WHAT'S IN A BOOK PUBLICITY PRESS KIT AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

As a book publicist, I love creating press kits (aka "media kits") to send out to media (news editors, reporters, TV/Radio programmers, bloggers, etc.) via snail mail, e-mail, and posting online as Digital Media Kits (aka Electronic Media Kits). At its best, a press kit serves as a calling card that practically glows in the dark with two important messages:

1. "Your audience will not want to miss out on reading this book.”

2. “This author will give you an exciting interview.”

Now add a “because” after each of those statements, fill in what comes after it, and you’re on your way to a scintillating press kit!

So what’s in a press kit?

1. A ONE-SHEET

When printed out, all this info must fit on one sheet of paper.

Here’s the format I like to use:

*Book cover photo (small jpg in upper left corner).

*The Why of the Press Kit:
"(Author’s name) would be honored to be a guest on your program to speak about (book’s topic)."

*Sell Sheet Info:
List your book’s vital statistics—the same that you find on every Amazon book page:
(Title, Author, Paperback or Hard Cover, ISBN, Price, etc.)
Include author/publicist contact info; website and social media links.

*Summary:
Keep your summary brief and magnetic. This is your marketing pitch. Not hype. It should cut to the heart of what makes this book unique and attractive to its readers. And do so with enthusiasm and style. No spoilers. What would make you want to pick up this book and read it right away?

*Reviews:
Include a few terrific review blurbs. Your best bet is to ask other authors to review your book or submit it to a free but prestigious service like Midwest Book Review. Blurbs carry weight. They may ultimately convince a media host to ask to read the book. Yet newbies often expect their book to get along fine without advance reviews as it bursts out of the publishing gate.

*Author Bio with Photo:
Your bio can only be a couple lines, and focus on the most fascinating things about you. If you can’t think of anything, ask a best friend or family member to remind you.

If you print out a hard copy, you may use the back of the one sheet to include a short excerpt or a press release.

2. PHOTOS: Reporters often ask for relevant photos in addition to the author’s photo, such as a reading/signing at your book’s launch event.

3. EXCERPT: If you include a book excerpt, keep it relatively short (pretend you are contacting an ADD sufferer). If it’s not exciting, funny or intriguing…don’t send it.

Now a few words about Electronic Press Kits (aka “Digital Media Kits”):

In addition to mailing out press kits, you might also consider creating an online press kit. This will have all the info listed above, but on its own site. This serves as a kind of mini-website. Your book at-a-glance.

Here are samples of the Digital Media Kits that I've designed for authors that will give you an idea of how an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) can rock your book:

"Arrgh!"
http://arrghpresskit.blogspot.com/

"Father's Wisdom"
http://authorpresskitsbymarlansample.blogspot.com/ 

And above all…

Have fun!

____

Marlan Warren is a publicist with Roadmap Communications and its subsidiary Book Publicity by Marlan in Los Angeles. Yelp named her to its 2018 “Best Publicist in L.A.” list. She writes book reviews for the Midwest Book Review; maintains the blogs Roadmap Girl's Book Buzz and L.A. Now and Then; and is a contributor to the popular book promotion site: How to Do It Frugally. Marlan is the author of the novel, Roadmaps for the Sexually Challenged: All’s Not Fair in Love or War. A filmmaker and playwright, her nonfiction film “Reunion” was the official selection at international film festivals, and her documentary about the women of the Japanese American Internment, What did you do in the war, Mama?: Kochiyama's Crusaders, is currently in post-production. She directed her play Bits of Paradise in San Francisco and Los Angeles.