We have put together this basic information sheet to demystify the process of book publicity for our authors. It is designed to empower authors with some general knowledge of Chicago Review Press's approach, to maximize your opportunities for working productively with our publicists, and to minimize misunderstandings and disappointment. Please remember that Chicago Review Press has had more than 20 years of experience in publicizing books successfully to many different media. You can rely on us to know what general approaches will work best for your book. The purpose of publicity is to generate sales, not simply to draw media attention to authors. We direct all of our publicity efforts to maximize sales. Publicity is an integral part of our marketing department and our publicity efforts are always coordinated with other aspects of that department such as sales and advertising. But do not confuse the job of the publicist with that of the sales manager. Where sales targets bookstore buyers and consumers, publicity targets reviewers who can influence their audiences and thereby generate customers for the book. The publicist makes no attempt to sell books directly, but instead tries to garner attention and reviews in three major areas: print media, radio, and television. The following schedules or time frames are approximate and often vary from title to title. Our senior publicist, Kathy Mirkin, and her associate, Adam Miller, know very well that flexibility and creativity are the keys to an effective publicity plan and that books are not widgets, but are as unique and diverse as the individuals who write them.

How Will My Book Be Publicized?

A couple of months before your book is due in our warehouse, the publicist will read the final manuscript, begin researching publicity outlets, and put together a special mailing list for the new title. It is premature to call and schedule meetings with the publicist or to expect a detailed plan before this time. Commonly the publicist will call you a few weeks before the book is due at our warehouse to introduce herself and to have a preliminary discussion about the book and the publicity campaign.

Phase 1: Print Media

Anywhere from one to three months before the book is due at our warehouse, the publicist will have approximately 20 advance publicity copies, or bound galleys, made up from uncorrected typeset pages of the manuscript. These galleys are sent to particular editors at the top places in the book industry for advance reviews: Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and the major newspapers. These editors choose to review the book or not, and generally request that no follow-up be made. At about the same time that your book is due at our warehouse, the publicist prepares the basic press kit, which includes a press release, an author bio, and a copy of the book. These kits are highly individualized and more material is added as it becomes available. Some press kits headed for more marginal reviewers will include a coupon for the book rather than an actual copy of the book, allowing us to send out many more notices than we might otherwise be able to send. Press kits go out as soon as the book is in our warehouse, but never before then, in hopes of generating feature articles, magazine excerpts, and author interviews in print. There is no point in publicizing a book to the general public before it is available in bookstores. This is particularly true for radio and television interviews, which generate quick responses and impulse buying. Adam Miller will be sure to send you a copy of each review we receive for your book.

Serial Rights

The author owns the first serial rights for the book, meaning that you can send your final manuscript or some portion of it to the magazines of your choice for the printing of an excerpt. You are entitled to keep all the money you receive from these early, prepublication excerpts of your book. Please let us know about any results from your efforts to sell first serial rights. Once we have published the book and it is in our warehouse, then the book is available for second serial rights. Any proceeds from second serial rights are split 50/50 between the author and the publisher. Some books are excellent candidates for excerpting and the publicist may make an offer to magazines, newspapers, or journals for those rights.

Phase 2: Radio and Television

Naturally, every author hopes to get on Oprah, but not every book is appropriate for television or radio. We explore these opportunities for all of our titles and direct our attention to realistic possibilities. Generally, this second phase takes place about a month or two after the books are available in stores and reviews have started coming in. It is important to have some good reviews in before we approach radio and television. If we get some favorable reviews early then this phase may take place simultaneously with the print media approach. It is, however, essential that books be available in stores before anything is booked for radio or television. An expanded press kit is put together for this type of media that may include an author photo, related articles, sample questions for interviewers, suggestions for a show, a gimmick (like a box of Cracker Jacks for a book on baseball), and any positive reviews. This expanded press kit is not limited to radio and television and may be prepared for print media depending upon the project and what materials we have available.

Other Events

Book Signings

These are the most publicized and most overrated events in the publishing industry. Authors and bookstore managers are more often than not disappointed with the turnout at a book signing. So are publishers, who pay for invitations, refreshments, and sometimes even bookstore space, and then do not recoup their expenditures. Unless you are Madonna or Stephen King, you are not likely to gather a crowd or sell many books. For the first-time author of a nonfiction book, a signing can be a letdown and result in very few sales. Consequently, it is not our standard practice to arrange book signings for authors. That said, authors who have the desire to set up their own signings at local bookstores are welcome to do so. There are some instances when this is especially appropriate, for example, when an author is well-known in the specialized community their book is written for and there is some sort of major gathering already scheduled for the group. Or an author may have a favorite local bookstore and a personal contact there. Or an author of a children's activity book might arrange with their local children's bookstore or children's museum a special program to demonstrate activities with kids. Signings should be scheduled when you have confirmed that books have been in our warehouse for at least three weeks. This allows time for us to ship the books, and for stores to inventory, unpack, and shelve them. Please inform Rob Taylor, our marketing assistant, of any signings that you arrange, so that he can follow up with the bookstore or shop and make sure that they have enough books available. We may also want to contact the local press.

Book Release Parties

A book release party for the book industry or the general public is expensive, doesn't sell many books, and usually doesn't garner publicity. Consequently, Chicago Review Press does not as a standard practice host book release parties. We encourage authors to host their own book release party for family and friends. Let us know if we can be of any assistance in providing you with books to sell. There are some exceptions to this general rule, so feel free to discuss this matter with the publicist about a month prior to the book's release. It may be mutually beneficial to have a book release party if the author is in town and is well-known within a particular community.

After the First Year of Publication

An important feature of Chicago Review Press is our emphasis on selling our backlist titles. (Books go into the backlist of our catalog after they have been featured for a whole season as new books.) This means that after the initial publicity campaign is over, we continue to publicize and promote your book as new opportunities arise. This is especially true if the book is selling well and our publicity efforts are paying off. For example, we present our gardening books each spring, our family travel books as each summer vacation looms ahead, and our sports books as each sports season begins. A book that is particularly appropriate for a holiday such as Father's Day or Valentine's Day will also be presented again at that time. The potential for these reviews is determined by our publicists. Note that not every book will make a perfect Christmas gift. Also, after the initial publicity campaign is over, be prepared to be patient, as the publicist may not be as readily available to respond to your publicity ideas at that time due to other priorities.

What Can I Do to Help Publicize My Book?

1) Provide your editor with a completed author questionnaire (copy enclosed). It is best to fill this in when you are near to finishing the book because many ideas will come to you as you do your research. Keep a copy of your completed author questionnaire so that you can send in a letter with any updated information at a later date. This questionnaire is the marketing department's primary tool for writing catalog copy and any leads that you give us here will be the first ones we look to in marketing and publicizing your book. 2) Once the book is written and in production, it is time for you to gather information and materials to help the publicist. Know that the publicist will have done his or her own research and will be aware of all the major magazines, newspapers, and other media outlets. You can assist the publicist by putting together a list of any of the following:

• Newsletters, journals, and magazines that specialize in the topic of your book
• Important articles on the subject written within the last year
• Any radio shows or cable shows that specifically feature your topic
• A list with addresses and phone numbers of famous people or people with credentials you know (or wish you knew) who might be interested in giving us
• blurb for the back of the book or to use on press releases
• Any personal contacts you might have in radio, television, or print media
• Suggested news "hooks" or story angles to grab media interest
• A professional-looking author photo
• Information on your past experience, if any, doing media interviews

Gather this all together in one package to send to the publicist. Do not phone these in or send them piecemeal, unless it is urgent. To maximize the time our publicist has to publicize your book, please limit your phone calls to no more than one per week. 3) If you live outside Chicago, please let the publicist know well in advance if you are coming to town. Also, let the publicist know of your travel plans in the first year after publication. Be sure to provide an address and phone number for where you can be reached in case any publicity opportunities arise. This is especially important because some radio and TV shows will only consider having a guest if they happen to be in town and there are no travel costs involved. 4) Feel free to arrange your own book signings and book release party. Let us know in advance and we will do what we can to make this a success for you. 5) Let your local library know about you and your book. They may have a special display for local authors or want to have you come to speak on your subject. 6) Most importantly, enjoy being a published author. Go into bookstores and turn your book face out. Brag about your book to strangers. Send family and friends into bookstores to request a copy of your book, rather than give away one of your precious copies.

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