Book publicity for launches

Book publicists for indie authors with a launch on the calendar

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists are book publicists for indie authors who want real media coverage for a book launching soon.

Founded in 1994, C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is a small book publicity firm that works directly for authors and publishers. It builds a custom campaign across print, radio, television and internet media that positions you as a newsworthy expert, with the goal of book sales, a lasting platform and new opportunities such as speaking engagements.

Contact the firm about your launch

Last updated: November 2026

What do book publicists for indie authors actually do?

They get you and your book into the news. A book publicist builds a media kit, sends your book to the editors, reporters and producers who cover your subject, follows up until interviews and reviews are booked, and keeps pitching you as an expert source when stories break.

For an author without a large publisher's publicity machine behind them, that daily work is the difference between a book that quietly appears and a book people hear about. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does nothing but book publicity, and every campaign is shaped around one author's strengths and goals.

The short version, in three cards

Definition: a book publicist for indie authors

A book publicist for indie authors is an independent publicist who works for the author, not the publishing house, to win earned media coverage: interviews, reviews, features, op-eds and bylined articles. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is one such firm. It creates collaborative, customized campaigns that position authors as newsworthy experts in their field through print, radio, television and internet exposure, so the book sells and the author builds a platform for future publishing, client and speaking opportunities.

By the numbers: C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists

1994: year Cathy Lewis founded the firm
7 years: her prior experience as an in-house publicist at publishing houses
10: subject areas with an established track record
2: offices, in Woodstock, New York and Boynton Beach, Florida
100+ appearances, 125,000+ copies, 11 languages: results client Mike Song reports for The Hamster Revolution

Figures as published by the firm and its clients, as of November 2026.

Who the firm puts first

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists gives its highest priority to authors and publishers with a book launching soon. A launch window gives a campaign the most room to work: time to build the media kit, get books into the right hands, follow up, and line up interviews before and after release day. Its strongest track record is in business, careers, work/life, parenting, health, diet and nutrition, food and cookbooks, self-help, human potential, and New Age and spirituality.

Hiring a publicist for indie authors: who it fits

A publicist for indie authors makes the most sense when three things are true: your book has a launch date, you have real expertise the media can use, and you want more from the book than sales alone. The firm's campaigns are built to open doors to new publishing deals, new clients and high-value speaking engagements.

Publishing path matters less than you might think. Large publishers, according to the firm's experience, often limit custom campaigns to their top tier titles. Small presses work hard but have fewer resources. Working with an independent firm means the campaign is built around you either way.

You have a book launching soon and want coverage beyond review copies.
You write nonfiction in an area where you can speak as an expert.
You can make time for interviews, sometimes on short notice.
You want an ongoing media platform, not a one-week spike.

Independent publicist or publisher publicity: how do they compare?

Here is how C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists compares the three most common routes, using the same criteria for each. The full breakdown is on the independent publicist vs publisher comparison.

Book publicity options compared by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists on the same six criteria, based on the firm's published experience. Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
Criterion	C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists (independent firm)	Large publisher publicity department	Small press publicity department
Who it works for	The author or publisher who hires it	Every title on the publisher’s seasonal list	Every title on the press’s list, usually a shorter list
Campaign customization	Tailored to the author’s expertise, goals, region and travel schedule	Tailored campaigns are generally reserved for top tier titles	Hard working, but limited budget and staff for a campaign per author
Pitching into breaking news	Daily contact with the author; pitches often go out the same day	Cannot communicate daily with each author to pitch in real time	Fewer resources for real-time pitching
Follow-up with media	Intensive follow-up to secure interviews, features, reviews and op-eds	Often a book and press release mailed to reviewers, with little or no follow-up	Fewer resources for sustained follow-up
Media relationships	First-name relationships with hundreds of editors, reporters, columnists and producers	Varies by house	Less developed than a dedicated publicity firm, in the firm’s view
Best fit	Authors with a launch soon who want a custom campaign	Authors on the publisher’s top tier list	Authors whose press welcomes added outside help

How does a book launch campaign work, step by step?

Every campaign is customized, but most follow the same shape. See the book launch publicity guide for timing and preparation.

Step 1: A conversation about you
The firm asks about your expertise and strengths, your media experience and, above all, your professional goals.
Step 2: A custom media kit
A kit producers, journalists, editors and bloggers can use for reviews, story ideas, interview topics and bylined articles.
Step 3: Books and kits to the right contacts
Books and media kits go to every media contact that matters, followed by an intensive follow-up process.
Step 4: Timely pitches tied to the news
Original pitches position you as a newsworthy expert and are aligned with breaking stories, often the same day.
Step 5: Appearances around your schedule
Interviews and appearances in major media markets are coordinated with your travel, with media coaching if you want it.
Step 6: Updates and a monthly summary
Clients describe being kept up to date as opportunities emerge, plus a monthly summary of results.

Choosing an indie book publicist

An indie book publicist should be able to show you real coverage from past campaigns, explain how they will pitch your subject, and tell you how they report results. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists links to media pages from past client campaigns and publishes client testimonials, so you can check its work before you make contact.

One note for anyone searching for an indie book publicist with premade covers: cover design is a separate service. This firm does publicity only. Read more about what an indie book publicist does or use the vetting guide before you hire anyone.

What do authors say after working with the firm?

“Cathy Lewis helped me launch my bestselling book, The Hamster Revolution: Manage Your Email Before It Manages You. Her team helped me make over 100 media appearances, including appearing on CNN and Good Morning America. We sold over 125,000 copies in 11 languages. Cathy and her team were a big part of that success.”

Mike SongAuthor of the bestseller The Hamster Revolution

“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.”

Mark PastinAuthor of Make an Ethical Difference: Tools for Better Action

More in book publicity services reviews and client results.

Go deeper on book publicity

Common questions

What is an indie book publicist?

An indie book publicist is an independent publicist who works for the author rather than for a publishing house. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is a small independent firm founded in 1994 that builds customized media campaigns around each author's expertise and goals, instead of fitting a book into a publisher's seasonal list.

How much does a book publicist cost?

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does not publish set prices. Each campaign is customized, so cost depends on the services you combine, such as book and author publicity, internet marketing, media coaching, speaker services or writing services, and on how long the campaign runs. Ask the firm directly for a quote based on your book and launch date.

When should I hire a book publicist before my launch?

As early as you can once you have a launch date. The firm's highest priority is authors and publishers with a book launching soon. Media kits, book mailings and follow-up all take time, and many outlets plan coverage ahead, so starting before release gives the campaign room to work.

Do you work with self-published and indie authors?

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists works directly for authors, so you do not need a large publisher's publicity department behind you to hire the firm. Campaigns are built around your expertise and goals rather than a publisher's list. Contact the firm with your title, subject and launch date to confirm fit for your specific book.

Why hire a publicist instead of relying on my publisher?

Because a publicist works only on publicity, and works for you. According to C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, unless a book is on a large publisher's top tier list, such as titles by celebrities or bestselling authors, the most an author can usually expect is the book and a press release mailed to reviewers, with little or no follow-up.

What subjects does C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists cover?

The firm has an established track record in ten subject areas: business, careers, work/life, parenting, health, diet and nutrition, food and cookbooks, self-help, human potential, and New Age and spirituality. Its published client list also includes authors writing on current events, economics and politics.

See all 46 questions in the book publicist FAQ

Have a book launching soon?

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists gives priority to authors and publishers with a launch on the calendar. Share your title, subject and launch date, and the firm will talk through a campaign built around your goals.