What Does A Book Publicist Do?
Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist headshot
Stephanie Barko, Literary Publicist headshot

Stephanie Barko

The internet and the democratization of the publishing industry have made it easier than ever today to publish a book.  With so many people publishing material in so many different formats, the competition to sell one’s writing has never been keener.  The wisest and most savvy authors and indie publishers are asking themselves a question. What does a book publicist do?

The book publicist sits at the back end of the publishing chain and is the team member who pushes the finished book into the marketplace.  Book publicity begins six to 12 months prior to release date when the marketing plan and book platform are written, and typically ends about four months after launch.

Book publicists specialize in specific genres just like literary agents do.  These genre specialties include nonfiction & fiction subgenres like how-to, history, career, business, biography, autobiography, self-help, and historical fiction.  Some book publicists are employed directly by publishing houses and some freelance for publishers and authors.

A critical function of the book publicist is to submit galleys and finished books for book reviews.  The publicist may also attempt to get the title on a prominent books list or nominate it for a book award.  Also within the publicist’s purview is the pitching of features to journalists either written by, about or mentioning the author.

Publicists can both directly and indirectly effect book sales through their book marketing efforts, including promoting a virtual tour, securing author interviews, leveraging the author’s book blog and social networking profiles, and utilizing the author’s media kit.  If funds are available, publicists will also schedule an author’s book talk or ground tour. Publicists will sometimes promote free books and conduct book giveaways to generate interest for a title.

Here is a list of services that some publicists offer.

  • Devise and execute the book platform
  • Acquire endorsements
  • Oversee editing of the book’s back cover text
  • Edit the author’s biography and the book’s synopsis
  • Create a strategy for the author’s book blog
  • Initialize the author’s social networking profiles
  • Request book reviews
  • Assemble a media kit and disseminate its elements
  • Pitch interviews and features
  • Plan the book’s launch event and book talk
  • Schedule, host and promote the book’s virtual tour
  • Encourage nomination of the title for book awards
  • Position the title for addition to a books list
  • Formulate the author’s talking points
  • Syndicate the author’s articles
  • Recommend venues with high traffic author events
  • Leverage the interest of special audiences & book groups

Publicists joke among themselves that no two of them are alike, and in many respects this is true.  Each specializes in a particular type of client or book and each publicist has a track record that illustrates a unique variety of experience.  However, one thing is certain–the book with the extra marketing push will always do better, even if a similar title is as good.

 

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4 Comments

  1. I know that writing is a solitary pursuit but when it comes to promoting, I don’t want to be alone. One of the reason that I wrote a novel is that I wanted to see how the publishing world works. Although I am not at a point where I want to publish, I feel reassured that there is a service out there that can hold my hand while I jump into the fire.

  2. What education would you recommend for someone interested in becoming a publicist?

  3. Depends on what you want to publicize. Movie publicists should apprentice in the film industry. General publicists would do well to get an internship at a full service agency. Hope this helps.

  4. I need the services of a book publicist

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