FAQ
Book publicist FAQ
Here are plain answers to the 44 questions authors most often ask about hiring a book publicist.
The answers cover what a book publicist does, author PR services, book publicist cost, indie authors, how publicists compare with publisher publicity, how a C.S. Lewis & Co. campaign works, and how to get started. Market prices are third-party figures and are named as such.
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What a book publicist does
What does a book publicist do?
A book publicist gets an author and their book into the news. At C.S. Lewis & Co., that means building a media kit, sending books and kits to the media contacts that matter, following up to secure interviews, reviews, features and bylined articles, and pitching timely story ideas tied to breaking news, often the same day it happens.
What is a book publicist?
A book publicist is a public relations specialist who works only on book and author publicity. The job is to win coverage in print, radio, television, podcasts and online outlets so readers discover the author. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is a small firm that has done this work for authors and publishers since 1994.
What is the difference between book publicity and book marketing?
Book publicity earns coverage: interviews, reviews, features and articles that the media chooses to run. Book marketing usually covers paid and owned channels such as ads, websites and social media. C.S. Lewis & Co. focuses on publicity and also offers internet marketing support, helping authors develop content for websites, blogs and social and business networks.
What kinds of media coverage can a book publicist get?
Coverage can include radio and television interviews, podcast appearances, reviews, feature stories, mentions, op-eds and bylined articles. C.S. Lewis & Co. clients have appeared in national newspapers, business publications, women’s magazines and online venues, and have become contributors at sites such as Forbes.com, Psychology Today, Inc.com, Huffington Post and Thrive Global.
How does a publicist position an author as an expert?
By pitching the author as a source on the issues their book covers, not just as someone with a book to sell. C.S. Lewis & Co. develops original, timely pitches that connect the author’s expertise to stories in the news, so editors and producers come to regard the author as a go-to expert in their field.
Why does responding to breaking news matter for authors?
Because the first credible expert to respond to a hot-button story is often the one who gets booked. C.S. Lewis & Co. stays in daily contact with its authors so it can develop pitches in real time as news unfolds and secure on-the-spot interviews, something large publisher publicity departments are rarely set up to do.
What is a press kit or media kit for a book?
A media kit is the background package producers, journalists, editors and bloggers use to understand an author and a book. It typically holds story ideas, interview topics, reviews and biographical material. You can download real examples from past C.S. Lewis & Co. campaigns on the press kits page of this site.
Book publicity services and author PR
What book publicity services does C.S. Lewis & Co. offer?
The core service is book and author publicity: media kit creation, distribution and intensive follow-up, a steady stream of timely pitches, a customized list of top media contacts, and coordination of appearances with your travel. The firm also offers internet marketing support and, through trusted partners, speaker services, media coaching and writing services.
Do you offer book marketing services?
Yes, in the form of internet marketing support. C.S. Lewis & Co. helps authors develop content for social and business networks, personal or professional websites and blogs, and expand their professional networks online. The aim is an online presence that keeps generating publicity and exposure long after the media campaign itself has ended.
Can a book publicist help me land speaking engagements?
Yes. Through specialists it works with frequently, C.S. Lewis & Co. offers speaker services aimed at lucrative or professionally valuable speaking opportunities. Speaking supports book sales, puts you in front of targeted audiences and can create new business, which is why many CEO and expert authors treat publication as a starting line, not a finish line.
Do you offer media coaching for authors?
Yes. Media coaching is one of the specialized services C.S. Lewis & Co. can add to your team. It gives authors insider training on how to look and feel professional and confident on television, on radio and in front of live audiences, so the message you deliver is clear, powerful and memorable.
Can you write op-eds or bylined articles for me?
Yes, through writing services from professionals the firm works with closely. These include ghostwritten op-ed pieces and bylined articles based on your book and expertise for newspapers, magazines and trade journals, plus newsletters and marketing material for your business or practice that build on your publicity campaign.
Can a book publicist get me podcast interviews?
Yes. Podcasts are part of C.S. Lewis & Co. campaigns today. Vice president David Lewis helps authors focus their messaging and build their brand through frequent interviews on podcasts, radio and television. Each podcast also introduces you to the host, other guests and a new group of listeners, which extends the value of every appearance.
Book publicist cost
How much does a book publicist cost?
C.S. Lewis & Co. does not publish fixed prices, because each campaign is customized and cost depends on scope. For market context, Reedsy reports a median of $1,370 for a one-month campaign through its freelancer marketplace, and a publishing newsletter by Kathleen Schmidt estimates a full campaign can cost $15,000 to $25,000, both as cited by Everything PR.
Why doesn’t C.S. Lewis & Co. list prices on its website?
Because every campaign is built around one author’s goals, schedule, expertise and media experience, and services are mixed and matched to suit. A campaign for a debut indie author and one for a CEO with a speaking agenda look very different. Ask through the contact page on cslewispublicity.com to get a figure for your book.
What affects the cost of book publicity?
Scope drives cost: how long the campaign runs, which media you target, whether you add internet marketing, and whether you need speaker services, media coaching or writing. For context, Leverage With Media describes long-term publicity partnerships that can cost upwards of $3,000 per month, typically with a three- to five-month minimum.
Is a book publicist worth the money?
It is worth it when your goals reach beyond launch week. Publicity builds name recognition, a media platform and opportunities in publishing, client acquisition and speaking. Client Mike Song credits Cathy Lewis’s team with helping him make over 100 media appearances, including CNN and Good Morning America, for his bestseller The Hamster Revolution.
Is a freelance book publicist cheaper than a firm?
Often, at least per hour. Leverage With Media notes a freelance book marketer might charge from around $50 an hour, though costs add up with complexity. A small firm like C.S. Lewis & Co. offers a team, media relationships built since 1994, and access to speaker, coaching and writing specialists under one campaign.
How do I know if book publicity worked?
Ask for regular reporting and track results over time. C.S. Lewis & Co. keeps authors updated as opportunities emerge, and client Mark Pastin notes that Cathy provides a monthly summary of results. Bestseller Publishing also recommends tracking inbound leads and speaking engagements for 12 months after release, not just first-week rankings.
Indie authors and who it is for
Why do indie authors need a book publicist?
Because nobody else is pitching the media for you. Indie authors handle writing, production and sales themselves, which leaves little time for daily outreach, follow-up and breaking-news pitching. A publicist brings existing relationships with editors, reporters, columnists and producers, which C.S. Lewis & Co. has built over more than three decades.
What kinds of books does C.S. Lewis & Co. publicize?
The firm has an established track record in business, careers, work/life, parenting, health, diet and nutrition, food and cookbooks, self-help, human potential, and new age and spirituality. Its client list also includes current events, economics and politics titles, such as books by John Perkins, Richard Vague and Areva Martin.
Do you work with publishers as well as authors?
Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. serves both authors and publishers, and works closely with publishers’ and businesses’ publicity teams so its efforts complement theirs. Past campaigns include titles from houses such as Harmony Books, Penguin Putnam, Viking Penguin, St. Martin’s Press, Owl Books and Hay House, as well as smaller presses.
Do you handle fiction?
The firm’s published track record centers on nonfiction subjects such as business, health, self-help, parenting and spirituality, and its campaigns are built around positioning authors as experts, which suits nonfiction best. If you have a novel, describe it through the contact page on cslewispublicity.com and the team can tell you whether it fits.
Compared to publishers and alternatives
Why hire a book publicist instead of relying on my publisher?
Because a dedicated publicist does nothing but publicity for you. Large publishers release dozens of titles each season, so unless your book is on their top-tier list, you may get little more than a press release mailed to reviewers with little follow-up. C.S. Lewis & Co. works for you, with your interests at heart.
What can a publicist do that a publisher won’t?
Customize a campaign to your expertise, objectives, region and travel schedule; talk with you daily to pitch in real time as news breaks; and promote a specific area of your work you want highlighted. If you plan a trip, C.S. Lewis & Co. can arrange a local television appearance or a book signing in that area.
Is a small press publicity department enough?
Small press publicity teams often work hard and have fewer books to focus on, but they also have fewer resources than large publishers. They rarely have the budget or staff to design a targeted campaign for each author, or first-name relationships with hundreds of editors, reporters, columnists and producers, which C.S. Lewis & Co. has.
Should I hire a big PR agency or a small book PR agency?
A small book PR agency suits authors who want close attention. C.S. Lewis & Co. is a small book publicity firm that takes pride in personal, highly collaborative relationships, and clients describe Cathy Lewis taking time to know their book inside out. Book publicity is also its only focus, unlike general agencies that serve many industries.
How do I choose among book publicity companies?
Ask each firm for the specific outlets it has placed clients in during the last 12 months, and for dated milestones at 30, 60 and 90 days, as Bestseller Publishing recommends. C.S. Lewis & Co. links to real client media pages and offers downloadable press kits so you can review its work before reaching out.
Can I do my own book publicity?
You can, but it is close to a full-time job. Effective publicity means building a media kit, distributing books, following up persistently, pitching new angles and reacting the same day news breaks. Many authors lack the time and the established media relationships. C.S. Lewis & Co. brings both, plus a team so everything is covered.
How a campaign works
How does a campaign with C.S. Lewis & Co. start?
It starts with a conversation about your expertise and strengths, your media experience and, above all, your professional goals. From there the team creates a customized media kit and a strategic campaign designed to generate interest in you and your book, combining classic media with new media for the widest possible reach.
How involved will I be in my book publicity campaign?
Closely involved, by design. C.S. Lewis & Co. builds personal, highly collaborative relationships and works with each client’s strengths. If radio and television make you nervous, the campaign can be shaped around outlets that suit you, and media coaching is available to build confidence before broadcast appearances.
How often will I hear from my publicist?
Often. C.S. Lewis & Co. stays in close contact so it can pitch you into stories as they break. Client Mark Pastin notes that Cathy keeps authors up to date as opportunities emerge and gives a monthly summary of results, so you can see what has been secured and what is in progress.
Can publicity be coordinated with my travel?
Yes. The firm evaluates and pursues opportunities to make the most of author travel to major media markets and coordinates appearances with your personal schedule. A visit to family in another state, for example, can become a local television appearance or a book signing in that area.
Who will work on my campaign?
Campaigns are led by Cathy Lewis, president, who founded the firm in 1994 after seven years as an in-house publicist at publishing houses, and David C. Lewis, vice president, who focuses on podcasts, radio, television and contributor roles. Clients note that Cathy has a team working with her so everything is covered.
What happens after the publicity campaign ends?
The relationships keep paying off. C.S. Lewis & Co. aims to help authors form long-term relationships with editors, producers and journalists who now regard them as experts, and to build an online presence and contributor roles that generate exposure long after the campaign itself is over.
Getting started and practical details
How do I contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists?
Use the contact page on cslewispublicity.com, call 845-679-2188, or email cslewispublicity@gmail.com to reach Cathy Lewis. David Lewis can be reached at david@cslewispublicity.com or the same phone number. The firm lists offices in Woodstock, New York, and Boynton Beach, Florida.
Where is C.S. Lewis & Co. located?
The firm lists two offices: 2 Oriole Drive, Woodstock, New York 12498, and 31-F Stratford Lane West, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436. Its campaigns are not limited to those areas: client coverage has included national newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets across North America.
When should I hire a book publicist?
Ideally before your book comes out, so there is time to build a media kit and get books to media contacts ahead of publication. Starting several months before launch is common practice in book publicity; confirm the timing that fits your book directly with C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicity can still help after launch.
What should I have ready before contacting a publicist?
Have your book details and publication date, a clear sense of your expertise and the topics you can speak about, any past media experience, your upcoming travel and, most important, your professional goals. Those are the things C.S. Lewis & Co. discusses first when shaping a customized campaign.
Can I see examples of C.S. Lewis & Co. work?
Yes. This site links to media pages from client campaigns, including Daniel Amen MD, Areva Martin, Ted Baxter, Ora Nadrich, Judith Orloff and Carol Roth, and offers downloadable press kits from past campaigns. The clients page also lists a sampling of authors and books the firm has worked with.
Does a book publicist guarantee media coverage or sales?
No publicist controls what the media runs, because publicity is earned coverage that editors and producers choose. What C.S. Lewis & Co. commits to is a customized strategy, persistent follow-up and real-time pitching, and it shares links to real media hits from client campaigns so you can judge its results yourself.
Next, read the book publicist overview or the guide to book publicist cost.
Ready to put your book in the news?
Tell C.S. Lewis & Co. about your book, your expertise and your goals. The team will shape a campaign around them.