Hannah Hargrave - Publicist
I am an award winning publicist with a decade of experience managing debut and high-profile book campaigns - both fiction and non-fiction.
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Overview
I am an award winning publicist and event producer with 15 years of experience managing challenging and high-profile media projects. After 11 years of working in the book publishing and media industries, I decided to develop my own business. My clients have included the BBC, the British Council, Wild Things Publishing, Confingo Publishing, Darton, Longman and Todd and the Space (founded by Arts Council England and the BBC to bring arts organisations, artists and technology together to make great art). Recent authors I have worked with include Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Katherine Langrish, Dave Haslam, Nicholas Royle, Toby Litt, Sophie Mackintosh and Rachel Mann.
Previously I worked as Publicity Manager for Little, Brown Book Group (part of the UK's leading publisher, Hachette), as well as for several independent publishing houses. I've had experience working with celebrity authors (including Sharon Osbourne and Goldie Hawn), and unknown writers. While I loved working on big national campaigns, it was the smaller projects with lesser known authors and books for which I feel most proud. For example, my social media campaign for the book From Notting Hill with Love…Actually by Ali McNamara
generated a huge response from readers, and as a result it became one of the biggest selling debuts of the year.
I've also spent time working in the BBC press office. I was responsible for corporate communications and events with external stakeholders, from MPs to the leaders of national arts organisations. This role allowed me to develop my skills in event production and management, and I created unique events for BBC Drama, BBC Radio 4 and Strictly Come Dancing.
Digital PR has always been at the heart of my campaigns too. I have been involved in creating distinctive and effective digital content for blogs, websites, newsletters, apps and social media.
Previously I worked as Publicity Manager for Little, Brown Book Group (part of the UK's leading publisher, Hachette), as well as for several independent publishing houses. I've had experience working with celebrity authors (including Sharon Osbourne and Goldie Hawn), and unknown writers. While I loved working on big national campaigns, it was the smaller projects with lesser known authors and books for which I feel most proud. For example, my social media campaign for the book From Notting Hill with Love…Actually by Ali McNamara
generated a huge response from readers, and as a result it became one of the biggest selling debuts of the year.
I've also spent time working in the BBC press office. I was responsible for corporate communications and events with external stakeholders, from MPs to the leaders of national arts organisations. This role allowed me to develop my skills in event production and management, and I created unique events for BBC Drama, BBC Radio 4 and Strictly Come Dancing.
Digital PR has always been at the heart of my campaigns too. I have been involved in creating distinctive and effective digital content for blogs, websites, newsletters, apps and social media.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Health & Wellbeing
History
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Travel
Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Thriller & Suspense
Women's Fiction
Awards
- Bookseller Award for Original Non-Fiction Campaign
- Daily Mail Award for Paperback Original Fiction Campaign
Work experience
Director
Self-employed
January, 2016
–
Present
(over 5 years)
My clients include Wild Things Publishing, Confingo Publishing, the BBC, the British Council and the Space (founded by Arts Council England and the BBC).
I managed all the publicity and marketing requirements for Wild Things Publishing - an independent book publishing company. Writing press releases and publicity strategies, producing marketing materials, and pitching original and eye-catching features ideas, I achieved press coverage across the national print and broadcast press. I was responsible for all social media feeds, creating digital content and devising promotional partnerships and competitions to increase sales and customer engagement.
I can:
Devise and execute your promotional strategy for your book and brand.
Create eye-catching press releases and send them to key media contacts.
Manage your PR campaign, securing reviews, features and interviews in the national and regional
press, radio and television.
Support you in developing features for the press.
Plan and deliver compelling and highly shareable written and visual blog content for use on your
website, email newsletters, blog and social media channels. I can also help you to create and manage your online profile.
Identify and develop brand partnerships for your brand, book or product.
Provide author care and talent management.
Manage author events, publicity tours, press calls and festival visits.
Evaluate your current marketing materials and content, and offer feedback on how effective it is.
Develop bespoke and unique ideas for your event within budget.
Provide on the day production, coordination and event management.
Publicity and Digital Marketing Manager
Wild Things Publishing
December, 2014
–
January, 2016
(about 1 year)
I managed all the publicity and marketing requirements for this independent book publishing company. Writing press releases and publicity strategies, producing marketing materials, and pitching original and eye-catching features ideas, I achieved press coverage across the national print and broadcast press. I was responsible for all social media feeds, creating digital content and devising promotional partnerships and competitions to increase sales and customer engagement. I left to pursue a freelance career.
External Affairs Coordinator
BBC
December, 2012
–
December, 2014
(about 2 years)
Working as part of the BBC communications, marketing and public affairs departments, I was responsible for external communication and engagement across the north of England. I produced and managed launch events and edited several weekly newsletters in order to communicate BBC policy and promote BBC content to MPs, senior industry figures, columnists and commentators. I advised senior management on the BBC North corporate affairs strategy, producing briefing documents and drafting speeches.
Working within the busy BBC North press office gave me an acute awareness and understanding of reputation and crisis management. I was lucky enough to work with some incredible BBC brands and talent, including Dr Who and Strictly Come Dancing, and across BBC Drama, BBC Radio and on large live events across the country.
Publicity Manager
Ryland, Peters and Small
July, 2012
–
December, 2012
(5 months)
I managed publicity campaigns for 60 new food, craft, MBS, interiors, humour and gift books, organising authors' press schedules and arranging launch parties. I devised and implemented press strategies across the national media and developed a wide range of contacts across both the broadcast and print media. I became confident at handling media enquiries and pitching ideas to journalists across the national and regional press, as demonstrated by the blanket coverage I achieved each month for my book campaigns. I organised blog tours for individual authors, including a viral video campaign, and edited twitter profiles for the company brand imprints. I also acted as a line manager to the department publicity assistant. In December 2012 I relocated to the north west of England.
Publicity Manager
Little, Brown Book Group
June, 2007
–
June, 2012
(about 5 years)
I planned and executed publicity campaigns of a consistently high standard for this commercial book publisher. While I enjoyed working with several celebrity clients, including Goldie Hawn, Ewan McGregor and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, it was the publicity campaigns with lesser known authors and books for which I feel most proud. For example, my social media campaign for the book From Notting Hill with Love…Actually generated a huge response from readers, and as a result it became one of the biggest selling debuts of the year.
I managed author interview schedules, events and promotional book tours across the UK with major retailers. Twice The Bookseller trade magazine highlighted my PR campaigns for generating the most press coverage across all book titles published nationally.
I held the department responsibility for online publicity. I created distinct and effective digital content for blogs, websites, newsletters, apps and social media. I was also involved in sales presentations and editorial pitches with authors and agents, creating publicity strategy for company documents. I left in order to take on the additional responsibility of managing a team at Ryland, Peters and Small, an independent book publisher.
Publicity Officer
Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd, London
September, 2005
–
May, 2007
(over 1 year)
As publicity officer for this independent academic publishing company, it was my responsibility to create and implement publicity and marketing campaigns for 40 titles a year. This involved designing and placing adverts and producing marketing materials, including a re-design of the annual book catalogue in colour, which I also edited. I also created, edited and managed a new website, contributing to increased sales for the company. I implemented a national campaign for Hostage in Iraq by Norman Kember, which involved negotiating serial with a national newspaper. I also designed an illustrated advertisement which I placed on the London Underground. I was privileged to work closely on promotional campaigns for the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams. I left to pursue a career in commercial book publishing with Little, Brown Book Group.
Portfolio (22 selected works)
Cycling journalist Laurence McJannet embarks on an off-roadadventure to bike and wild camp his way along some of Britain’s mostbeautiful off-road trails and ancient trackways, revealing:• 30 of the finest off-road r ides our island has to off er, from the Isleof Wight to the Scottish Highlands• Tips for picturesque camping, biking, packing and exploring• Ideas for family adventures• Engaging t... read more
Wild Swimming Spain: Discover the Most Beautiful Rivers, Lakes and Waterfalls of Spain
John Weller, Lola Culsán
Discover over 150 magical places to swim and explore in Spain. With stunning photography this book reveals the best crystal mountain lakes, secluded lake-side beaches, and turquoise pools hidden deep in waterfall-filled gorges. With recommendations for places to camp and eat this is all you need to take you off the beaten track.
Wild Swimming Walks Dartmoor and South Devon: 28 Lake, River and Beach Days Out in South West England
Sophie Pierce, Matt Newbury
Wild Swimming Walks Devon and Dartmoor: 28 lake, river and beach days out in south west England
This stunning and original British travel guide charts lesser known gardens, spectacular meadows, the best kitchen garden food, plus wild places to camp and stay. From traditional cottage gardens and walled-gardens, to newly designed gardens planted for bees and nature, this is a timely book which will appeal to garden-lovers, foodies and nature-lovers of all ages. Includes Best For: Organic &... read more
Seductive Interiors
Sera Hersham-Loftus
Explore the fabled beauty of Sera Hersham-Loftus's renowned interior decorations. The innovator of the seductive boudoir trend, Sera shows us the best of her design style adapted to a wide range of settings, including her own home, which has become one of the most popular locations for fashion, celebrity and interiors photo shoots.
The Art of Handmade Living: Crafting a beautiful home
Willow Crossley
CICO BOOKS-The Art of Handmade Living Crafting A Beautiful Home. Willow Crossley believes that everything in the home, however mundane, can be beautiful. This book shows her ideas for turning the most basic objects into original life enhancers. Willow casts her crafting style all around the house and beyond, making things you will wants to keep for yourself or reluctantly give away as presents... read more
Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Interiors
The Little Book of Wellbeing is a must for men and women of all ages - a simple little guide to a much better life. Nikki Page is the picture of wellbeing. Having faced serious health problems, Nikki underwent her own personal journey to discover how to improve her health and be more active. A happy side-effect of being forced to develop a healthy lifestyle is that Nikki looks much younger tha... read more
HAND Signed By Goldie hawn during a book signing at waterstones London when the book was published. has waterstones 'signed by author' label on front
Long Way Down
Charley Boorman, Ewan McGregor
Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman travel down through Africa in a fascinating new biking adventure
By Any Means: His Brand New Adventure From Wicklow to Wollongong
Charley Boorman
The fantastic follow up adventure from Long Way Down, where Where Charlie Boorman uses any means necessary to travel across 3 continents, over 20,000 miles through 25 countries. A superb read. (bio)
Revenge
Sharon Osbourne
* In the mega-bestselling tradition of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins - Sharon Osbourne's brilliant debut novel
Survivor: My Story - The Next Chapter
Sharon Osbourne
Vintage Sharon... fiery and full of passion... great fun and brutally honest and revealing.
Trust Me, I'm Dr Ozzy
Ozzy Osbourne
Trust Me, I'm Dr. Ozzy, hardcover, Fine, as new
The Armstrong And Miller Book
Alexander Armstrong, Ben Miller
The Armstrong and Miller Book is the brilliantly funny new book from Armstrong (and, indeed, Miller). This hilarious compendium of entirely original material is packed with favourites such as the street-talking World War II pilots (starring in their very own comic strip); musical maestros Brabbins & Fyffe and accident-prone historian Dennis Lincoln-Park. There are also some fantastic, brand-ne... read more
Run Fat Bitch Run (Grit Doctor)
Ruth Field
Is there a large arse-shaped dent in your sofa? Unwatched workout DVDs gathering dust on your shelves? An eye-wateringly expensive (and rarely used) gym membership burning a hole in your bank account? Does the sight of your wobbly thighs leave you cowering under the duvet? Then it's time you faced the truth: the only option is to lace up and hit the ground running. Straight-talking, funny and ... read more
Rush of Blood
Mark Billingham
Rush of Blood Perfect strangers. A perfect holiday. The perfect murder...Three couples meet around the pool on their Florida holiday and become fast friends. But on their last night, their perfect holiday takes a tragic twist: the teenage daughter of another holidaymaker goes missing, and her body is later found floating in the mangroves. When the shocked couples return home, they remain in co... read more
Lady Of The English
Elizabeth Chadwick
Hostage in Iraq
Norman Kember
Hannah has 11 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Hannah took on a job that others thought too tricky, found opportunities and contacts that I would not have imagined. She handled the task throughout with friendly professionalism and prompt communication. Thoroughly recommended.
Derek Nudd, May 2021
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Reply from Hannah Hargrave
Hannah has been great to work with. She gave really helpful support in approaching people to secure endorsements for my new book, Bea's Witch, including creating a media pack, compiling a list of relevant people to approach (with contact details), writing and sending an initial email and then following up. Various people requested a copy of the book. I have made one very good contact from this ...
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Daniel Ingram-Brown, May 2021
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Reply from Hannah Hargrave
Hannah is amazing, here professionalisms and willingness to go over and above, is beyond amazing. I would recommend her to anyone and I definitely plan to work with her again!
John Wells, October 2020
Collaborating with Hannah was a real pleasure. I hope to do so again in the future.
Patricia Earnest, September 2020
Hannah is great to work with--encouraging, organized, compassionate, and "properly British" to a T. I've learned a lot about different methods of promoting my book. Getting coverage has been tough. I don't see this as the publicist's fault; I think it's a reflection of the ultra-competitiveness of the book market. I mention this to note that if you are a debut or unknown author, it's important ...
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Brent Robins, October 2019
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