When you’re getting prepared to publish a book, it’s an exciting time. You need to set yourself up for a successful book release and share your work with audiences far and wide. This is where the book press release comes in. Think of it as a quick, inspiring pitch to your book blended with a business card.
Learning how to write a press release for a book release doesn’t need to be complicated, however, you need to understand the fundamentals so that you can make a strong first impression.
How to Write a Press Release for a Book Launch – Inkerspress
A press release is a formal statement sent to media agencies and public forums to inform people about your new book and generate buzz. With any luck, a press release should result in interviews, a short mention in a newspaper or magazine, blog posts, an amazing book review, speaking engagements, or website traffic. It’s additionally a free marketing tool, which means that any self-publisher or indie author can use it to introduce their work professionally.
An author’s website, mailing lists, and social media networks also are important components of any advertising and marketing playbook, however, a press launch is in particular designed to exhibit your book to a new group of influential people that won’t be for your address book (journalists, editors, bloggers, publishers, book reviewers, and other industry leaders). If you can catch their eye, they might be inclined to spread the word and help amplify your audience.
And even though you may already have conversations going on with your fans and creative network on social media, writing a press launch on your book offers you another way to share the big news and hold everyone in the loop.
What should a book press release include?
A well-written book press launch needs to grab the reader’s attention, describe what your book is set and why people have to read it and provide simple information about the book for promotion and distribution (e.g. title, author, publication date, where to buy).
Try to find a relevant, unique way of pitching your book, and use that as a hook. What makes it a newsworthy story? Possible ideas: a rare or trending book topic, a fascinating author story, a prestigious literary award, an innovative launch event, or a remarkable milestone.
Is there a standard press release format?
Most book press releases comply with a simple format for a reason. Journalists and editors may only have a few minutes or seconds to determine if your press launch deserves attention, so keep the writing clear, organized, and easy to follow. Avoid clichés and over-hyped language, unless it’s a review quote or testimonial from a prominent figure.
A conventional book press release is between 300 to 500 words and is preferably one page. The more concise and compelling, the better. Here’s a sample outline:
- Contact Info: Include your name, address, phone number, email, and website.
- Publication Date: List the publication date on your book as “For release on [date]” or simply note “For immediate release.”
- Headline: Keep it brief and catchy, and highlight what sets your book apart.
- CITY, STATE, Date: The city and state need to be in all caps.
- Body content: The first brief paragraph compellingly introduces you and your book. The second short paragraph includes an in-depth description of the book and its audience (avoid using “I” or “we”). The third brief paragraph may consist of a quote from a book reviewer or a notable individual endorsing the book. The fourth paragraph lists where to shop for the book, or launch event details (date, time, location, and contact info).
- Cover Photo: You can also additionally choose to add a high-resolution image of the book cover.
- Closing/Bio: Finish with a short author bio. If your book is attached to a corporation or business, you may additionally include the group’s mission statement here.
Large publishing houses, small presses, and self-published authors all depend on press releases, so you can find many examples of press releases online. Check the author or publisher websites for writers and artists you admire.
What is the best time to send out a press release?
A press release for a book release is typically posted the day the book becomes available for purchase. So you likely need to send your press release to the media or other publications 3 to 5 days before you’d like it to appear. Take into consideration the higher volume of requests that a bigger media agency might be handling and allow extra time, compared to a smaller newspaper or website that might have a shorter turnaround time for publication.
If your book is attached to a newsworthy topic, launch event, or award ceremony, you could choose to modify the timing of your press release to coincide with that – even if it occurs weeks or months after your book was first published.
Where should I send a press release?
Consider the audience of your book when figuring out where to send your press release. If the topic of your book relates to the project statement of any local businesses or nonprofit organizations, send a copy of the press release to them. Authors of fiction, poetry, and memoirs might also additionally want to reach out to literary magazines that publish writing or book reviews in the same genre. If you do need a magazine or journal to write down an overview, you’ll want to include a review copy of your book with the press release.