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 359 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Jon K.

Jon K.

Nov, 2025

Tara was great to work with. I’m self publishing a children’s book, and I went into this knowing nothing at all about marketing children’s books. She delivered a detailed marketing plan with many activities for before and after I launch, and it was accompanied by several resources, including a bo...
Read more
Tara L.
Thank you so much, Jon! I appreciate your feedback and am so glad that you feel comfortable and prepared for your book launch. I wish you the best of luck!
Amy N.

Amy N.

Nov, 2025

Working with Tara on my marketing plan was fantastic. She delivered something clear, organized, and comprehensive. On top of that, she worked so quickly without sacrificing quality. Tara made the whole process smooth and stress-free, and her insights were super helpful. If you’re looking for some...
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Tara L.
Thank you, Amy! I appreciate your positive feedback and am so glad to hear that you had a great experience. Your response is exactly what I strive for with each project. And your book was so fun to...
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James F.

James F.

Nov, 2025

Tara did a wonderful job with the materials she made for my book release and marketing. She laid out a very thorough plan with great attention to the areas my book would be best suited for. Her responses were timely and professional and she met all her deadline goals we had set with the project...
Read more
Tara L.
Thank you so much, James, for this feedback. I appreciate you sharing your experience and am so glad that you are pleased. Best of luck with your amazing book!
David S.

David S.

Nov, 2025

Tara is a standout contributor to our book project for the clarity of distinctions she brought with her organization of marketing and writing materials to support the efforts, while also impressively immersing herself in the book and our genuine intent for impact in our market. At each stage of c...
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Tara L.
Thank you very much David, for your thoughtful review and taking the time to share your experience. I'm very glad you are pleased and with you the best with this unique and charming story.
Leigh L.

Leigh L.

Nov, 2025

Very professional, quite clear that Tara operated in the top circles of the publishing industry, in particular the publicity and marketing side. This was manifest in the outstanding marketing plan that catered perfectly to Avery McShane and the Silver Spurs (the whole series, actually). The plan ...
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Tara L.
Thank you so much, Leigh! With your extensive publishing background, I was extra happy to hear you were pleased with the materials. I'm so glad you are finding the materials valuable. It was great ...
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Most recent contributions

How has publishing changed since you started your career?

As a children's book marketing professional who started in the '90's in traditional publishing, the process was that an author was signed and the publisher's marketing department would create a campaign to launch the book. It's different now in that even traditionally published authors have a res...
Read more

How has freelancing impacted your work-life balance?

Becoming a freelancer was a great personal decision for me. It allowed me to focus on the aspects of my job that I loved--creating great marketing and working directly with authors, and take out all of the parts of my job that I once had passion for--the administative and management parts--but la...
Read more

How do you stay productive as a freelancer?

Staying productive requires having high standards -- that means providing excellent services combined with many years of experience, skills, and a passion for children's books, in my case. When you do great work with a great attitude, clients will find you. There's nothing more important to stayi...
Read more

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