How to Make an Outstanding Author Media Kit for Your Book
Featuring DropCap Author, Puja Shah
One of the joys of working in the foreign rights industry is that we are constantly getting more books into our system to showcase to our global book buyers.
When we see books that really pique our interest, we know that chances are good they will turn heads on the international stage as well!
However, with a hugely saturated market, it takes more than great content to get your book noticed.
Keep in mind that our book buyers are looking for more than just a great book—they’re looking for a book that has the same potential for success in their market as it does in the domestic one.
That’s where your author media kit comes in.
For authors, a media kit can be defined as a packet of information about the book and author, including relevant information like sales, awards, endorsements, and plans for marketing.
Clearly, your media kit should include your book cover, synopsis, and author bio, but other than that, the contents are up to you to assemble.
While a media kit isn’t a mandatory part of your book marketing plan, creating one is a great way to organize a succinct pitch to book buyers, engage with reviewers, and as part of a book tour.
We recently came across a media kit we thought checked all the right boxes, and couldn’t wait to share it with our DropCap Marketplace community.
For My Sister, a novel by Puja Shah, was published by Koehler Books and is the winner of the 2022 International Impact Book Award for Women's Fiction, the 2023 Literary Titan Fiction Book Award, and the 2022 American Writing Award for Social Change.
Tip #1: Start With A Great Author Website
One look at Puja Shah’s website and it’s clear: she is a professional in every sense of the word.
This is important not just for aesthetic purposes: foreign rights buyers interested in licensing your book are likely to go to your website to take a look at your platform.
The more time you spend creating a solid website, the easier it will be for people to see the potential for your book’s success on a global scale.
Puja’s website is a beautiful blend of her writing, her professional speaking career, and helpful tips for fellow creatives. There are multiple ways to get to know her and her work.
Most importantly, her website makes it easy for prospective readers and international rights buyers to see her books, awards, and have access to her entire media kit.
Tip #2 A Beautiful Book Sell Sheet is the Most Important Part of Your Author Media Kit
The term “media kit” can include any number of extras. Some authors include Q and A, excerpts, a press release, and pages of endorsements.
While those are great, the most important thing you should focus on is your book sell sheet.
Think of your sell sheet as a timeless way of showcasing your book to potential book buyers, from readers to bookstore owners to international rights agents.
We think Puja’s sell sheet is simply beautiful and does an amazing job of highlighting her book:
The design is simple, elegant, and professional, not to mention includes all the key details that any publishing professional would want:
A short, succinct description of the book
Key selling points
Specific audience
Relevant publicity
Book specifications, like trim size, price, and availability
The nice thing about a sell sheet (as opposed to a press release) is that you have a lot of creative freedom with it.
Don’t have a list of libraries hosting book clubs? No sweat—make a list of bonus material you’ve created.
Don’t have a list of awards you’ve received? Consider listing key bulk sales you’ve coordinated.
Tip #3 Creatively Connect With Your Community of Readers
Sometimes authors think that if they don’t have a list of media appearances and accolades that they don’t have “enough” for a robust media kit.
Certainly, if you have a list of awards and media shout-outs, they make for great content.
Examples of media appearances as part of Puja Shah’s media kit.
However, we were really impressed with how creative this author got when it came to connecting her work with her wider community.
For example, she took one of her pages to educate readers and potential book buyers about her book’s mission and her dedication to a greater cause:
It would be impossible to know if this sort of information leads directly to sales and/or a foreign rights contract. But connecting your book to your wider community and purpose can achieve bigger, less tangible results:
To showcase your broader marketing efforts
To find connections to like-minded organizations in your community
To give people a chance to share your book in their own communities
Tip #4 Spend a Lot of Time on Your Author Bio
If you are the type of author who can write a 100k page novel but struggle with writing a paragraph about yourself, you are not alone.
Writing a short, succinct, and impactful bio can be hard work, but it’s vitally important!
You’ll notice that Puja Shah’s author bio is its own page in her media kit, but what really stands out for us at DropCap is her eye-catching intro:
This author bio was clearly written with the intent to make the reader excited about reading her book by first being intrigued by the person she is.
And make no mistake: these few sentences do a great job of selling her book, too. You can tell the book’s style and tone, as well as get a sense of her ambition as a writer.
It’s also important to note that the picture is beautifully shot, professional, and matches the serious tone of her book. Never underestimate the power of a professional author photo!
In a world where marketing tips and tricks are a dime a dozen, we often tell authors to look no further than the authors doing it right to get the inspiration for their own book marketing efforts.
Images courtesy pujashah.com
“My vision with the graphic designer was to curate a downloadable kit to match the style of my book and that added elements of yellow from my book cover. I love how unique it feels as I think the visual brightness helps when sending it out.”
-Puja Shah, Author
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