As with anything else you do in publicizing yourself, the first thing you need to decide
is the purpose of your media kit. Will your media kit be used to entice editors to
review your books? Will it be used to get you a guest spot on radio and/or
television talk shows? Will it be used to solicit book signings at book stores?
Will it be used to persuade a features editor to write an article about you (which
ultimately will help promote your book)?
Some components of your media kit will be the same no matter what your purpose: A
basic press release announcing the publication of your book. A biography about
yourself (make sure you include relevant information in your bio to help editors decide if
you would be a good on-the-air guest -- e.g., include any public speaking or teaching).
Perhaps a sheet of quotes from famous or known authors saying how wonderful your
book is. A synopsis of your book (and you thought the dreaded synopsis was only
necessary to entice editors to buy your book!).
If you are using your media kit to get guest spots on radio and/or television, you should
include a list of questions the host can ask you while on the air. For a media kit
designed to get a feature story written about you, include a possible feature story the
writer could use as background. Another possibility is to create a page of possible
feature angles for feature writers to use to help spark their interest in you as a feature
subject.
If you plan to mail your media kit to editors you will need to include a cover letter.
The cover letter should be personally addressed to the editor. Keep your
cover letter to one page and explain why you're sending the media kit to them.
Dear Joe Editor: Enclosed is a media kit about my latest romance novel. I
would love to be a guest on your morning Book Talk show to discuss my book and give your
readers some advice on how to put the sizzle in their marriage. I will call you next
week to answer any questions you may have. Sincerely, Samantha Author.
Suggest in your cover letter what you could talk about (other than your book), and tell
the editor you will follow up your letter with a phone call. And, then of course,
follow up the media kit with a phone call.
Su Wright is a freelance writer who has worked for public relations agencies as well
as in-hour PR departments. In addition, she has worked as a newspaper
editor/reporter and magazine editor. She has a B.S. in journalism and teaches press
release writing and press kit preparation at Colorado Free University. Someday she will be
a multi-published novelist in mysteries and romantic suspense.
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