The Essential Pieces Every Author Needs for Book Publicity
Congratulations! You wrote a book! Once you plan to publish your book, one reality quickly becomes clear: most of the marketing falls to the author.
Your marketing plan contains many moving pieces. Today I discuss the most important, your Author Media Kit. This kit gives podcasters, bloggers, journalists, and event organizers everything they need to feature you and your book.
Instead of searching your website for information, they access all the key details in one convenient place.
Use this checklist to build your complete Author Media Kit. Click image to enlarge.
✔ Author Media Kit Checklist
1. Author Bio—Three Versions
Media outlets and event organizers often need your author bios of different lengths.
Include:
☐ Short bio (50–75 words)
☐ Medium bio (100–150 words)
☐ Long bio (200–300 words)
Tip: Your long bio often appears on your website, while shorter bios are used for podcast introductions or article bylines.
2. Professional Author Photo
Include a high-quality headshot that reflects your brand as an author.
☐ Use the same photo for the back of the book
☐ Also use this photo for your professional social media profiles to ensure brand consistency
☐ You may include your pet in the photo but make sure the photo stars YOU, not them.
Tip: Avoid selfies or outdated photos. A professional-looking image builds credibility.
3. Book Cover Images
Media outlets often want to display your book cover.
Include:
☐ High-resolution book cover image
☐ Web-friendly version
☐ 3D mockup—optional but useful
4. Book Description
This refers to the same description used on retailer pages like Amazon.
☐ Log line—think of the one sentence descriptions in bestseller lists
☐ Full book description
Tip: Your description should hook readers and clearly explain the value of your book.
5. ISBN Numbers
Make it easy for retailers and journalists to identify your book.
Include:
☐ Paperback ISBN
☐ Hardcover ISBN (if applicable)
☐ eBook ISBN
☐ Audiobook ISBN (if applicable)
6. Contact Information
Make it easy for media professionals to reach you.
Include:
☐ Email address
☐ Backup email address (optional)
☐ Phone number
☐ Website
Also include links to:
☐ LinkedIn
☐ Instagram
☐ Facebook
☐ Other relevant social platforms
7. Editorial Reviews and Endorsements
Strong reviews build credibility.
Include quotes from:
☐ Professional reviews (Kirkus, BookLife, etc.)
☐ Advance readers (ARC) or beta readers
☐ Industry experts or notable authors
Tip: Keep quotes short and impactful.
8. Interview Questions
Podcasters and journalists consider these FAQs in a media kit a gold mine.
Provide five to ten sample interview questions along with brief summary answers.
Examples:
☐ What inspired you to write this book?
☐ What problem does your book solve?
☐ What surprising thing did you discover while writing it?
Tip: Interviewers often rely heavily on these questions when preparing.
9. Press Release
A press release introduces your book to bloggers, media outlets, and organizations.
Include:
☐ Book announcement headline
☐ Book summary
☐ Author quote
☐ Publication details
☐ Contact information
10. Sample Chapter: Optional but Powerful
Providing a sample chapter allows media outlets to experience your writing.
Include:
☐ Downloadable PDF sample chapter
☐ Link to sample on your website
Where to Host Your Media Kit
Make your media kit available as a downloadable PDF in one easy-to-access location, such as:
• A dedicated page on your website
• A shared folder link on a platform like Google Drive or Dropbox
The goal is simple: Make it effortless for people to feature you and your book.
Final Tip
Many book opportunities, especially podcasts, blogs, and speaking invitations, happen quickly.
If you prepare your author Media Kit before publication, you respond instantly and professionally.
That preparation makes the difference between missing an opportunity and landing a great interview.