March 16, 2026

It never ceases to move and surprise me... that moment when a particular book meets you exactly where you are, as if answering a question you didn't know you were asking. No AI can replace this essential human connection formed between writer and reader. In this issue, we honor 42 of the BookLife Prize Nonfiction titles that wowed us. Stay tuned for the announcement of the semifinalists!

New and Noteworthy

Congrats to Our Quarterfinalists!
Forty-two titles have been named quarterfinalists in the BookLife Prize Nonfiction Contest. Check out these top scoring titles! more

Beyond the Blurb
An author and book reviewer discusses the qualities that draw the attention of critics. more

Indie Publisher Standouts
PW reports on a growing number of indie presses that are finding new ways to innovate. more

Behind the Story: Drew Banks
In our latest Behind the Story feature, a free platform for authors to share more about their books, author Drew Banks reflects on writing the Elba trilogy. more

BookLife Opportunities

Call for Submissions: Indie Spotlight: Our March Indie Spotlight will feature books on travel, food, and world cultures. To submit your book, email booklife@booklife.com with the subject line: "Indie Spotlight: Travel, Food, and World Cultures." Include your book name, author name, and a personal statement (written in first-person).
Free BookLife Editorial Features for Indie Authors: Standing out isn’t easy for self-published authors. BookLife’s editorial features provide visibility and credibility—at no cost. Check out the opportunities!

From the Shelves: BookLife Titles on Our Radar

'Great White: An Eamon Gold Novel' by Richard Helms: This classic procedural blends steady, methodical detective work with Gold’s wry observations, and his first-person narration reveals a quiet confidence.
'Wrought in Flesh' by Corinne Price: Powered by tactile magic and surges of dark feeling, Price’s charged debut, the first in the Vollmagus and the Etched series, opens in a world where magic is both currency and scar.

The following are this week's books from PW Select, Publishers Weekly's marketing program for indie authors. To sign up your book for PW Select, click here.

The Shingle Weaver's Picnic by Patti C. Smith	Bless Me Father For You Have Sinned by Bruce Lewis	Live Aid Runaways by Shane Robitaille
Better Angel by Caryn Green	Our Himalayan Rose by Kavita Ichaa Dawn Malhotra	A Natural Kill by Paul G. Kaloyeropoulos
Snapshots of Time & Eternity by Eckehart Augustiny	Haunted House of Friends by Ashley Rhodes	Sunrise in Gihon by Stephen C. Coates
The Psalms and Proverbs by Pastor John Rumble with JD Rose	Faith in the Inferno by Elise Monet	Hop Fight by S. Pluck and P. MacCruiskeen
Anchors To Ashes by David Caraccio and Tom Seeley	Battery Revolution: A BizOps Chronicles Novel by Jeff Pierson	Carbon City, 1925 by James Alan Gill

Click here to see all the recent titles enrolled in PW Select, or click here to sign up your book for the program.

Send editorial questions about this e-newsletter to: mburnett@publishersweekly.com
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