Susan Weinstein – Publicist

I am a public relations professional with a specialty in books. I began as the in-house writer for a major publisher and over time gained experience publicizing books for publishers and authors. My press kits have been the basis for successful branding of authors and small presses. I charge for research and writing time.

Combining traditional & social media, I have worked with many university press trade non fiction and academic books that "crossed over" to trade audiences. Subjects range from science and social issues to politics, photography and art. I also have done fiction campaigns, working with publishers. I designed individual campaigns for specific books.

I have worked with university and small-press publishers, following up on their list for ARCs (Advance review copies). I have researched beyond general review list for media by category. I have worked with authors using content marketing from their books on social media platforms, as well as possible Radio, TV, podcast contacts.

Self-publishing and "ghost-written" books can use press kits (release, Q&A, bio, pitch, endorsement-quote sheet). These can be used on book sites. Good Reads has a fairly affordable author program that can help create audiences. Blogs have rules, like expecting to receive a book 4 months in advance of pub date. In categories such as romance, there may be more blogs but there is also a preference for mainstream publishers' releases.

I can research blogs and contact with a press release. I also sometimes do content marketing for books in the context of a social media campaign. This can best done for nonfiction or issue oriented fiction. But is it realilistic to expect results from this? You will need endorsements from authorities so you are considered legitimate. And then interest is up to chance.

If you write fiction, before self-publishing, place stories in magazines, enter contests. You might want to hire an experienced manuscript editor and a copy editor to get your book in shape. If you are employing a writer for your nonfiction, make sure your cover has your name. Many celebs use "as told to, " a more transparent option.

Many new authors rush to self-publish without being aware they might traditionally publish. Self-published books are not reviewed by mainstream reviewers, unless the author is known. Traditional publishing delivers editorial, marketing, publicity, chance at awards ,possibile mainstream reviews, library and university sales, bookstores talks. DISTRIBUTION beyond Amazon. Self-publishing is a last resort. You cannot publish an already published book anywhere else.

Visit a library's LMP (Literary Marketplace), the Small Press Directory and Jeff Herman's agent book. Find houses and editors that have bought similar books, learn which agents are feasible, how to write a query letter. Pitch 5 editors, 5 agents. All have sites. Learn about the publishing business before deciding to self publish.