Book Publicity Q&A

Why should I hire Susan Schwartzman Public Relations to promote my book?

Susan Schwartzman Public Relations is a boutique public-relations firm. We limit ourselves to book publicity. Unlike some firms that may take on literally dozens of projects at any one time, we only promote a select number of titles each season.

By limiting the number of clients we handle each season, we are better able to give our authors the attention they deserve and also devote more time and energy to promoting their book.

How much experience do you have?

Susan Schwartzman has more than twenty years experience in book publicity and publishing. She has represented several best-selling authors and worked for top publishing houses and publicity firms, including:

Simon & Schuster	McGraw-Hill	Wiley
Houghton-Mifflin	DK Books	Penguin-Putnam
Warner Books	Harcourt Brace	Planned Television Arts
Workman Publishing	Avon Books	Harvard Common Press
HarperCollins	Villard	Carroll and Graff
St. Martin's	Macmillan Books	Lake Isle Press
	Running Press

What kind of books do you promote?

We promote both fiction and non-fiction on a variety of topics including current events, food, self-help, health and fitness, business, social and political issues, chick lit, mystery, memoirs, true crime, parenting, education, history, military, and sports.

How do you promote books?

We offer our clients a number of options to maximize their exposure to the media and increase their readership through radio and television interviews, book reviews, newspaper and magazine placements, internet publicity, and book signings.

When is the best time to hire you?

The sooner you begin your book publicity campaign, the better. Waiting until the last moment to launch your media blitz can seriously undermine your book's chance of success.

Optimally, the best time to begin your campaign is at least three to four months before your book is due to hit the shelves. (Six months is even better.) That way you can get coverage in monthly magazines that have at least a three-month (or even a six-month) lead time. Regardless of your time frame, contact Susan to see what she can do for your book.

More importantly, since Susan personally handles each author's book publicity campaign, she accepts only a limited number of clients each season. If you wait too long, it may be too late for her to reserve a place for you on her schedule.

Will I need a press kit?

Yes. A media kit is essential to letting people know about your book and who you are. At the very least, you want a press release, pitch letter, an author bio. A Q&A sheet is often also advisable.

We will create a press kit for you at no extra cost as part of your publicity campaign.

Are you affordable?

Yes. Many firms charge far more than we do for the same services. Because we are a boutique firm we are able to keep our costs down and pass those savings along to our clients.

Instead, we develop a publicity campaign to match your budget and schedule. Our rates are extremely competitive--and we have a demonstrated track record of results. Take a look at our testimonials page. And, yes, Susan will be more than glad to provide ample references.

How do I hire you?

Give us a call or send an e-mail. Susan will personally speak with you about promoting your book. If you think we're a good fit for your book, she will ask you to mail a galley or manuscript, so she can explore in detail the best way to promote your book.

Once Susan has read your manuscript, she will contact you to discuss and suggest the best available options with which to promote your book. As there are usually several ways to promote a book, you can decide which way is best for you.

Next, we'll write a proposal and then draft a letter of agreement. The letter of agreement will outline the details of your publicity campaign. Once the letter of agreement is signed, work begins to get the word out about you and your book.

And thus your book publicity campaign is launched!

"You are unequivocally the most tenacious and aggressive publicist in the business. See you with my next book."

Dr. Joseph Christiano, N.D., C.N.C
author, Bloodtypes, Bodytypes and You

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