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 316 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Denny S.

Denny S.

Jan, 2025

This is the first book for myself and my coauthor. Tara provided a comprehensive, clear, and easy to follow marketing plan. Beyond that, she provided input and guidance that resulted in significant improvements in the book itself. She was very patient with us first time newbie's and was always pleasant, helpful, and most importantly enthusiastic about the project. This could be the only big b...
Read more
Zoé O.

Zoé O.

Jan, 2025

Tara really knows what she is doing. The marketing packet she prepared for me has so much information in it with a ton of leads. I would not have found this information so quickly without her assistance. It is very valuable. I also appreciated her timeline of when to reach out to some of the potential partners etc. I definitely recommend her service.
Davon M.

Davon M.

Jan, 2025

Tara was a delight to work with! Her professionalism and work is outstanding and she's very patient during the process. I'll be sure to collaborate with Tara again for any future work of mine! :D
Yves G.

Yves G.

Dec, 2024

I've had the pleasure of working with Tara multiple times, and her expertise in metadata and blurb optimization is truly invaluable. She's provided exceptional support for my previous children's books, and every time I prepare to launch a new one, she’s my go-to for crafting compelling marketing and promotional text. Tara consistently delivers outstanding results and never fails to exceed my ex...
Read more
Deborah M.

Deborah M.

Dec, 2024

An excellent investment with superb outcomes. Tara's vast expertise is accessible to entry-level authors. Highly recommend. DM

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Tara and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Tara

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Linda Liebrand

Linda L.

Helping authors reach more readers and sell more books with straightforward and easy-to-implement marketing strategies and 1:1 Coaching

Poole, UK

100% reply rate

View profile
Chris Brandt

Chris B.

Marketing strategist bringing decades of experience in the music industry to book marketing, coaching over 300 authors around the world.

Gibsons, BC, Canada

100% reply rate

View profile
Aryn Van Dyke

Aryn V.

I'm a former HarperCollins marketing manager specializing in nonfiction, now I'm working with indie authors on rockstar marketing strategy.

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

100% reply rate

View profile