founder and president, Agate Publishinghttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mrgcdusykk2aPrompting is not writing. #booksky24 Jul 2026 21:30 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgcdusykk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mnfirrt7ls2iThese NBA finals are a fascinating contrast in team building. Spurs exemplify the highest-end result from a tear-down rebuild through draft. Great picks; even better luck. Rose's Knicks built entirely through smart deals and signings; not one starter was a Knicks draft pick. Either mode can work.03 Jun 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnfirrt7ls2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mmfgkoah6k2jThis raised my eyebrows. Credit to Presti, Daigneault, and everyone else, then, who found/developed this incredible team from mostly late lottery, late first round, second-round, and undrafted players, many from non-elite programs. Unlike, say, the Lakers. #nbasky https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48836648/lebron-james-says-lakers-were-talented-thunder-playoffs21 May 2026 22:06 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmfgkoah6k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mlo24du6r22gIn two days at IBPA PubU in Portland, 5/14, Noon to Four, attendees only. Learn how to go from author-publisher or micropress to full-fledged traditional publisher, as well as how to start from scratch. #booksky #ibpapublishinguniversity #publishinguniversity #pubu12 May 2026 14:52 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlo24du6r22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mlh46fht622bFFS, make it work Milwaukee. You have a top 5 player still in his prime. If you luck into one of these guys, you bend every effort to build around him for as long as you possibly can. #nbasky https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7265340/2026/05/09/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-rumors-market-bucks-nba-offseason/09 May 2026 20:41 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlh46fht622bhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mlbufjmhpc2hWant to start your own publishing company, or grow your existing venture into a full trade publisher? I'm delivering a workshop, Starting Your Publishing Business, at Publishing University next Thursday, noon-4, 5/14. #ibpapublishinguniversity #pubu #indiepublishing #independentpublisher #booksky07 May 2026 18:38 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlbufjmhpc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3ml4nduu6vs2aReally liked this. Great illustrations of how tanking to get the very top picks isn't the only way, let alone the best way, to build a championship team. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 May 2026 16:49 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ml4nduu6vs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mksgwf4jxc2pIt’s great to see more booksellers publishing. Our Agate Publishing Academy just launched a discount/rebate program for independent booksellers, staff, and customers interested in our Publishing Basics course and certification. Reach out if you want to learn more—a new session starts in a few weeks. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/100280-texas-bookseller-launches-grave-empire-a-horror-micro-press.html?oly_enc_id=4357B6926023C5N01 May 2026 15:27 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mksgwf4jxc2phttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3mihn7pwkxs25More from me about trying to demystify publishing--in this case for the sake of writers in particular. As our industry changes, this is more urgent than ever before. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Apr 2026 21:30 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3mihn7pwkxs25https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m6ke7khy4s27I am here less frequently than I am other places, at one of which I did this thing, as part of a really thought-provoking publishing project about aging. https://substack.com/home/post/p-17996221326 Nov 2025 17:15 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6ke7khy4s27https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m5w7eq7hjs26Tonight I'm interviewing *live* the amazing Denise Nicholas about her new book FINDING HOME--here's a link, open to all, 4 PST/6 CST/7 EST. We'll be talking for about 45 minutes to an hour, I think. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/denise-nicholas-actress-and-author-in-conversation-with-doug-seibold-tickets-1751813845369?aff=oddtdtcreator18 Nov 2025 16:55 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5w7eq7hjs26https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m2wrmppukc2vMore on perils of tanking from Hollinger: "The post-Mitchell-Gobert rebuild was a smart piece of business in the abstract that yielded major draft capital, but results appear as far away as ever. Consider that Utah coach Will Hardy is in Year 4 and still has never coached a game that mattered." https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6688359/2025/10/10/nba-predictions-2025-2026-western-conference-suns-mavericks-grizzlies11 Oct 2025 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2wrmppukc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m2p27xwrrk26This is why tanking isn't the only correct way to rebuild a team: "The grim reality of life as a rebuilding team: It doesn’t really end until you’ve found a player worth building the team around....Through two draft cycles...there isn’t one player you’d call a surefire long-term starter yet." https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6688376/2025/10/08/nba-predictions-2025-2026-eastern-conference-sixers-celtics/08 Oct 2025 16:19 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2p27xwrrk26https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m2kfjhmt3s2dThank you. [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Oct 2025 19:58 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2kfjhmt3s2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m2kbpi7ihk2dA couple of high-profile Western Conference contenders really need help at point--can't one of them make a deal to take Dosunmu or Jevon Carter from Bulls in exchange for PF depth? Tari Eason the kind of high upside young vet AKME likes.06 Oct 2025 18:49 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2kbpi7ihk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m2k5bmqrac23Most national writers like @talkhoops.bsky.social are broken records re Bulls. This team did a gut rebuild as recently as 2017. And in past year's "retool" they've moved 4 of 5 key players assembled in 2021 reset. Our lottery and injury luck over this time: bad. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6683786/2025/10/03/wnba-finals-bulls-blazers-the-bounce/06 Oct 2025 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m2k5bmqrac23https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3m27xvmqcl22nJust starting to dig into this here, but it looks like Agate has more than 50 books on this list, and we are preparing how to pursue this whole process with our authors. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Oct 2025 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3m27xvmqcl22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lzh7r5mv6c2lReally proud of this one. I think these lists are especially worthwhile because they show a book's impact over time. CROWN: AN ODE TO THE FRESH CUT is having that kind of impact. https://slate.com/culture/2025/09/best-kids-books-2025-picture-read-aloud-new.html22 Sep 2025 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzh7r5mv6c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lvw7frylgs23I hope people found this useful--it was fun to unpack. Look for Jane to post the recording on YouTube next week, after which I'll be cross-posting it at What Publishing Is. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Aug 2025 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvw7frylgs23https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3luq7jdmizs2sWhat Writers Need, over on the Dougstack. #booksky https://substack.com/home/post/p-16915645924 Jul 2025 18:55 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3luq7jdmizs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lunpwh7e522g"San Antonio landed the No. 1 (Victor Wembanyama), No. 4 (Stephon Castle) and No. 2 (Harper) selections in three consecutive drafts." Now that's the kind of lottery luck that makes tear-down rebuilds really work. Too many people forget Bulls did tear-down back in 17--but got 3 consecutive #7 picks.23 Jul 2025 19:11 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lunpwh7e522ghttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3ltufvptnsk2aI think it's a great pickup if Bucks do get Anthony. He's been a key contributor to a good squad (one noted for team D) for a while now. Impressed with how the Bucks have regrouped this off-season. #nbasky13 Jul 2025 17:35 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltufvptnsk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3ltndcxyd2c2dWe are now open to proposals at submissions@agatepublishing.com! [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Jul 2025 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3ltndcxyd2c2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lrxk6jri722eThe great Juneteenth novel is FREEMAN by Leonard Pitts, Jr., which I'm proud to say is also the best-selling work of fiction Agate's ever published. https://bookshop.org/p/books/freeman-leonard-pitts/1660559319 Jun 2025 12:39 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lrxk6jri722ehttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lqnh6cccsk22This is a terrific piece. Way too much NBA commentary offers one-dimensional takes on team-building--especially the Hinkie-philes. Multiple paths can work--teams just need a lot of good judgment, and even more good luck. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Jun 2025 18:53 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqnh6cccsk22https://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lom53yihuc2xTerrific article that I read as fundamentally about the experience of loving your work. Really resonated with this particular (basketball-loving) business founder. [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 May 2025 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lom53yihuc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3lnvifxjye22tRoyalty time again. Paying royalties means Agate is succeeding. We're small--I've never written a six-figure advance check. But I have written six-figure royalty checks.28 Apr 2025 19:21 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnvifxjye22thttps://bsky.app/profile/dougseibold.bsky.social/post/3llrpj2mllk2nFor my Chicago friends and colleagues, I am on a panel this Thursday, should you wish to check it out: https://events.uchicago.edu/event/245132-the-end-of-the-university-and-the-future-of-criticism01 Apr 2025 20:27 +0000at://did:plc:kw7t2ehkcvclujws3qv3ioli/app.bsky.feed.post/3llrpj2mllk2n