Checklist step 3
Book launch media kit checklist
Last updated . Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
A book launch media kit is the package of background, story ideas, and interview topics that media contacts use to cover an author and book.
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists creates a media kit at the start of every campaign for television and radio producers, journalists, print and online editors, and bloggers. It then sends the kit with the book to every contact that matters and follows up to secure coverage.
What goes in a book launch media kit?
A launch media kit should hold everything a media contact needs to say yes: who you are, what the book is, and what story or segment you can deliver for their audience.
| Criterion | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Author background | Gives producers and journalists the context for an interview or feature. |
| Book summary and reviews | Helps reviewers and editors decide quickly whether the book fits. |
| Story ideas | Shows editors angles that match their audience, beyond the book itself. |
| Interview topics | Lets radio, podcast, and television producers picture the segment. |
| Article ideas | Opens the door to op-eds and bylined articles based on your expertise. |
Who uses your media kit
Television and radio producers use it to plan segments. Journalists and editors at print and online magazines and newspapers use it for features, reviews, and article ideas. Bloggers and podcast hosts use it to prepare questions. Because each audience is different, C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists pairs the kit with pitches tailored to each contact's audience and content preferences.
The kit is the start, not the finish
Sending kits without follow-up is where many launches stall. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists manages an intensive follow-up process after distribution to secure interviews, features, mentions, reviews, op-eds, and bylined articles, and keeps sending fresh, timely pitches as news unfolds.
Real press kits you can study
The firm publishes sample press kits from past campaigns as downloadable PDFs, including:
- The Entrepreneur Equation by Carol Roth (PDF press kit)
- The Resiliency Advantage by Al Siebert (PDF press kit)
- No Regrets by Hamilton Beazley, PhD (PDF press kit)
See the full press kits page for more. Then return to the book launch publicity checklist for the steps that follow your kit: distribution, follow-up, and news pitching.
Back to the full book launch publicity checklistCommon questions
- Do I need a media kit before my book launches?
- Yes, a media kit is one of the first items to prepare. Producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers use it for background material, reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and bylined articles. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists creates a media kit at the start of each campaign and distributes it along with the book.
- What should be on a book launch publicity checklist?
- A solid checklist covers goals, a media kit, a targeted media list, book and kit distribution, intensive follow-up, timely news pitches, appearances planned around travel, coordination with your publisher, online content, podcasts, and post-launch opportunities such as speaking. The home page of this site walks through each step in order.
- What does a book publicist do?
- A book publicist gets an author and their book into the news. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists that means building a media kit, pitching producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers, following up to secure interviews, reviews, features, and bylined articles, and tying pitches to breaking news as it happens.
- Can I see examples of past publicity campaigns?
- Yes. The firm's main website links to real media coverage from client campaigns, including Daniel G. Amen, MD, Areva Martin, Ted Baxter, Ora Nadrich, and Carol Roth. It also offers downloadable sample press kits and a page of client references you can read before you get in touch.
- When should I hire a publicist for my book launch?
- Contact a publicist while your launch is still ahead of you, so there is time to build a media kit, a contact list, and a pitch plan before publication day. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists gives priority to authors and publishers with a book launching soon. Reach out through the firm's contact page to discuss your dates.