What Should an Author Media Kit Include for a UK Book Launch?

A journalist agrees to consider an interview. A podcast host wants the author’s biography and photograph. A local newspaper asks for the book’s publication details before its afternoon deadline.

The author has the information, but it is scattered across emails, social accounts, design folders and old manuscript files.

A professional author media kit UK journalists, broadcasters, bloggers, event organisers and booksellers can access places the essential information in one organised location. It allows a media contact to understand the book, verify the details and obtain approved assets without exchanging several follow-up messages.

A media kit may contain:

• Book overview
• Author biography
• Publication details
• Cover images
• Author photographs
• Press release
• Interview topics
• Suggested questions
• Book extract
• Reviews and endorsements
• Contact information
• Website and social links
• Rights and credit instructions

The kit should be accurate, easy to download and concise enough for a busy professional to use quickly.

It is not a folder containing every file created during the publishing process. It is a selected set of reliable materials designed to support media coverage.

What Is an Author Media Kit?

An author media kit is a collection of approved information and visual assets relating to an author and their book.

It may also be called:

• Press kit
• Book media kit
• Author press pack
• Digital press room
• Publicity pack
• Media information pack

The kit can be provided as:

• Downloadable PDF
• Dedicated website page
• Cloud folder
• ZIP file
• Combination of a web page and individual downloads

A useful media kit helps a recipient answer basic questions such as:

• What is the book about?
• Who wrote it?
• Why is it relevant now?
• When is it being published?
• Which formats are available?
• What expertise or experience does the author offer?
• Which interview angles are available?
• Which images may be published?
• Who should be contacted?

The material should reduce effort for the recipient without attempting to dictate the final coverage.

A Media Kit Is Different from a Press Release

A press release presents one specific announcement or news angle.

It may focus on:

• Book publication
• Award
• Event
• Research finding
• Author appointment
• New edition
• Audiobook release
• Community initiative

A media kit provides broader supporting information.

The release may be one item within the kit, but the complete pack also gives the journalist:

• Biography
• Book details
• Images
• Interview subjects
• Quotations
• Contact information
• Supporting documents

A press release may become outdated after a particular announcement. The media kit should remain useful throughout the launch and early publicity period.

A Media Kit Is Different from a Book Sell Sheet

A book sell sheet is primarily a commercial document for:

• Booksellers
• Librarians
• Wholesalers
• Distributors
• Event buyers
• Institutional purchasers

It normally emphasises:

• ISBN
• Format
• Price
• Publication date
• Distributor
• Wholesale availability
• Returns information
• Ordering details
• Audience
• Short description

An author media kit focuses more heavily on editorial coverage and interview preparation.

The two documents may share verified information, but they should not be treated as identical.

A journalist does not usually need the wholesale discount. A bookshop buyer may not need ten suggested interview questions.

Decide Who Will Use the Media Kit

The kit should reflect the author’s publicity strategy.

Possible users include:

• National newspapers
• Local newspapers
• Magazines
• Radio producers
• Television researchers
• Podcast hosts
• Bloggers
• Reviewers
• Literary festivals
• Bookshops
• Libraries
• Schools
• Universities
• Professional associations
• Community organisations

Different recipients may need different information.

A Journalist May Need

• News angle
• Concise biography
• Publication details
• Press photograph
• Interview availability
• Supporting evidence

A Podcast Host May Need

• Longer biography
• Suggested discussion themes
• Previous interview links
• Pronunciation guidance
• Audio setup details

A Festival Organiser May Need

• Speaking biography
• Session ideas
• Technical requirements
• Accessibility needs
• Previous appearances

A Librarian May Need

• Book description
• ISBN
• Format
• Distributor
• Audience
• Event options
• Local relevance

Create one core kit, then prepare targeted material when a particular opportunity requires it.

Begin With a Clear Media-Kit Cover Page

The opening page should identify the author and book immediately.

Include:

• Book title
• Subtitle
• Author name
• Book cover
• Short positioning line
• Publication date
• Publicity contact

For example:

The Winter Letters
A historical mystery about family memory, wartime secrets and the stories people choose not to preserve

By Eleanor Marsh
Publication: 15 October 2026
Media enquiries: [contact information]

Avoid opening with a long paragraph or a complicated design.

The recipient should understand the project within a few seconds.

Include a One-Sentence Book Positioning Statement

A positioning statement explains the book’s central identity.

For fiction, it may combine:

• Genre
• Setting
• Central conflict
• Emotional theme

For example:

“A dual-timeline historical mystery in which a Liverpool archivist uncovers letters connecting her family to an unsolved wartime disappearance.”

For nonfiction, it may combine:

• Intended reader
• Problem
• Approach
• Outcome

For example:

“A practical communication guide for first-time managers who need to address feedback, conflict and accountability without relying on corporate jargon.”

The sentence should be specific enough to distinguish the book from other titles.

Avoid empty descriptions such as:

• A must-read book
• A life-changing journey
• A powerful story for everyone
• The ultimate guide
• An unforgettable masterpiece

These claims offer little information and may be difficult to support.

Add a Concise Book Overview

The overview should explain:

• Premise
• Subject
• Reader
• Main themes
• Distinctive approach
• Relevance

A useful media overview may contain 100 to 200 words.

It should be shorter than a full synopsis and more informative than a one-line hook.

For fiction, avoid revealing:

• Final twist
• Killer
• Hidden identity
• Major death
• Resolution

For nonfiction, explain:

• Reader problem
• Main framework
• Evidence or experience
• Practical value

The overview should match the final published book.

Do not use an early description created before the manuscript’s structure or title was confirmed.

Include Complete Publication Details

Create a clearly labelled section containing:

• Title
• Subtitle
• Author
• Publisher or imprint
• Publication date
• ISBN
• Formats
• Page count
• Trim size where relevant
• Retail price
• Distribution
• Language
• Series information
• Website

The ISBN helps retailers, booksellers and libraries identify the correct title and edition. Nielsen’s UK ISBN guidance explains that different formats and editions require distinct ISBNs, so a paperback, hardback and revised edition should not be represented by one interchangeable number.

List every edition separately when several formats are available.

For example:

Paperback
ISBN: [number]
Publication date: [date]
Pages: [number]
Retail price: [price]

eBook
ISBN or platform identifier: [number]
Publication date: [date]

Audiobook
ISBN: [number]
Narrator: [name]
Running time: [length]

Check these details against the live retailer and distributor records before sending the kit.

Write Several Versions of the Author Biography

One biography length will not suit every media request.

Prepare at least three versions.

Short Biography

Approximately 40 to 60 words.

Suitable for:

• Event listings
• Article notes
• Podcast descriptions
• Social promotion

Medium Biography

Approximately 100 to 150 words.

Suitable for:

• Interviews
• Festival programmes
• Review sites
• Press features

Full Biography

Approximately 250 to 400 words.

Suitable for:

• Detailed media profiles
• Speaker introductions
• Publisher websites
• Conference material

Each version should contain the same essential facts.

Do not state in one version that the author has fifteen years of experience and in another that they have twenty unless the difference is accurate and intentional.

Make the Biography Relevant to the Book

The author biography should support the current publicity story.

A fiction author may mention:

• Previous publications
• Genre
• Setting connection
• Research interests
• Awards
• Writing background

A nonfiction author may mention:

• Qualifications
• Professional experience
• Research
• Relevant organisation
• Personal connection with the subject
• Speaking experience

Do not include every job the author has held.

A book about workplace psychology may benefit from the author’s clinical, academic or organisational experience. An unrelated summer job from twenty years earlier probably does not help a journalist understand the book.

Personal details may be included when they support:

• Local angle
• Cultural connection
• Subject relevance
• Human-interest story

Keep private information out of the kit unless the author is comfortable seeing it repeated publicly.

Verify Every Biographical Claim

Professional nonfiction book fact checking should extend to the author biography and media materials.

Check:

• Qualifications
• Job titles
• Dates
• Awards
• Organisation names
• Published books
• Sales figures
• Media appearances
• Professional memberships
• Research claims
• Bestseller statements

Avoid turning modest achievements into misleading claims.

Examples include:

• Calling a temporary category rank a permanent bestseller status
• Describing an unpaid contribution as employment by the publication
• Calling a course certificate a regulated professional qualification
• Claiming national press coverage when the author submitted a guest article
• Describing a nomination as an award win

Journalists may repeat biography information without independently checking every line.

An inaccurate claim can therefore spread quickly across interviews, event pages and articles.

Supply Professional Author Photographs

Include at least two approved photographs.

Useful options may include:

• Portrait headshot
• Horizontal image
• Full or half-length photograph
• Environmental photograph connected with the book

Each image should be:

• High resolution
• Sharp
• Professionally lit
• Suitable for print and digital use
• Clearly named
• Accompanied by a photographer credit
• Licensed for media publicity

Provide both:

• High-resolution version for print
• Smaller web version for online use

A photograph suitable for social media may not have enough resolution for a magazine page.

Name Image Files Clearly

Avoid names such as:

• IMG_7842.jpg
• final-final-photo2.png
• image-new-copy.jpg
• DSC00912.jpg

Use descriptive file names such as:

• Eleanor-Marsh-author-headshot-credit-Aisha-Khan.jpg
• The-Winter-Letters-book-cover-high-resolution.jpg
• Eleanor-Marsh-horizontal-press-photo.jpg

Clear naming helps media teams identify:

• Subject
• Orientation
• Credit
• Purpose

Do not place essential credit information only in the body of an email. Keep it in the media kit and, where practical, in the file metadata or file name.

Confirm Image Rights

Paying for a photography session does not automatically answer every question about copyright and publicity use.

The agreement should confirm whether the author may supply the photograph to:

• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Websites
• Broadcasters
• Festivals
• Retailers
• Libraries
• Advertising partners

Record:

• Photographer
• Copyright owner
• Required credit
• Permitted use
• Editing restrictions
• Licence duration
• Territory

Do not include stock photographs, illustrations or location images unless the author or publisher has the right to distribute them for press use.

A media kit gives other people access to the files. The licence must permit that intended use.

Include the Book Cover in Several Formats

Provide:

• Front cover JPG
• High-resolution print cover
• Smaller web cover
• Transparent-background PNG where genuinely useful

Do not send the full print-wrap PDF unless requested. It may include:

• Crop marks
• Spine
• Barcode
• Bleed
• Printer instructions

The front cover is generally more useful for media coverage.

Check that the supplied cover matches the final published edition.

Remove old versions from the shared folder so a journalist does not publish an abandoned cover.

Include Approved Credits and Captions

Prepare a simple credit document.

For example:

Author photograph:
Eleanor Marsh. Photograph by Aisha Khan.

Book cover:
The Winter Letters by Eleanor Marsh. Cover design by Daniel Reed. Published by North Quay Books.

Event photograph:
Eleanor Marsh speaking at Liverpool Central Library, March 2026. Photograph by Leah Morgan.

Captions should identify:

• People
• Place
• Event
• Date
• Book
• Photographer

Do not rely on the recipient to guess who appears in a photograph.

Provide a Press Release When There Is a Genuine News Angle

A launch press release may focus on:

• Publication
• Local connection
• Timely issue
• Research finding
• Unusual author story
• Community project
• Historical discovery
• Relevant event

The release should contain:

• Headline
• Opening summary
• Main news
• Author quotation
• Supporting information
• Publication details
• Contact
• Notes to editors

A book existing is not always enough to create national news coverage.

The pitch becomes stronger when the book connects with:

• Current public discussion
• Anniversary
• Local history
• Professional debate
• New research
• Significant personal experience
• Community relevance

The Society of Authors provides professional-development guidance specifically focused on preparing writers to engage with traditional and new media, reflecting the importance of approaching press activity as a planned professional process.

Add Suggested Media Angles

A media angle is a specific story or discussion a journalist can develop.

Possible angles include:

Local Angle

• Author lives in the area
• Book is set locally
• Research used a local archive
• Launch supports a community organisation

Expert Angle

• Author can comment on workplace change
• Book examines current health communication
• Author has specialist legal or historical knowledge

Human-Interest Angle

• Book grew from a personal experience
• Author changed career later in life
• Family discovery inspired the story

Cultural Angle

• Book explores migration, language or identity
• Publication coincides with an anniversary
• Story revives an overlooked historical event

Practical Angle

• Author can provide advice for readers
• Book introduces a useful framework
• Interview can answer a common public question

Offer three to six strong angles.

Do not present twenty minor ideas in the hope that one will interest the journalist.

Prepare Suggested Interview Topics

Interview topics should be broad enough to support conversation.

Examples include:

• Why families preserve some stories and silence others
• Researching civilian life during the Second World War
• Turning archival fragments into fiction
• How new managers can prepare for difficult conversations
• Why workplace feedback is often delayed
• What podcast guests taught the author about leadership
• How children’s illustrations influence emotional understanding

Each topic should connect clearly with the book or author expertise.

Avoid listing only:

• My writing journey
• My inspiration
• My book
• Why everyone should read it

Specific topics make it easier for a producer or host to imagine the interview.

Include Suggested Interview Questions

Prepare approximately eight to twelve questions.

They may cover:

• Book premise
• Research
• Writing process
• Main argument
• Reader need
• Personal connection
• Surprising discovery
• Current relevance
• Future work

For example:

• What first drew you to the family letters at the centre of the novel?
• How did you decide which historical details belonged in the story?
• Why do family silences continue across generations?
• What did archival research reveal that you had not expected?
• How did you balance mystery with historical responsibility?
• What do you hope readers discuss after finishing the book?

The questions are suggestions, not conditions.

A journalist must remain free to conduct an independent interview.

Prepare Concise Author Quotations

The kit may include two or three approved quotations from the author.

A useful quotation should express:

• Purpose
• Discovery
• Central belief
• Personal connection
• Reader value

For example:

“Family history is rarely only about what has been preserved. The missing documents and avoided conversations can shape later generations just as powerfully.”

Avoid quotations that sound like sales copy:

“This is the most important and exciting novel readers will experience this year.”

The author may update quotations for a specific article or interview rather than expecting every publication to use the prepared wording.

Add a Book Extract

A carefully selected extract can help:

• Reviewers
• Journalists
• Festival organisers
• Podcast hosts
• Booksellers

Choose a section that:

• Represents the writing accurately
• Makes sense without extensive context
• Avoids major spoilers
• Demonstrates the book’s tone
• Is long enough to evaluate
• Has completed editing and proofreading

A fiction extract may use the opening chapter or a strong self-contained scene.

A nonfiction extract may use:

• Introduction
• Key framework
• Case study
• Short practical chapter

Label the document clearly and state whether it may be quoted or published.

Do not assume that supplying an extract authorises unlimited reproduction.

State Extract Permissions Clearly

Include wording such as:

“This extract is supplied for review and editorial consideration. Publication beyond brief quotation requires written permission from the publicity contact.”

When a publication has permission to reproduce a complete extract, confirm:

• Word count
• Territory
• Website or print use
• Date
• Credit
• Link
• Exclusivity
• Duration

Check any third-party quotations, photographs or illustrations within the extract.

The author may own the manuscript while other rights remain separately licensed.

Include Reviews and Endorsements Accurately

The kit may contain selected:

• Editorial reviews
• Trade reviews
• Media quotations
• Professional endorsements
• Recognised author blurbs

For each quotation, include:

• Exact wording
• Reviewer or endorser
• Publication or role
• Date where useful
• Link to original coverage where appropriate
• Permission status

Do not:

• Invent a review
• Rewrite an endorsement
• Remove qualifying language deceptively
• Present private feedback as a published review
• Call a customer rating an editorial review
• Use a person’s name without consent

Three strong, relevant quotations are often more useful than two pages of generic praise.

Add Advance Review Information

A campaign involving advance reader copies UK authors distribute may produce:

• Editorial reviews
• Blogger coverage
• Professional endorsements
• Bookseller comments
• Librarian interest
• Podcast invitations

The media kit should distinguish between:

• Published review
• Advance endorsement
• Reader feedback
• Professional editorial review
• Customer review

Reviews are not guaranteed when a free copy is supplied. Goodreads allows authors and publishers to offer free or discounted books, but its author guidelines prohibit requiring reviews or attempting to influence the reader’s opinion.

Do not describe every ARC recipient as a reviewer before they have agreed to cover the book.

Include the Publication Timeline

A timeline can help media contacts understand when coverage may be most useful.

Include relevant dates such as:

• ARC availability
• Review embargo
• Pre-order date
• Publication date
• Launch event
• Festival appearance
• Audiobook release
• Paperback release
• Relevant anniversary

Use exact dates.

Avoid vague language such as:

• Coming soon
• This autumn
• Next month
• Launching shortly

A media kit may be downloaded weeks after it was first shared. Exact dates prevent confusion.

Add Event and Speaking Information

The author may be available for:

• Interviews
• Readings
• Panel discussions
• Workshops
• School visits
• Library talks
• Book-club appearances
• Conference sessions
• Virtual events

State:

• Types of appearance
• In-person regions
• Virtual availability
• Languages
• Accessibility requirements
• Preferred session length
• Speaker contact
• Fee status where appropriate

Do not promise unrestricted free appearances.

A journalist needs to know that an author is available for interview. Detailed speaking fees can be discussed separately unless the kit is also intended for event bookings.

Provide Broadcast Information

Radio, television and podcast producers may appreciate practical details.

Include where relevant:

• Pronunciation of author name
• Pronunciation of book title
• Location
• Time zone
• Telephone interview availability
• Video interview availability
• Studio access
• Quality microphone availability
• Previous broadcast links
• Languages spoken

For example:

Name pronunciation:
Amara Qureshi: uh-MAR-uh kuh-RESH-ee

Remote interviews:
Available through professional USB microphone and wired internet connection.

Keep technical claims accurate.

Do not state that the author has broadcast-quality equipment when they intend to use a laptop microphone in a noisy room.

Include a Contact Person

Every media kit needs one clear contact.

This may be:

• Publicist
• Publisher
• Author
• Agent
• Marketing representative

Include:

• Name
• Role
• Email
• Telephone number where appropriate
• Working hours or time zone where helpful

Do not include several conflicting contacts without explaining their roles.

For example:

UK media enquiries: [name and email]
Rights enquiries: [name and email]
Event bookings: [name and email]

A dedicated professional email address may be preferable to a private personal account.

Create a Dedicated Media Page on the Author Website

A website media page can host the most current information.

It may contain:

• Short biography
• Book overview
• Cover
• Press photographs
• Downloadable kit
• Recent coverage
• Interview topics
• Contact
• Event availability

Professional author website SEO can also help journalists and event organisers find this page through searches involving the author, book title and subject expertise.

Use a clear address structure, such as:

authorwebsite.com/media

Avoid hiding the kit behind:

• Account registration
• Complicated forms
• Multiple pop-ups
• Expiring link
• Password unless confidentiality requires it

A journalist working to a deadline should be able to locate approved material quickly.

Keep the Media Page Search-Friendly

Use a clear page title such as:

Media Kit for Eleanor Marsh, Author of The Winter Letters

Include natural headings:

• About the Author
• About the Book
• Interview Topics
• Press Photographs
• Media Coverage
• Contact

Provide text on the page instead of making every piece of information available only inside a PDF.

Search engines can understand the page more easily when important content appears as accessible HTML.

Avoid repeating the primary keyword unnaturally. The page should first serve human visitors.

Make Downloads Accessible

A downloadable PDF should have:

• Selectable text
• Logical reading order
• Clear headings
• Sufficient contrast
• Meaningful link text
• Descriptive image text where possible
• Reasonable file size

Do not place every paragraph inside a graphic.

A visually attractive media kit becomes difficult to use when a journalist cannot copy:

• Biography
• ISBN
• Publication date
• Quotation
• Contact details

Provide individual downloadable text documents where appropriate.

Use Consistent File Organisation

A media folder might contain:

• Author Media Kit PDF
• Press Release
• Short Biography
• Medium Biography
• Full Biography
• Book Overview
• Author Photographs
• Book Cover
• Approved Extract
• Reviews and Endorsements
• Contact Sheet

Use a logical folder structure:

01 Media Kit
02 Press Release
03 Author Photos
04 Book Cover
05 Extract
06 Reviews

Remove:

• Working drafts
• Old covers
• Private contracts
• Raw photographs
• Unlicensed images
• Internal marketing notes
• Reviewer personal information

The recipient should not have to decide which version is final.

Keep the Main PDF Concise

A media kit does not need to contain every complete document.

A strong core PDF may be approximately five to ten pages, depending on the author and book.

Possible order:

• Cover page
• Book overview and key details
• Author biographies
• Media angles and interview topics
• Reviews or endorsements
• Event information
• Image and contact instructions

Longer materials may be supplied as separate files.

A fifty-page media kit can discourage recipients from locating the information they need.

Tailor the Kit for Fiction

A fiction media kit may emphasise:

• Premise
• Genre
• Setting
• Themes
• Character relationships
• Research
• Comparable readership
• Series information
• Author inspiration
• Local relevance

Potential interview topics might include:

• Historical research
• Creating the setting
• Family memory
• Genre conventions
• Character development
• Writing a series
• Ethical use of real events

Do not include a complete plot synopsis in the general media kit when it reveals the ending.

A confidential synopsis may be supplied to selected journalists or producers where necessary.

Tailor the Kit for Nonfiction

A nonfiction media kit may emphasise:

• Reader problem
• Central argument
• Author expertise
• Research
• Practical framework
• Case studies
• Current relevance
• Policy or industry context
• Key findings

It may also include:

• Source note
• Research methodology
• Information cut-off date
• Specialist-review statement
• Supporting statistics

All factual claims must be checked.

A media kit can damage credibility when its statistics differ from those in the published book.

Include a Sensitivity and Representation Review Where Relevant

A professional sensitivity reader UK authors commission may review:

• Biography language
• Book description
• Character summaries
• Cultural terminology
• Disability language
• Historical labels
• Promotional imagery
• Interview topics

A nuanced book can be reduced to a stereotype through poor publicity wording.

For example, a novel about a refugee family should not necessarily be promoted only through:

• Trauma
• Displacement
• Victimhood
• Generic cultural imagery

The media kit should represent the full book, including:

• Agency
• Relationships
• Humour
• Ambition
• Ordinary life
• Specific cultural context

Do not claim that a sensitivity reader “approved the book for the community”. One reader cannot provide universal approval.

Mention the consultation publicly only with the reader’s permission.

Explain a Podcast-to-Book Project Clearly

Authors who turn podcast into a book should use the media kit to explain what the written edition adds.

Possible additions include:

• New framework
• Updated research
• Reorganised themes
• Additional case studies
• New interviews
• Exercises
• Author commentary
• Expanded conclusion

Avoid describing the book merely as:

“Based on the podcast.”

A stronger explanation might be:

“The book develops five years of expert conversations into a structured guide, combining new research, practical exercises and previously unpublished case studies.”

Include relevant podcast information such as:

• Programme title
• Launch year
• Main subject
• Selected guests
• Audience information where verified
• Listening link
• Author’s role

Check permission before using guest names, images or quotations in the media kit.

Mention the Index When It Supports Media Positioning

Authors learning how to index a book may highlight the final index when the publication is designed for reference.

This may be useful for:

• History
• Biography
• Business
• Science
• Professional guides
• Academic trade books
• Local history

A factual feature list may say:

• Detailed subject index
• Chapter notes
• Glossary
• Thirty case studies
• Illustrated timeline

Do not state that the book includes an index if:

• It was removed before publication.
• It appears only in one edition.
• The ARC contains no final index and this is not disclosed.
• The digital edition uses different navigation.

The media kit must describe the specific edition accurately.

Coordinate With Goodreads Marketing

Professional Goodreads marketing for authors begins with an accurate author profile and correct book records.

Goodreads currently allows eligible published authors and authors with forthcoming books in its database to join its Author Program for free, claim their pages, update profile information and use available promotional or engagement tools.

The media kit may include:

• Goodreads author-profile link
• Correct book-page link
• Giveaway details where current
• Selected editorial reviews
• Reader discussion information

Do not copy private Goodreads messages or reviews into the media kit without considering attribution and permission.

Customer reviews should be quoted accurately and should not be presented as independent editorial coverage.

Coordinate With Amazon A+ Content

Amazon A+ Content for books allows eligible KDP publishers to add images, text and comparison material to Amazon detail pages.

The media kit and A+ Content may share:

• Positioning
• Author biography
• Book themes
• Approved illustrations
• Series information
• Visual identity

They cannot necessarily share every element.

A media kit may include:

• Contact details
• Website
• Retail price
• Press release
• Review links

Amazon A+ Content has its own restrictions and should be prepared according to current KDP guidelines. KDP directs publishers to follow specific rules governing A+ text and images and manages editorial reviews separately through Author Central.

Maintain one approved information sheet so the description, media kit, A+ modules and website do not contradict one another.

Coordinate With Advance Reader Copies

A campaign involving advance reader copies UK should use the media kit selectively.

An ARC recipient may need:

• Book overview
• Author biography
• Publication details
• Content information
• Cover image
• Media contact
• Review disclosure reminder

They may not need:

• Complete speaking information
• High-resolution photograph archive
• Every press angle
• Private publicity plan

Create a compact reviewer sheet drawn from the media kit.

When an ARC differs from the finished edition, disclose:

• Provisional cover
• Uncorrected text
• Missing index
• Temporary page numbers
• Publication details subject to change

Update the main media kit when the final edition is available.

Use a Book Illustration Brief for Publicity Assets

A professional book illustration brief should specify whether commissioned artwork will also be used in:

• Media kit
• Press release
• Author website
• Retail graphics
• Book trailer
• Social media
• Event banners
• Amazon A+ Content

The agreement should confirm:

• Asset sizes
• Cropping rights
• Text-overlay permission
• Marketing licence
• Credit
• Territory
• Duration
• File delivery
• Revision rounds

An illustration licensed only for the book interior may not automatically be available for unrestricted press use.

Prepare separate media assets when the original artwork becomes unreadable or loses impact at smaller dimensions.

Add Children’s Book Materials Thoughtfully

A children’s author or illustrator media kit may include:

• Character images
• Sample spreads
• Reading-age guidance
• Educational themes
• School-event options
• Workshop information
• Illustrator biography
• Classroom resources
• Reading activity

The kit should identify whether the author and illustrator are both available for interviews.

The children’s book illustration cost UK production budget may need to include:

• Character cut-outs
• Press illustrations
• Promotional adaptations
• High-resolution artwork
• Event graphics
• Media licensing

Do not distribute complete picture-book files through an unrestricted press folder.

Provide a small number of approved spreads and make further material available by request.

Include Audiobook Information

When an audiobook is part of the launch, include:

• Narrator
• Release date
• Running time
• Publisher
• Distribution
• Audio sample
• Narrator biography
• Pronunciation information
• Relevant production details

The audiobook production cost UK authors calculate may also include creating:

• Approved audio sample
• Press clip
• Audiobook cover
• Narrator interview material
• Transcripts
• Accessible captions for promotional video

Do not upload the complete audiobook to a publicly accessible media folder.

Provide a short licensed sample or secure review access.

Prepare a Media Pitch Separately

The media kit supports a pitch. It does not replace one.

A pitch email should explain:

• Why the recipient is being contacted
• Why the story suits their audience
• What is timely or distinctive
• Which interview or article is available
• Where the media kit can be found

Do not write:

“Please find my media kit attached and let me know if interested.”

A stronger pitch might say:

“Your recent coverage of Liverpool’s wartime archives makes this historical novel particularly relevant to your readers. The author is available to discuss how overlooked civilian letters shaped the book and what family archives reveal through their gaps as well as their preserved records.”

Then provide the media-kit link.

Do Not Send Large Unrequested Attachments

Large attachments can:

• Trigger security filters
• Fill inboxes
• Load slowly
• Create suspicion
• Become inaccessible on mobile

A concise email with a reliable media link is usually more practical.

Attach a press release only when:

• Requested
• Commonly expected by the recipient
• Small enough to deliver safely

Make the link descriptive:

Download the author media kit and press images

Avoid vague link text such as:

Click here

Keep Private Information Out of the Public Kit

A public media page should not expose:

• Home address
• Personal mobile number unless intended
• Private email
• Contracts
• Financial information
• Reviewer contact list
• Unpublished manuscript
• Identity documents
• Unlicensed photographs
• Private correspondence
• Children’s personal information

Use:

• Business email
• Publicist contact
• Postal business address
• Contact form
• Professional telephone line where needed

Review file metadata as well. A document may reveal:

• Original author name
• Internal comments
• Previous employer
• Editing history
• Computer user name

Export clean final files.

Test the Media Kit Before Launch

Ask someone unfamiliar with the project to locate:

• Publication date
• ISBN
• Author biography
• High-resolution photograph
• Photographer credit
• Book overview
• Contact
• Interview topics

Then ask:

• Is anything contradictory?
• Which file appears final?
• Can text be copied easily?
• Are downloads clearly labelled?
• Is the folder accessible on mobile?
• Do links work?
• Are file sizes manageable?
• Is any private information visible?

A useful test should take only a few minutes.

The recipient should not need instructions from the author to navigate the kit.

Update the Kit Throughout the Campaign

Review the kit when:

• Publication date changes
• Cover changes
• Price changes
• New format launches
• Audiobook becomes available
• Review appears
• Award is announced
• Event is confirmed
• Author biography changes
• Contact person changes
• Series expands

Add new information selectively.

Do not continue expanding the main PDF until it becomes difficult to use.

A media-coverage page on the website may hold newer links, while the core kit remains concise.

Archive Previous Versions

Keep dated internal copies, such as:

• Media Kit v1, pre-launch
• Media Kit v2, publication
• Media Kit v3, audiobook release
• Media Kit v4, paperback release

Only the latest approved version should remain in the public download location.

Archiving allows the publishing team to understand:

• Which information was active
• Which cover was distributed
• When a quotation was added
• Which contact details were supplied

Do not delete contracts or rights documents simply because the public kit has changed.

Store them securely outside the media folder.

Common Author Media-Kit Mistakes

Frequent problems include:

• Treating the kit as a long sales brochure
• Omitting publication details
• Using inconsistent biographies
• Supplying low-resolution photographs
• Forgetting photographer credits
• Including old covers
• Making unsupported claims
• Using unclear file names
• Uploading private working files
• Providing no media angles
• Writing vague interview topics
• Including spoilers in a fiction synopsis
• Sending large unsolicited attachments
• Hiding the kit behind a form
• Offering images without confirming rights
• Copying customer reviews inaccurately
• Forgetting audiobook and format information
• Failing to update changed dates
• Using a PDF from which text cannot be copied
• Assuming the kit itself is a personalised media pitch

A media kit should save the recipient time.

Every unnecessary or unreliable element makes that job harder.

A Practical Author Media-Kit Workflow

A reliable process may include:

• Define the intended media audiences.
• Confirm the book’s final positioning.
• Verify title, subtitle and publication date.
• Record each format and ISBN.
• Write short, medium and full biographies.
• Fact-check every author claim.
• Prepare a concise book overview.
• Identify three to six media angles.
• Draft interview topics and suggested questions.
• Select an approved book extract.
• Collect accurate reviews and endorsements.
• Commission or select professional photographs.
• Confirm image and illustration rights.
• Prepare high- and web-resolution files.
• Write photographer credits and captions.
• Add speaking and broadcast information.
• Provide one clear media contact.
• Create a concise core PDF.
• Organise supporting files in labelled folders.
• Build a dedicated website media page.
• Test links, downloads and mobile access.
• Remove outdated and private material.
• Tailor the kit for specific pitches.
• Update it when editions, reviews or events change.
• Keep an internal archive of previous versions.

A professional media kit does not persuade a journalist to cover a book by itself.

It makes coverage easier once interest exists.

The strongest kits provide accurate information, useful story angles and publication-ready assets while leaving the journalist, producer or event organiser free to shape their own work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should an author media kit be?

A core media-kit PDF may be approximately five to ten pages. Longer biographies, extracts, photographs and press releases can be supplied as separate downloadable files.

Should an author media kit include the book price and ISBN?

Yes. Include the ISBN, format, retail price, publication date, publisher and distribution details. List separate information for each edition.

How many author photographs should be included?

At least two useful options are recommended, such as a portrait and a horizontal photograph. Supply high-resolution and web-resolution versions with the photographer’s required credit.

Should the media kit contain interview questions?

Suggested questions can help podcast hosts, event organisers and journalists understand the available discussion areas. They should remain optional and should not restrict independent questioning.

Can customer reviews be included in an author media kit?

Selected customer-review excerpts may be included when quoted accurately, attributed appropriately and used according to the platform’s terms. They should not be misrepresented as professional editorial reviews.

Where should an author host the media kit?

A dedicated page on the author or publisher website is usually the most practical option. It can provide current text, individual downloads, high-resolution images and one clear media contact.