I expect to defend my dissertation later this year, and then to begin the work of turning it into a book. My advisor has suggested that I schedule brief meetings with university press editors during an upcoming academic conference. How should I prepare for these appointments?
Send the editor your CV in advance, along with a brief description of your project. At this early stage, a meeting with an editor is less about pitching a book proposal than establishing a connection and asking questions that will help demystify the publishing process and guide your next steps. The editor will likely have questions about your research and timeline.
See also When Should I Approach a Publisher?, How Should I Approach a Publisher?, How Can I Get My Dissertation Published?, along with information on turning a dissertation into a book in the Writing/Style section of the Ask UP Resources page.
—Princeton University Press, March 2023