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| Book Media Kit meme c2016 by Kim Headlee. Photo c2015 by nastia1983, Depositphotos ID 64327933. |
Today on The Maze:
Tips for crafting your book's Media Kit!
What is a media kit?
It's a collection of materials an author assembles to inform journalists and—these days—bloggers and tour hosts about their books for promotional purposes.
When I began my publishing career in 1999, the media kit was a two-pocket folder assembled to exacting specifications.
In the left pocket, front to back, was tucked the author's photo, followed by contact information and bio, and any prior publications and awards.
The right pocket contained the most recent release's cover flat (the marketing tool produced by large traditional publishers consisting of the print book's wrap cover with selling points printed on the back), book information such as genre, series title if applicable, and retail price, tagline and synopsis, press releases, and reviews.
If you plan to attend major conventions or other events where reporters are expected, it's not a bad idea to carry a physical media kit, or even several copies if you're feeling particularly lucky. :)
The age of virtual book tours has prompted the evolution of the media kit to digital form, including the aforementioned author and book information, along with, where available:
- author's (and publisher's, if applicable) website link
- links to YouTube interviews
- book trailers (links as well as embed codes)
- links to award announcements
- lists of social media accounts to follow
- sample chapter
- excerpts
- teaser graphics
- animated book cover GIF files
- static cover graphics
- collections of sample tweets
- links to e-tailer author and product pages
Some authors prefer to assemble one media kit that describes all of their books. If your collection contains more than three books, however, you might be wise to consider establishing a separate media kit for each book or series. This makes it easy to approach bloggers who might be interested in running a spotlight of one of your books on their blog.
If you employ blog-tour companies, more than likely they will send you their media kit format. Ask her or him, as a professional courtesy, whether it's acceptable to substitute the media kit you've already prepared.
A subset of the digital media kit—minus frills such as book trailers, animated covers, teaser graphics, excerpts, and sample chapters—may be sent to potential reviewers along with the book's MOBI (for Kindle) or EPUB (for most other e-reader types) file. Remember to double-check the reviewer's submission guidelines, however, and only send the materials the reviewer requests.
If there is anything you like to include in your book's media kit that I haven't mentioned here, please leave a comment and let us all know!
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Great info Kim!
ReplyDeletePinned to my "Writing Process" board!
Thanks so much for visiting and sharing, Pamela! :)
DeleteMay I also suggest:
ReplyDelete1) Release Date
2) If previously released: original title, original author name, month/year originally released, by what publisher-if any, and if any additional material has been added and/or newly edited.
3) Genre(s) ex: Paranormal Romance
4) Content/Themes ex: Vampires, Shifters, Magic, Ménage, etc.
5) Titles & target release dates for upcoming releases within the next 18 months
Thank you for the nod to asking if the author's media kit is acceptable or not. Many bloggers who showcase/feature a lot of books, in my case at least one book/day 365 days/year, ask for information in a certain order to help us streamline the post process because we usually also have to then create the promo for the post.
As a blogger, I would much rather have too much information than not enough.
Excellent suggestions, all; thank you!
DeleteIn looking over your list, I realize I left off a matureness rating such as the scale movies employ, sometimes called "heat level" for romance novels. Since my books can contain varying levels of combat violence in addition to intimacy, I prefer the movie designations of PG, etc.