Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis – Marketer

I am a children's, middle-grade, and YA book marketing expert with twenty-five years of experience in the Big Ten and freelancing.

Overview

I am an experienced children’s marketing professional with more than twenty-five years in the children’s book publishing industry. I have insight into the workings of children’s book publishers and internal operations and processes, having managed a global marketing department as a Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide for six years and managed teams at Scholastic Inc. for six years.


I have worked with a broad range of children’s original titles in the picture book, middle-grade, and young adult categories. I have also spearheaded the campaigns for many licensed book series such as Scooby-Doo, Disney Princess, Harry Potter paperbacks, Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Marvel, Lego, Tinkerbell, Matchbox, Winnie the Pooh, and Baby Einstein.


My marketing planning included not only devising the strategies but also conducting competitive analysis reports, writing press releases, articles, blogs, catalog copy, and news pieces for the product. I worked on a daily basis with the editorial teams to bring a successful book to market.


As a freelancer, I am thrilled to provide the following services:


-Marketing plan development (strategy, tactics, social, deliverables, etc.)

-Writing press releases, author bios, catalog copy, book blurbs

-Market research and competitive analysis



My areas of specialty are picture books, middle-grade, and YA sci-fi/fantasy. I love working with self-published authors to help them navigate and understand the publishing process. I also enjoy working with seasoned publishing veterans.


I have an impeccable career history at the highest level at the best publishing houses in the world. Let me help you - and your book - make the leap from good to great! I will help your book get the exposure and readership that it deserves.

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Parenting & Families Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Middle Grade Picture Books Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Dale Carnegie leadership training
  • Disney Institute leadership and business training
  • Social Media Marketing, Semrush Academy
  • SEO Principles, Semrush Academy

Work experience

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Jul, 2000 — Apr, 2006 (almost 6 years)

Managed the global marketing department for Disney Publishing Worldwide and all its imprints. Oversaw marketing strategy and campaigns, publicity, promotion, author relationships, multi-million dollar budget, staff of 26 employees worldwide.

Hyperion Books for Children

Oct, 1999 — Apr, 2006 (over 6 years)

Managed the global marketing department for Hyperion Books for Children and all its imprints. Oversaw marketing strategy and campaigns, publicity, promotion, author relationships, staff of 26 employees worldwide.

Scholastic Inc.

Aug, 1994 — Jul, 2000 (almost 6 years)

Marketing manager for trade paperback and licensed imprints. Oversaw all marketing, promotion, and publicity campaigns and author relationships for relevant books and series.

Projects

Science-Fiction and Fantasy marketing

Comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign including social and digital media, Amazon marketing, press release, author bio, awards and grants.

Me and My Afro by Aiden Taylor

Create a full media, publicity, and marketing campaign to launch this wonderful story of self-love, inclusion, diversity, and acceptance.

Freelance book campaigns

Edit and/or develop marketing strategies and analysis for self-published authors or to enhance book proposals for published authors.

Harry Potter

Managed the paperback book marketing for the first three Harry Potter books.

-Dovetailed off the massive hardcover marketing campaign to push the paperbacks into all bookstore and non-traditional outlets
-Worked on a one-of-a-kind , never-before, and never-since book launch event: a nationwide midnight launch party for book IV

Disney licensed properties book publishing

Managed the marketing strategies for all of Disney book brands including Winnie the Pooh, Tinkerbell (and Peter Pan), Mickey Mouse, W.I.T.C.H., and more.

-Implemented a valued multi-million dollar promotion through McDonald's Happy Meal for the W.I.T.C.H. book series

-Was the Walt Disney Company's and Disney Publishing Worldwide's brand ambassador for Disney Fairies across all book and consumer product outlets

Goosebumps

Managed and executed the marketing plans and strategy for over 160 of these series titles.
-Instrumental in the development and production of the Goosebumps Scare Shack, one of the largest in-store floor displays ever created for a children's paperback series
-Implemented one of the largest free book giveaways ever in Central Park, New York City

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Managed marketing plans for five years for this well-loved and longstanding early book series.

-Oversaw the creation, production, and approvals for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon
-Worked with our television synergy partners on marketing opportunities with consumer products and media

Portfolio

Isle of Dragons (# 1)

Thompson, L. A.

Spoken: A Novel

Weiss, Melanie

I AM

Allen, Mary C.

Silver Planet

Johnson, Tom

ME AND MY AFRO

Taylor, Aiden M

Emily Elizabeth recalls a snowy day while Clifford was a puppy, when he went sledding in her boot, was rescued from the ice by a hockey player, and helped build a snowman
Discover the bone-chilling adventures that made Goosebumps one of the bestselling children's book series of all time. Now with all-new bonus materials!Greg thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he found. The photos keep turning out . . . differen... read more
In the W.i.t.c.h. boxed set, see how the story started as the girls discover their new responsibility in The Power of Five and then find out how a friendship is destroyed in The Disappearance. In Finding Meridian, the girls travel to a new world and in The Fir... read more
Baby Einstein: Mirror Me!

Julie Aigner-Clark

Can you stick out your tongue like Frog? Puff up your cheeks like Cow? Scrunch up your nose like Jane the Monkey? Look in the mirror and try! This busy book with a mirror on every spread (and a peekaboo finale!) teaches babies and young children parts of the f... read more

Tara has 309 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Robin O.

Robin O.

Nov, 2024

I have very much enjoyed collaborating with Tara. She has been professional, and quick producing a solid plan with excellent material for me to work on. Tara has been enthusiastic, pleasant and positive in all communications and kept me updated on progress throughout the project.
Tara L.
I am delighted to read this, Robin. Thank you very much, your was a wonderful project to work on and I also enjoyed collaborating. Best of luck!
Peggy D.

Peggy D.

Nov, 2024

Tara generated a comprehensive marketing plan not just for the book launch but for the life of the book, which has been invaluable! As a writer new to this process I have found Tara's encouragement, knowledge, enthusiasm, and care priceless. I feel blessed to have her part of our "team." Thank you, Tara.
Tara L.
Thank you so very much, Peggy. That response is so important to me because that is exactly what I strive for. I am so glad that you had a positive experience. Good luck!
Cynthia S.

Cynthia S.

Nov, 2024

Tara was incredibly helpful and thorough in helping me find the right categories and keywords to list my children's book on amazon KDP. She did high quality work and was very generous with her time and talent. I would like to collaborate with her again soon on creating amazon ads. I highly, highly recommend her!
Jessica A.

Jessica A.

Oct, 2024

Tara's marketing plan has helped me in so many ways! I am very new to marketing and I had no idea where to start. Her plan has given me structure and tasks to accomplish each week before launching my book. It's also great because I can use the same plan for every book I publish. If you need guidance on marketing, I highly recommend using Tara's services!
Chas W.

Chas W.

Oct, 2024

Tara read the Ursula Trilogy and provided exactly the guidance we needed. She described the pros/ cons of using an agency, a publishing house, or self-publishing. The publishing industry (as perhaps all) is complex, and the various options have huge implications. As our primary concern is to retain control of messaging and characters and less sales and promotion, we'll stay with self-publi...
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