Publicist process
Last updated November 2026
A book publicist press kit is built for one author, sent with the book to chosen media contacts, and then followed up until it turns into coverage. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists, the kit is the first deliverable of a customized campaign across print, radio, television, and internet media, and everything after it is about follow-up, timing, and relationships.
As the starting tool. The publicist distributes books and kits, follows up intensively with each contact, and keeps sending fresh, news-driven pitches. The firm lists these steps on its services page.
Procedure
The firm starts by talking with the author about expertise and strengths, media experience, and above all, professional goals.
The kit is built for that author, as a reference for producers, journalists, editors, and bloggers: background, reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and by-lined articles.
Books and media kits are distributed to every media contact that matters for the title.
Telephone and email follow-up turns interest into interviews, features, mentions, reviews, op-eds, and by-lined placements.
A continual stream of timely pitches aligns the author with breaking stories, often the same day.
A custom list of top media contacts the firm already has rapport with receives story ideas matched to their audiences.
Appearances are coordinated with the author's travel to major media markets and personal schedule.
The difference
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists says it has well-developed, first-name relationships with hundreds of editors, reporters, columnists, and producers. A kit sent by a familiar name is more likely to be opened and considered than the same kit sent cold. The firm customizes a list of these contacts for each author and offers them story ideas that match their audience and content preferences.
Because the firm does nothing but book publicity, it can respond to news in real time. Its FAQ explains that publisher publicity teams usually cannot talk with each author daily to build pitches as news unfolds, when being first to respond to a hot-button event is what lands the interview.
Each campaign is shaped around the author's goals, personality, region, and travel. If radio and television give an author the jitters, the firm can lean on other media. The kit reflects these choices, which is why the client kits on our press kit examples page look different from one another.
Priority
Authors and publishers with a book launching soon are the firm's highest priority. A launch window is when review copies, a fresh kit, and a burst of pitches can do the most work together, so starting early gives the campaign room to build.
The firm works alongside publisher and business publicity teams so its efforts complement theirs. For the full service menu, see book publicity services, or return to the book publicity press kit portfolio.
FAQ
The press kit is the starting tool of the campaign. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists distributes books and media kits to the media contacts that matter, then manages an intensive follow-up process to secure interviews, features, mentions, reviews, op-eds, and by-lined article placements.
More in the full FAQUsually not. Follow-up is where most bookings happen. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists describes its follow-up process as intensive, including telephone follow-up on press material that was mailed, plus a continual stream of fresh pitches matched to what each media contact covers.
More in the full FAQIt means pitching the author as an expert source on a story that is unfolding right now. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists aligns pitches with breaking news as it happens, often the same day, because being the first publicist to respond to a hot-button event can land an on-the-spot interview or appearance.
More in the full FAQYes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists evaluates and pursues opportunities to maximize author travel to major media markets and coordinates appearances with an author's personal travel schedule. Its FAQ gives the example of arranging a local television appearance or a book signing during a family visit.
More in the full FAQOne client, author Mark Pastin, says Cathy Lewis keeps authors up to date as opportunities emerge and gives a monthly summary of results. To confirm how reporting would work for your own campaign, ask C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists directly through its contact page.
More in the full FAQAs early as you can. Authors and publishers with a book launching soon are the firm's highest-priority clients, and a press kit, review copies, and a pitch plan all take time to prepare. Contacting C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists well ahead of publication gives the campaign room to work.
More in the full FAQAuthors and publishers with an upcoming launch are first in line at C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists. Start with a conversation about your expertise, your goals, and your publication date.
Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists