Journalists, bloggers, podcasters and event programmers are busy, under-resourced, and drowning in pitches. A sharp book press release is your shortcut through that noise: one page that makes your story obvious, your angle timely, and your assets easy to grab. Think of it as a briefing note for people who need to make quick decisions. Below you’ll find a UK-friendly template, practical tips for each section, and a checklist so you don’t miss the small things that change outcomes. If you’d prefer a team to plan, write, and distribute the package, our professional book marketing services can handle the lot, calmly and on schedule.
What A Press Release Should Actually Do
A release isn’t a literary essay. Its job is to help a time-pressed editor answer three questions in seconds: Why should my audience care? Why now? How do I cover this fast? That means a tight hook, scannable facts, and friction-free links to your media kit and purchase/pre-order page.
Press releases also anchor the rest of your public activity. You can lift lines from it for Goodreads book marketing, creator briefs for influencer marketing for books, podcast pitches for podcast book marketing, and the hero copy on your book launch website. One clear message; many uses.
The One-Page Template (Copy It, Then Make It Yours)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Headline: A vivid, news-shaped promise; 8–12 words max
Subhead: Adds context or differentiator in one neat line
Dateline: London, 12 March 2026
Paragraph 1. The Hook (75–100 words)
Lead with the timely angle and the reader payoff, not your life story. One fact or stat helps. Include title, author name, format(s), and UK pub date.
Paragraph 2. The Synopsis (80–120 words)
Fiction: premise, stakes, setting, tone. Non-fiction: problem, promise, structure, authority. Keep spoilers out and clichés off.
Paragraph 3 . Author Credibility (60–100 words)
A two-sentence bio tailored to this book, plus relevant credentials. One human detail is fine; keep it tight.
Paragraph 4 . Social Proof / Context (50–90 words)
Early blurbs, awards, notable research, or community relevance. If local interest is strong, say so.
Call to Action
Pre-order / Buy / Request a review copy / Book the author. Provide one short URL to a media hub and a separate smartlink for retailers.
Boilerplate (2–3 lines)
A neutral, reusable note about you or your imprint/organisation.
Media Contact
Name | Email | Phone | Time zone | Media hub: yoursite.com/press
Don’t overthink design. Use a clean, single-column layout, left-aligned text, and plenty of white space. Save to PDF for sending; host the same content as HTML on your site for copy-and-paste ease.
Section-By-Section Tips That Lift Response Rates
Headline and subhead: write for skimmers
Editors skim first and decide later. Your headline should say the result in plain English (“Cornish storm, locked-room mystery, found-family stakes”) or the benefit (“A practical 6-week reset for burnout”). The subhead adds the differentiator, data, angle, or authority.
Hook paragraph: answer “why now?”
Tie to a moment: national conversation, awareness week, seasonal window, or local story. This is where seasonal book marketing earns its keep. For business or big-idea non-fiction, one credible stat anchors urgency. For fiction, lead with premise and mood rather than backstory.
Synopsis: keep it cinematic, not encyclopaedic
Fiction wants atmosphere and stakes; non-fiction wants problem, promise, and how you deliver it. Two vivid details beat twelve generic ones. If you have an audiobook day-and-date, add a single line and embed a 30-second sample on your media hub, light but effective audiobook marketing.
Author bio: relevant, not exhaustive
Pick credentials that legitimise this book. If you’re pitching regionally, highlight local ties. If schools or libraries are key, mention curriculum alignment, handy for library book marketing.
Social proof: one quote, not a wall
Choose a short, potent line from a recognisable name or outlet. If you lack blurbs, substitute a concrete outcome (“Built from 120 interviews across NHS trusts”).
Media contact: human and reachable
Include a direct email, a phone number with country code, your time zone, and the link to your press page. Journalists chase speed; don’t make them dig.
Build A Press Page Editors Will Love
Your release should point to a single “media hub” section on your book launch website with:
- Hi-res cover (front on transparent + 3D mock-up)
- Author headshots (landscape/portrait)
- Short and long bios (100 and 300 words)
- Book blurb (100 and 250 words)
- Fact sheet (pub date, formats, ISBNs, page count, price, imprint, territories)
- Downloadable excerpt (first chapter / first 10 pages)
- 30–60s audio clip (if available)
- Event topics and a 30-minute talk outline (supports quick bookings)
- One clean smartlink to retailers and pre-order bonus redemption for book preorder marketing
House everything under a short URL you can read on air. Adding alt text to images and captions to video, accessibility helps editors and readers.
Distribution: Who To Send, When To Send, And How Often
- Target lists, not the entire internet: Build a compact list of journalists, section editors, bloggers, and podcast producers who already cover your niche. One well-aimed note always beats 500 blind CCs.
- Time zones and rhythms: For UK dailies, early mornings mid-week work. For magazines or long-lead podcasts, pitch six to twelve weeks ahead. Stagger overseas waves for international book marketing.
- Subject lines that behave: “Press release: [BOOK TITLE], [8-word outcome/angle]” keeps filters happy and sets expectations.
- Two follow-ups, max: One gentle nudge 5–7 days later, and, if it’s truly timely, one reminder just before your moment. After that, move on.
While you pitch, brief a small book launch street team with consistent captions and a couple of on-time posts. Organic chatter helps journalists see a live story, not a cold one.
Integrate PR With Your Wider Campaign
A release shouldn’t live alone. Align it with:
- A short author video and a micro-reading you can use in creator briefs for influencer marketing for books.
- A podcast angle and 3–5 suggested questions, classic podcast book marketing that editors often pass to audio desks.
- A Goodreads Event and pinned update, quietly reliable Goodreads book marketing.
- A co-hosted panel or newsletter swap, simple cross-promotion for books that reporters can embed or reference.
- A calendar of library or school sessions so the local press can add community value, good fodder for library book marketing.
- A collector ‘s-edition note or box collaboration for book subscription box marketing, if that suits your genre.
The more your activity looks like a joined-up plan, the more likely a desk editor is to bite.
Measuring What Worked (And What Didn’t)
Wire basic tracking before you send anything. In your book marketing analytics dashboard, watch:
- Referral traffic from each outlet to your site (UTM links in the release)
- Email sign-ups and sampler downloads from the media hub
- Retailer click-through and sales lift during the 7–14 days after major hits
- Podcast enquiries and event bookings attributed to the release
- Review velocity on Goodreads/retailers
If traffic arrives but conversions lag, tighten your page copy and move retailer buttons higher. If opens are strong but responses are thin, re-work the headline and lead paragraph; the angle may be fuzzy.
Common Pitfalls (And How To Avoid Them)
- Flowery headlines. Clever isn’t clear. Say the benefit.
- Walls of text. Short paragraphs, subheads, and white space win.
- No assets. If an editor can’t grab images in 30 seconds, you’ve lost them.
- Ten CTAs. Choose one primary action and repeat it.
- Off-brand quotes. Keep blurbs short and specific; ditch generic gush.
Example: Fiction Hook Vs Non-Fiction Hook (So You Can Feel The Difference)
Fiction, crime:
Cornish Storm, Locked-Room Stakes: New Mystery “Gale Watch” Traps Six Strangers in a Lighthouse
Subhead: Award-shortlisted author returns with a found-family whodunnit set over one night on the Atlantic edge.
Non-fiction, leadership:
Beat Burnout in Six Weeks: Evidence-Based Playbook Launches for Overworked Managers
Subhead: Built from 120 interviews across NHS trusts and fintechs, “The Sustainable Week” offers a practical reset.
Each says the promise, the who, and the why-now without fluff.
Repurpose The Release So It Keeps Earning
- Clip two lines into a square graphic for socials.
- Read the hook + first paragraph at your virtual book reading.
- Paste the short bio and summary onto the festival and bookstore forms.
- Turn the lead into a 60-second trailer script to support ads or audiobook marketing teasers.
- Offer the “why now” paragraph to creators as the caption starting point.
This is how one piece of writing fuels months of activity.
A Simple 3-Week Press Timeline You Can Reuse
Week −3
- Finalise cover, metadata, and the media hub on your book launch website.
- Draft the release; secure one blurb; prepare your smartlinks; outline a mini podcast angle.
Week −2
- Send the first wave to targeted outlets and producers; brief your book launch street team; list a Goodreads Event.
- Offer two podcast slots; post a short behind-the-scenes reel for creators to stitch, and provide measured support for influencer marketing for books.
Week −1 / Launch week
- Second wave to outlets that didn’t open; publish the release on your site; pin it.
- Announce any box/club tie-ins for book subscription box marketing and cue territory-specific notes for international book marketing.
- Track coverage and lift in your dashboard; thank outlets publicly and keep the momentum tidy.
Quick Checklist Before You Hit Send
- Headline says the outcome; subhead adds the differentiator
- Hook answers “why now?” in 100 words or fewer
- Synopsis clear; no spoilers; strong verb choices
- Bio relevant to this book; one human detail
- One blurb or concrete proof point
- Single primary CTA + short URL to media hub
- Contact details, complete with time zone
- Assets live and downloadable (images, excerpt, audio clip)
- UTMs added; events tracking on the hub
- Staggered send list by beat and territory
Bringing It All Together
A crisp book press release is a multiplier. Get the message right once and you’ll feed podcasts, creators, libraries, Goodreads, pre-orders, and retail pages with the same confident core. Keep it clear, useful, and easy to action, and editors will keep your details on file for next time.
If you’d like a press engine built for you, from angle and drafting to distribution, smartlinks, and reporting, our book marketing services can step in. We’ll craft the narrative, sync it with your launch calendar, and thread it through creator work, newsletters, and paid activity so every strand supports the others. One page, many doors opened.