Episode 76: Publicity 101 for Authors with Leah Paulos

In this episode of The Smart Author Podcast, Chris is joined by Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. Leah shares her journey from journalism to becoming a leading book publicist and provides invaluable insights on leveraging PR for your book. Learn how to craft compelling pitches, build effective media lists, and secure media coverage for your book—without breaking the bank. Discover actionable strategies for promoting your book pre- and post-publication and explore how Book Publicity School empowers authors to navigate the complex world of media and publishing. Whether you're new to PR or looking to amplify your book's reach, this episode is packed with practical advice. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome, Smart Authors! 01:13 – Meet Leah PaulosLeah discusses her background in PR, running both Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School. 01:38 – Leah’s Journey to PRFrom journalism to PR: Leah’s career evolution and how it shaped her expertise in publicity. 02:19 – The Journalist’s PerspectiveHow Leah’s experience as a magazine editor helped her understand and excel in PR. 03:13 – Starting Press Shop PRLeah shares the story of transitioning from consulting to founding her own PR agency. 04:11 – Breaking Into Book PublicityLeah’s first author client and how it led her to specialize in book publicity. 06:20 – Demystifying Publicity for AuthorsWhy Leah focused on making PR accessible and jargon-free for authors through her website. 07:05 – The Birth of Book Publicity SchoolHow Book Publicity School was created to help authors access affordable, effective PR resources. 08:17 – The Changing Role of PublishersWhy modern authors need to take charge of their own publicity efforts. 09:30 – Navigating Media and PublishingHow Book Publicity School equips authors to manage these often opaque industries. 11:19 – The Core of Book Publicity SchoolLeah explains the key elements of the school, including crafting pitches and building media lists. 13:09 – Tailored PR Strategies for AuthorsHow Leah helps authors refine their messaging and target the right audiences. 15:14 – Building Feasible and Effective CampaignsThe importance of balancing ambitious goals with realistic outreach strategies. 17:00 – Leveraging Media PlacementsUsing initial media wins to snowball into larger opportunities. 19:27 – The Book as a Long-Term ProductWhy authors should view their book as a long-term investment, not a short-term project. 20:26 – Big Name CampaignsLeah reflects on high-profile projects, including Neil deGrasse Tyson and Representative John Lewis. 23:16 – The Puzzle of Book PublicityWhy Leah finds working with lesser-known authors and books especially rewarding. 24:15 – Giving Journalists a StoryHow crafting compelling angles for journalists leads to media coverage. 27:13 – A Unique Approach to PublicityWhy Book Publicity School fills a gap in the market with practical, campaign-based workshops. 28:03 – Where to Find Leah and Her ResourcesDetails on accessing Book Publicity School, Press Shop PR, and Leah’s monthly free workshops. 30:05 – Thank you for listening If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and share! Connect with Leah: Book Publicity School- https://www.bookpublicityschool.com/ Press Shop- https://www.pressshoppr.com/ LinkedIn:- https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahpaulos/ Resources: - Smart Author Media: https://smartauthormedia.com - Book your free book marketing chat with Chris here: https://smartauthormedia.com/chat Subscribe: - Subscribe on YouTube: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/youtube - Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://links.smartauthormedia.com/apple Connect with Smart Author Media: - Get notified when new episodes release: https://smartauthormedia.com/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.