Highest priority clients
Book launch publicity for titles coming out soon
Last updated: November 2026
Book launch publicity is the campaign that carries a new title into the media as it reaches readers, and authors and publishers with a book launching soon are the highest priority clients of C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
A launch campaign from C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists prepares the media kit, gets books and kits to the right contacts, follows up steadily, and pitches the author as an expert on current news. The aim is book sales plus lasting opportunities in publishing, new clients, and speaking.
When should a press start publicity for a new book?
Before publication, as a general rule, because media kits, mailings, and pitches all take time. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does not publish a fixed lead time, so the reliable way to confirm timing is to contact the firm with your publication date.
The firm’s own blog warns against a common mistake: treating publication as the finish line. In its words, launch is the starting line of the work that turns a book into a platform.
Around launch
What happens as the book comes out
- Books and media kits go to producers, editors, journalists, and bloggers.
- Intensive follow-up works toward interviews, reviews, features, and bylined pieces.
- Pitches tie the author to breaking news, often the same day.
- Appearances are coordinated with any launch travel.
After launch
Making the exposure last
Podcast interviews keep reaching new listeners, hosts, and guests after they air, a point the firm’s blog covers in detail. Internet marketing and contributor roles at outlets such as Thrive Global, Forbes.com, and PsychologyToday.com help an author keep publishing ideas long after the campaign.
What should you have ready before you call?
Every campaign starts with a conversation about the author’s expertise, media experience, and goals. Having these details ready helps C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists shape a proposal for your launch.
- Title, subtitle, and publication date
- Publisher name and in-house publicity contact, if any
- Subject area and the author’s field of expertise
- Past media experience, including radio, TV, and podcasts
- Professional goals: sales, speaking, clients, or future books
- Travel plans around the launch
A client’s own report
One launch, in the author’s words
“Cathy Lewis helped me launch my bestselling book, The Hamster Revolution: Manage Your Email Before It Manages You. Her team helped me make over 100 media appearances, including appearing on CNN and Good Morning America. We sold over 125,000 copies in 11 languages. Cathy and her team were a big part of that success.”
Mike Song, author of The Hamster Revolution
This page is part of the guide to publicity for small publishers from C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
Questions about launch publicity
See all 46 questions in the FAQ- Which authors and publishers are your highest priority clients?
- Authors and publishers with a book launching soon are the highest priority clients for C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists. A title close to publication benefits from a campaign planned around the launch, with media kits, book distribution to media, and news-tied pitching ready as the book reaches readers.
- How far before publication should a press bring in a publicist?
- Generally, earlier is better, because media kits, book mailings, and pitches all take time to prepare before launch. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists does not publish a fixed lead time, and books launching soon are its highest priority, so contact the firm with your publication date to confirm the timing for your title.
- What should I have ready before contacting a publicist?
- Have your title, publication date, publisher, subject, a short description of your expertise, any past media experience, and your professional goals. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists starts every campaign with a conversation about exactly these points, so preparing them helps the firm shape a proposal quickly.
- Can you publicize a book that is already out?
- The firm’s published materials focus on campaigns built around authors and new books, and books launching soon are its highest priority. News-tied pitching can still position an author as an expert after publication, so contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists with the book’s details to ask whether a campaign fits.
- Do book publicity campaigns include podcast interviews?
- Yes. David C. Lewis, vice president of C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, helps authors focus their messaging and build their brand through frequent interviews and appearances on podcasts, radio, and television. The firm’s blog also covers how authors can maximize exposure from every podcast interview.
- Can publicity be coordinated with an author’s travel?
- Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists evaluates opportunities to maximize author travel to major media markets and coordinates appearances with the author’s personal schedule. The firm’s FAQ gives an example: an author visiting family in Florida could get a local television appearance or a book signing arranged in that area.