Susan Weinstein - Publicist

I am a public relations professional with a specialty in books. I have more than a decade of experience publicizing books for publishers and authors. Combining traditional & social media, I write media kits--releases, pitch, Q&A, bios, as well as OpEds, short features and website material. I have worked with many university press trade non fiction and academic books that can "cross 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 design individual campaigns for specific books. Request a proposal.

University Press or small-size publisher books
I can complement the work of the in-house publicist or publisher, providing list for ARCs (Advance review copies) or following up on publisher's mailings. I pitch beyond publishers review list for specific media coverage by category, feature editors in "health" for instance. I also provide lists for review coverage, based on mainstream outlets. I work with authors using content marketing from their books on social media platforms, and on OpEd-essay placement. I research possible Radio, TV, podcast contacts for a specific book.

Self-publishing and "ghost-written" books
I can write press materials (release, Q&A, bio, pitch, endorsement-quote sheet)) that present your book. These pieces can be used on a website, Amazon, Good Reads, wherever you have an account. I can also research appropriate blogs that serve your audience and send the press kit. (If a book is genre fiction, such as romance, there may be more blogs in that genre, but there is also mainstream publishers' releases as competition.) I can contact with a press release and see if they have interest. 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.

You will need endorsements from authorities so you are considered legitimate. If you write fiction, before publishing, place stories in your category in traditional or off line magazines, enter contests. You might want to hire an experienced editor and copy editor to get your book in the best shape. If you are employing a writer for your nonfiction, make sure your cover has your name and "with" on cover. Having a "ghost" who's invisible can be a problem. Media can quickly find out you did not write it and disregard the effort. Even celebs use "as told to, " a more transparent option.

I am a lifelong publicist as well as an author. I put my heart behind books I promote and don't promote books I can't pitch. Many new authors rush to self-publish without being aware that they might try to traditionally publish. Self-published books are not reviewed by mainstream reviewers, excerpted in magazines, unless the author is already known. The business of publishing gives status, as well as editorial, marketing, publicity (at no cost), chance of awards , the possibility of mainstream reviews, library and university sales, bookstore talks, etc. I believe self-publishing is a last resort. And, you cannot publish an already published book anywhere else.

How to research to pitch your book to real publishers

You can visit a good store, see what books you admire that are not unlike yours, note the house and editor. Free at libraries is the LMP (Literary Marketplace), the Small Press directory and Jeff Herman's agent book. In a few hours, you can find houses and editors that have bought books that are similar. You can learn which agents want your category of book. These resources show how they want a query letter and what to send with it. To make it simple, pitch 5 editors and 5 agents.

This research can lead to a legit publication where your book is reviewed and marketed and, though a small size or university press may not pay an advance, you are not paying to publish and market. I suggest new writers make the effort to learn about the publishing business before deciding to self publish. If in NY, come to Book Expo, get Publishers Lunch, which is a free online publication with a job board with entry level publishing jobs. Mediabistro (40. a year) also has media jobs around the country, many at real publishers.