1. The author (or someone they hire) interviews the foreword author via phone. 2. The author transcribes the interview (we use Rev.com). 3. The author (or the person they hire) writes the foreword based off that call. 4. The foreword is then sent to the author who makes any changes and then approves it. This is the basic list of questions we use for a foreword interview: 1. Who is the author? Tell me about them. 2. What is remarkable about the author, especially as it relates to the book topic? 3. What is important about the subject matter of the book? 4. What does the reader need to know about the subject matter of the book? 5. Why should the reader care about this book’s subject matter? HOW LONG SHOULD THE FOREWORD BE? Only rarely should a foreword exceed 500 words. If it’s over that, it needs to be exceptionally good. The mention of the foreword author on the cover is enough to confer status and credibility, and any more than 500 words may detract or distract from the book itself. The foreword is like a movie trailer—tell the audience what they need to know in a short amount of time, then get out of the way for the main event. DOES THE FOREWORD AUTHOR NEED TO READ THE BOOK FIRST? Not necessarily. WriTE yOUr BOOk fOrEWOrD · 219