Book publicity services
Last updated: Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists
Book publicity services are the tasks a publicist performs to earn media coverage for a book: preparing a media kit, sending books to the right contacts, following up, and pitching story ideas until interviews, reviews, and features are booked.
What services does a book publicist provide?
A book publicist provides a media kit, book and kit distribution, intensive follow-up, timely pitches, and interview booking. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists also customizes a list of top media contacts for each author, aligns pitches with breaking news, and coordinates appearances with the author’s travel schedule.
Quick answers
- Are book publicity services sold as packages?
- Some publicists sell packages. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists describes its services as a menu it can mix and match to suit each client.
- Do publicity services include reviews?
- Securing reviews is part of the follow-up process, along with interviews, features, mentions, op-eds, and bylined articles.
- How fast can a publicist react to news?
- C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists aligns pitches with breaking news as it happens, often the same day.
Book publicity services, defined
Book publicity services are the professional activities that earn unpaid media coverage for a book and its author. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, the core service list is specific. The firm creates a media kit that television and radio producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers can use for background, reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and bylined articles. It distributes books and kits to every media contact that matters and manages intensive follow-up to secure interviews, features, mentions, reviews, op-eds, and article placements. It develops a continual stream of original, timely pitches that position the author as a newsworthy expert, often aligned with breaking news the same day. It customizes a list of top media contacts with whom it has established relationships. And it coordinates media appearances with the author’s travel to major markets.
Book publicity services by the numbers
Published market figures with sources, and facts about C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
- $1,370Median cost of a one-month book publicity campaign booked through the Reedsy freelancer marketplace, as reported by Everything PR. Source: Everything PR, "Best Book Publicity Firms: 7 Companies Compared in 2026".
- $15,000 to $25,000Estimated cost of a full book publicity campaign, from a publishing newsletter by Kathleen Schmidt, as cited by Everything PR. Source: Everything PR, "Best Book Publicity Firms: 7 Companies Compared in 2026".
- 1994The year Cathy Lewis launched C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, after seven years as an in-house publicist at publishing houses.
- 10 subject areasBusiness, careers, work and life, parenting, health, diet and nutrition, food and cookbooks, self-help, human potential, and New Age and spirituality.
How a book publicity campaign runs, step by step
Discovery conversation
The firm learns your expertise, strengths, media experience, and professional goals.
Media kit
A kit is created for producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers to reference.
Targeted media list
Top contacts are matched to your topic and their audience.
Distribution and follow-up
Books and kits go out, followed by persistent outreach to secure coverage.
Breaking news pitching
Timely pitches tie your expertise to stories as they unfold.
Appearances and relationships
Interviews are booked, travel is coordinated, and lasting media relationships form.
Classic media and new media in one campaign
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists describes its campaigns as multi-pronged, bridging classic and new media. That means print, radio, and television alongside podcasts, blogs, and online publications. The firm’s blog covers how authors can maximize exposure from every podcast interview, including relationships with hosts, other guests, and listeners.
How much do book publicity services cost?
Published figures range from a $1,370 median for a one-month Reedsy campaign to $15,000 to $25,000 for a full campaign, both reported by Everything PR. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does not post a fixed price. See the book publicist cost guide for what raises or lowers the number.
Have a book launching soon?
Tell C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists about your book, your publication date, and your goals. The firm customizes each campaign, so a conversation is the way to get a quote.
Common questions
See all questionsWhat does a book publicist do?
A book publicist works to get an author and a book covered by the media. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists that means building a media kit, sending books and kits to the right contacts, following up to secure interviews and reviews, and pitching story ideas tied to breaking news, often the same day.
What is a media kit for an author?
A media kit is the background package producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers use to decide whether to cover you. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists builds kits that include reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and material for bylined articles. You can see examples on the firm’s press kits page at cslewispublicity.com.
Can a publicist get me into breaking news stories?
Yes, that is a core part of the work. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists develops timely media pitches that align your expertise with breaking news as it happens, often the same day. Being the first publicist to respond to a hot-button event is how authors land on-the-spot interviews.
Can a publicist book media around my travel schedule?
Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists evaluates opportunities in major media markets and coordinates appearances with your personal travel. The firm’s own FAQ gives an example: if you plan to visit family in Florida, it could arrange a local television appearance or a book signing in that area.
How does a book publicity campaign start?
It starts with a conversation. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists asks about your expertise and strengths, your media experience, and above all your professional goals. From there the firm customizes a media kit and a strategic campaign designed to generate interest in you and your book.
How will I know what results my campaign is getting?
Ask any publicist how they report. One C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists client, author Mark Pastin, wrote that Cathy Lewis keeps you up to date as opportunities emerge and gives you a monthly summary of results. Confirm the reporting format with the firm before you start.