Hiring guide
To hire a book publicist, check their track record in your subject, read client testimonials, review real coverage from past campaigns, and ask exactly how they will pitch and report on your book.
This vetting guide is written by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, so read it knowing the firm describes its own practices below. The steps apply to any publicist you consider, and the firm encourages authors to check its record the same way.
Last updated:
Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists. This page is written by the firm it describes and is not independent.
Sales, speaking, new clients, a next book. A good publicist starts by asking about these, so have answers.
Look for experience in your area. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists lists ten subject areas on its site.
Look for specifics: appearances, outlets, how the publicist communicated, and how results were reported.
Ask for links to past client media pages, not just logos. Promises are easy; coverage is verifiable.
Do they tie pitches to breaking news? How fast? Who are their relationships with in your subject?
Know how often you will hear about results before you sign, and who your day-to-day contact will be.
For a look at how storytelling shapes book publicity, read How To Leverage Hollywood Storytelling In Book Publicity, in which Cathy Lewis interviews storyteller Matthew Luhn. For broader author resources, the Authors Guild is a long-standing professional organization for writers. When you are ready to compare options, see independent publicist vs publisher publicity.
These steps reflect the questions C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists hears from authors and the facts it publishes about its own work. They are not the result of an independent study or audit.
Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists. This page is written by the firm it describes and is not independent.
Check their track record in your subject, read client testimonials, and look at real coverage from past campaigns rather than promises. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists lists ten subject areas, a long client list and links to client media pages, which lets you verify its work before you make contact.
Ask who will work on your campaign day to day, which media they know in your subject, how they tie pitches to news, how often they report results, and what past clients in your area achieved. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists publishes client testimonials and links to past client media pages you can review first.
Neither is better for everyone. A small firm like C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists emphasizes personal, collaborative relationships and campaigns customized to one author. A larger agency may offer more staff. Choose based on who will work on your book day to day, their record in your subject, and how they report results.
Several C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists clients say they came to the firm after disappointing publicists. One describes a well-thought-through game plan that landed a spot on CNN, and another says he had heard all the bad things about publicists but was completely satisfied. Review the testimonials, then ask how the firm would plan your campaign.
The firm links to media pages of past clients, including Daniel Amen MD, Areva Martin, Ted Baxter, Ora Nadrich, Judith Orloff and Carol Roth, so you can see real coverage rather than promises. Those links are collected on the client results page of this site and on the firm's main website.
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.
Contact the firm about your launchPublished by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists
