01 / Press

Write the letter, not the brochure.

Editors do not need to be thrilled. They need a headline they can lift, a date, an ISBN, and a person who will pick up the phone. Fill the form; the letter composes itself. Print it, paste it, send it.

The news

What happened

Headline (optional override)

Write a headline a local editor can steal. Lead with the news, not the adjective. 'Local novelist publishes debut about Cornish lighthouse mystery' beats 'A stunning, unforgettable journey'.

Author

Book title

Genre

Dateline city

The lead

This is the only paragraph most journalists will read. One sentence: who, what, why it matters now. No plot dump.

What the book is

The facts a desk needs

Publisher

Publication date

ISBN

ISBN and publication date are what trade desks need to list you. If you do not have an ISBN yet, say 'ISBN forthcoming'.

Format

Price

Pages

Subtitle

Who you are, and who said so

Author bio

Three sentences. Origin, relevant work, and why you are the person to have written this book. Skip the childhood pets unless they are the book.

A real quote

A named quote from a reader, librarian, or early reviewer is worth ten adjectives of your own. If you do not have one yet, leave it blank — never invent it.

Who said it

Events, awards, contact

Venue

Event date

Award or notice

Where to buy

Embargo

Leave blank for immediate release. Use an embargo only if you are sending this before publication day and you actually need the date held.

Press contact

Give a person who will answer the phone the same day. A general 'info@' that sits for a week kills the piece.

Phone