A campaign built for you
It starts with a conversation about your expertise, strengths, media experience and professional goals. If radio and television make you nervous, the plan is shaped around that, and media coaching is available.
Book publicists for indie authors
Book publicists for indie authors who want to be taken seriously
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is a book publicist for indie authors that works directly for you, with no publisher standing between your goals and your campaign.
Independent and self-published authors are a priority for C.S. Lewis & Co. The firm builds a customized campaign around your expertise, goals, region and travel, then does the daily work of getting you into print, radio, television, podcasts and online media as an expert in your field.
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Do indie authors need a book publicist?
If you want media coverage, usually yes, because no one else is pitching for you. A traditionally published author at least gets a mailing from a publisher’s publicity department. An indie author starts with nothing: no media list, no relationships, and no one following up on the review copies.
Meanwhile, publicity rewards speed and persistence. The author who gets booked on a breaking story is the one whose publicist pitched first, sometimes within minutes. That is hard to do while also writing, producing and selling a book. C.S. Lewis & Co. does nothing but book publicity, and its first-name relationships with hundreds of editors, reporters, columnists and producers took more than three decades to build.
What an indie author gets from C.S. Lewis & Co.
Someone who works for you
The firm works for the author, with the author’s interests at heart. Getting tangible results for clients is the entire focus of the business, and there is no seasonal list competing for attention.
A platform, not a moment
Campaigns aim for a brand and media platform that keeps working: contributor roles, speaking, and relationships with media who now see you as an expert.
“I heard all the bad things about publicists, but I was completely satisfied and very enthusiastic about Cathy. She is a pro and takes the time to really know the book inside out. She has a team of people who work with her so she can cover everything. Cathy keeps you up to date as opportunities emerge and gives you a monthly summary of results.”
How to vet any book publicist before you sign
Whether you hire C.S. Lewis & Co. or someone else, ask the same questions. Industry guidance from Bestseller Publishing recommends three that are worth borrowing:
- Ask for the specific podcasts, publications or broadcast segments the firm has placed clients on in the last 12 months.
- Request milestones with dates so you can hold the firm accountable at 30, 60 and 90 days.
- Track inbound leads and speaking engagements for 12 months after release, not just first-week rankings.
C.S. Lewis & Co. makes the first step easy: it links to real media pages from client campaigns and offers downloadable press kits. See the client list and reviews and the press kit examples.
What does a book publicist cost for an indie author?
C.S. Lewis & Co. quotes each customized campaign individually rather than publishing a price list. For market context, Reedsy reports a median of $1,370 for a one-month campaign through its freelancer marketplace, as cited by Everything PR. Read the full guide to book publicist cost, or go back to the overview of C.S. Lewis & Co. as a book publicist for indie authors.
Common questions
Do you work with indie and self-published authors?
Yes. Independent authors are a priority for C.S. Lewis & Co. Without a publisher’s publicity department, an indie author needs someone whose whole workday is spent getting them into the news, and that is exactly what the firm does. Each campaign is customized to your expertise, goals, region and travel schedule.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Indie author with a book to launch?
Tell C.S. Lewis & Co. about your book, your expertise and your goals. The team will shape a campaign around them.