Book publicist questions, answered
Last updated: Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists
This page answers 43 common questions about hiring a book publicist, from cost to campaign steps, in plain language.
What should I know before hiring a book publicist?
Before hiring a book publicist, know your goals, your publication date, and your budget range. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, which publishes this FAQ, customizes every campaign, so the answers below explain typical costs, services, and trade-offs to help you prepare for that conversation.
What a book publicist does
What 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 the difference between book publicity and book marketing?
Book publicity earns coverage you do not pay the outlet for, such as interviews, reviews, features, and bylined articles. Book marketing usually means paid placements such as ads. Publicity builds credibility and an author platform, while ads buy visibility for as long as you keep spending. Many authors use both.
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.
What kinds of media does a book publicity campaign target?
A full campaign typically reaches print, radio, television, and internet outlets, including podcasts and blogs. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists runs multi-pronged campaigns that bridge classic and new media so an author reaches the widest possible audience rather than relying on a single channel.
Pricing and cost
How much does a book publicist cost?
Published figures run from a median of $1,370 for a one-month campaign through the Reedsy freelancer marketplace to an estimated $15,000 to $25,000 for a full launch campaign, both as reported by Everything PR in 2026. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does not post a fixed price because every campaign is customized.
How much does it cost to hire a book publicist for a full launch?
A full launch is the upper end of the range. A publishing newsletter by Kathleen Schmidt, cited by Everything PR, estimates a full campaign at $15,000 to $25,000. Scope, length, and media targets drive the number. Contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists to discuss what your launch needs.
Why doesn’t C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists list prices on its website?
The firm customizes each campaign around the author’s expertise, goals, media experience, and travel schedule, and mixes and matches services such as publicity, internet marketing, media coaching, and writing. Because the scope differs from client to client, the clearest way to get a figure is to contact the firm directly.
What makes a book publicity campaign cost more?
Cost generally rises with campaign length, the number of media channels covered, national rather than regional targets, travel coordination, and add-on services. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, optional extras include speaker services, media coaching, and ghostwritten op-eds and bylined articles, each of which adds specialized work.
Is paying for ads cheaper than hiring a publicist?
Ads can start small. Weekend Publisher notes you can technically start at $5 per day, but that proper testing takes $10 to $30 per day for a few weeks, and a funded series campaign usually lands at $500 to $1,500 per month in spend, separate from management fees. Ads also stop working when spending stops.
Is hiring a book publicist worth the money?
It depends on your goals. If you want media interviews, reviews, expert positioning, and speaking opportunities, a publicist does work that ads cannot. Author Mike Song wrote that C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists helped him make over 100 media appearances, including CNN and Good Morning America, for his bestseller The Hamster Revolution.
How a campaign works
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.
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 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.
Will an outside publicist work with my publisher’s publicity team?
It should. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists states that it works closely with publishers’ and businesses’ publicity teams so that its efforts on an author’s behalf complement theirs rather than duplicate them. That coordination matters most during launch, when several teams may be pitching at once.
Can a publicist help me write articles for major outlets?
Yes. Through its support team, C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists offers writing services that create ghostwritten op-ed pieces and bylined articles based on your book and expertise, for placement in newspapers, magazines, and trade journals. The firm also helps authors become regular contributors at sites such as Forbes.com and PsychologyToday.com.
Who book publicity is for
Which book subjects does C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists handle?
The firm reports an established track record in business, careers, work and life, parenting, health, diet and nutrition, food and cookbooks, self-help, human potential, and New Age and spirituality. Its client list also includes current events, economics, and politics titles such as John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.
Do publishers hire outside book publicists?
Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists serves publishers as well as authors and coordinates with in-house teams. Large houses often reserve their deepest publicity effort for top-tier titles, and small presses have fewer resources, so an outside firm can give a specific title more focused attention.
My book launches soon. When should I hire a publicist?
As early as you can. Media kits, review copies, and pitch lists take time to prepare, and many outlets plan coverage well ahead. If your book is launching soon, contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists now so the campaign can be planned around your publication date.
Compared to the alternatives
Why hire a book publicist when my publisher has a publicity department?
A dedicated publicist works for you. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists notes that large publishers rarely have the time, budget, or staff to tailor a campaign to each author, and unless a book is top tier, the most many authors get is a mailing to reviewers with little or no follow-up.
Should I hire a book publicity firm or a freelance publicist?
A freelancer can suit a short, focused campaign; Reedsy reports a median of $1,370 for one month, per Everything PR. A firm like C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists brings a team, established media relationships built since 1994, and add-on services such as media coaching and speaker support.
Can I do my own book publicity?
You can, and many authors pitch podcasts and local media themselves. The trade-off is time and relationships. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists says its value comes from first-name relationships with hundreds of editors, reporters, columnists, and producers and from doing nothing but book publicity all day.
Is a book PR agency the same as a book marketing agency?
Not quite. A book PR agency focuses on earned media such as interviews, reviews, and articles. A book marketing agency often focuses on paid ads, retailer listings, and promotions. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists is primarily a publicity firm that also offers internet marketing support such as website and social content.
How should I compare book publicity companies?
Compare them on the same points: the subjects they know, the media they actually reach, who does the daily work, how they report, and what is included. Ask to see real media hits. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists publishes links to client media pages so you can review past coverage.
Where can I read reviews of book publicity services?
Start with the firm’s own client references, then check the authors’ media pages yourself. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists publishes client references and links to real campaign coverage, including media pages for Daniel G. Amen MD, Areva Martin, Ora Nadrich, and Carol Roth.
Getting started and practical details
How do I contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists?
Use the contact page at cslewispublicity.com/contact-us. You can also call 845-679-2188 or email cslewispublicity@gmail.com to reach Cathy Lewis, or david@cslewispublicity.com to reach David Lewis. Share your book, publication date, and goals so the firm can respond to your needs.
Where is C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists located?
The firm lists two addresses: 2 Oriole Drive, Woodstock, New York 12498, and 31-F Stratford Lane West, Boynton Beach, Florida 33436. Book publicity is mostly done by phone, email, and media relationships, so authors do not need to be nearby to work with the firm.
Who runs C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists?
Cathy Lewis is president. She worked as an in-house publicist at publishing houses for seven years before launching the firm in 1994. David C. Lewis is vice president and helps authors focus their messaging through podcasts, radio, television, and contributor roles at sites like Thrive Global and Forbes.com.
What should I prepare before talking to a publicist?
Have your publication date, a short description of the book, your area of expertise, any past media experience, and your goals ready. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists starts every campaign by discussing your strengths and professional objectives, so clear goals lead to a sharper plan.
What if I am nervous about radio or TV interviews?
That is common, and it can be planned for. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists offers media coaching through its support team, giving authors training to look and sound confident on television, radio, and before live audiences. Because every campaign is customized, the media mix can be discussed around your comfort level.
Problems and concerns
I had a bad experience with a publicist before. What should I ask this time?
Ask who does the daily work, how often you will hear from them, how results are reported, and to see real coverage from recent campaigns. One C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists client wrote that they hired the firm after "a disappointing gauntlet of publicists for other books and projects."
Can a book publicist guarantee media coverage?
Earned media cannot be guaranteed because editors and producers decide what they cover. Be cautious of any promise that sounds certain. What a publicist controls is the quality of the pitches, the relevance of the contacts, and the persistence of the follow-up, which is where C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists focuses its work.
My book is already out and not selling. Can publicity still help?
Publicity can still help when there is a strong news angle. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists ties author expertise to breaking news, which does not depend on a launch date. Contact the firm to discuss whether your book and expertise fit current stories.
Is my book too small or niche for a publicist?
Not necessarily. Niche expertise is often what makes an author useful to journalists covering a specific topic. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists describes itself as a small firm that builds personal, collaborative relationships, and it customizes campaigns around each author’s strengths. Ask the firm directly about your subject.
Still have a question about your book?
Ask C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists directly. Share your book, publication date, and goals, and the firm can respond to your specific needs.