Author Network

The Author Network is a bundle of services offered by Black Château which happens over six to eight months. It includes the must-have services for promoting books during book launches. In some cases, the program can be adapted to help revitalize book sales for a book that is already released or backlisted.

There are several Author Network Tiers to suit different budgets and goals. Depending on your needs, other services may be added to create a custom retainer.

Author Network: Example of Standard Tier Marketing and Public Relations Services

Branding Strategy & Media Coaching—Black Château (BCE) crafts your brand message with a keen focus on topics that your book evokes. Our branding and media expert(s) will work with you to determine your message and its positioning. For use during media interviews, press pitching, social media and more.

• One 1-hour session
• Notes outlining areas of expertise, brand message, talking points and your quotables
• Revision of your existing bio to create your Author Bio
• We may do exercises, training sessions, and mock interviews to help develop your talking points
• Sessions may be recorded for you to review later
• Your branding culminates with your Books That Make You interview (See Books That Make You section for more details)

Book Reviews—Solicitation of honest book reviews from book bloggers, press, media, book review sites, industry professionals, librarians, and social media influencers using digital Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) and/or physical books.

• Listing on Netgalley for 3 months prior to book launch for advanced reviews
  • Follow up emails to qualified reviewers, media and industry professionals who request an ARC
• Books or ARCs offered to Black Château’s Book Reviewers—there are over 1000 Book Reviewers, divided into 20+ lists by preferred genres
• Social media influencer outreach with trusted collaborators like Book Influencers

Press Release—Black Château has over 25,000 media contacts. From it, a custom list is curated, and the media are targeted based on the “beats” that match your book and brand messages. Your press release will be written by our team using notes taken during your branding session(s). The press release will announce your book, or another news-worthy topic, and is the first outreach used for your media pitching. Your press release will be released on the wire and placed in the BCE Press Room.

• Your custom list will include at least 3,000 email addresses
• Wire distribution at the top “corporate” level for worldwide online coverage
  • The United States plus an additional country will be targeted
  • Five industries relevant to your book and industries targeted
  • Placement on AP News (Associated Press) with potential reach of 35 million unique monthly visitors
  • Placement on leading news aggregators and search tools like Google News, Bloomberg Terminal, MuckRack and others
  • Distributed to TV and radio, indexed on major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo!, and to news desk subscribers
• Press release is posted on the BCE website on the Press Room page, or your website to help enhance your content marketing and SEO strategies

Press and Media Pitching—You will be pitched to the media by our team of publicists and media bookers. The media may want to interview you, review the book, or write an article. All your press materials will be finalized for pitching—our goal is to make your book and your message appealing for the media as well as your readers. Your press materials include your media talking points, Author Bio, book cover, description of your book, your ARC, and a professional headshot (provided by you). A list of what is needed from you is provided during onboarding.

• • Inclusion in monthly tip sheets (occurs after your press release goes out)
  • Custom pitches to promote your specific message—our team sends emails, makes calls, conducts social media outreaches, and subscribes to databases to maximize your exposure
  • You will be presented with media opportunities from an array of media, most heavily focused on radio, podcasts, and online websites and magazines
  • Scheduling of the interviews we book for you is done for you using the BCE Office Calendar which often integrates easily with your preferred calendar app
  • Media clippings are curated in your monthly reports
  • Select media interviews and articles are featured on Black Château social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X
  • Examples of BCE media placements and potential opportunities for you include: Deborah Kobylt Live, The DISHH, Frankie Boyer Show, LA Talk Radio, LA Wave Magazine, Vertikal Life Magazine/Taste of Ink, Wayne Barber Author’s Hour

Books That Make You (BTMY)—Books That Make You is a bookish brand that targets book-lovers. You will be included in several BTMY promotions.

• Two articles, interviews, book reviews, or other types of stand-alone content posted on the website
• Interview on the Books That Make You Show (airs on MyStar95.com and as a podcast)
• Inclusion in Webby Award-winning monthly newsletter with a subscriber list of over 22,000
• Social media mentions on Books That Make You pages and profiles including: Facebook, Instagram and TikTok
• You will benefit from advertising and promotional strategies for the website—300,000 unique pageviews per quarter are typical

BTMY Listicle Article Placement—Your book will be placed in a BTMY Listicle Article. Posted on the website, it will be promoted through native advertising, social media, and other strategic paid and organic promotions. Impressions of 1 million+ are typical.

• Articles match a strategized editorial calendar that coincides with current trends, consumer reading habits and seasonal buying patterns
• A link to your Amazon book page or your website is included
• Sites that regularly feature these articles include: BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Publishers Clearinghouse, Oprah and up to 1300 other publisher/magazine/news websites
• Facebook, Instagram, and/or other platforms are used for organic and paid promotions
• Your book will be included in at least one BTMY Listicle Article during a typical 6-month retainer
• Two or more listicle placements are typical for an 8-month retainer

Events and Appearances—You may be invited to Black Château Signature events and included in the media promotions that go along with them. Often press releases, social media and contests are used to promote the event and encourage signups. If you can’t be here in person, no worries, our signature events happen online so you may attend from anywhere in the world as long as you have a good internet connection.

• Beach Bound Book Bash
  • Held in early summer to help readers stock their summer books
  • An online literary tea
• Annual Jingle Books Online Party
  • Held in early winter for the holiday season to encourage book gift-giving
  • A festive holiday party theme

Contests and Book Giveaways—Book contests and giveaways to help raise awareness about your books, build your brand, and increase social media followers.

• Your book will be included in at least two giveaways during your retainer
• One may be an optional Custom Giveaway featuring solely your book and giveaway items
• A Custom Contest prior to your book’s launch is ideal for 8-month retainers
• Contests help build social followers and email subscriber lists
• New subscribers of 500+ per contest are not unusual
• Book giveaways are promoted on social media platforms, websites and newsletters

Online Book Tour—Black Château will coordinate a customized online book tour with our book blog associates for your book launch. An online book tour lets the book-loving community know your book is available. The tour is timed to match the book’s launch date and typically includes excerpts, Q&A style interviews, book reviews, and social media “blitzes” for a splashy impact.

• Two-week book tour
• Minimum of ten blog sites

Listing in Bookstore Catalogs and Magazines—Black Château is a member of the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) and typically has one to three pages in the Indie Titles for Your Consideration catalog. This industry publication is sent to bookstore buyers, indie retailers, librarians, booksellers and other book-buying decision-makers. The listing is based on availability and timing. Booking in advance is required for quarterly publications.

• The IBPA Indie Titles for Your Consideration is distributed both in print and digitally to over 3,500 chain and independent booksellers and buyers across the U.S.
• Digital copies sent to Ingram’s top 3,500 retail accounts
• Digital copies to IBPA’s list of over 250 independent bookstores
• Physical copies to the 750 most active IndieBound bookstores (via the American Booksellers Association’s monthly box mailing)

The Author Network Premium Tier Includes these Marketing and Public Relations Services

Includes everything in the Standard Tier Author Network, plus several enhanced services. The Premium Tier services are designed for authors who are serious about building their brand and establishing a strong literary presence.

PR & SEO Combo—Public relations and search engine optimization combine to deliver 10+ articles that are syndicated on 10+ high Google Domain Authority (DA) ranked websites. The backlink to your website (or to your press release) helps with off-page SEO and searchability, plus it produces high-profile media hits and elevates your brand.

• One article posted on Thrive Insider website, or similar top level Google DA site
• Posted on Thrive Insider Facebook Page which has following of 6,000+
• Shared on Black Château social media profiles for added impact, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter/X

Amplified Book Reviews—Because book reviews are among the most powerful types of promotion, your ARC will be amplified for maximum exposure and impact

• Listing on Netgalley for 4 months prior to book launch for advanced reviews
• Your NetGalley listing is given a “category spotlight”, newsletter, or other form of NetGalley advertising for more exposure on their platform
• Additional social media posts on BCE platforms that target book reviewers and encourage them to request your ARC

Premium Event Speaking Opportunities—In addition to being invited to Black Château Signature events, you will be given consideration for Premium events. These include events held by third parties, like the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, and ones we produce like The BookFest. This includes media exposure that goes along with the events such as press releases, contests, newsletters, and social media promotions.

• The BookFest®
  • Held in spring and fall, held online
  • Webby-Award nominated event attended from around the world
  • Includes Speaker Page, Book Page, social media graphics and email marketing
  • Results distributed in The BookFest Report—impressions in the millions, website views over 150,000 for a single BookFest, and social media reach of 800,000+ for a single BookFest are typical. Want to see the most recent BookFest Report? Just ask us for the full report
  • Content curated for exposure long after the event is over
• The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
  • Invitation to join BCE and BTMY for an in-booth book signing
  • Sales conducted on your behalf, plus signage, pre-event promotions and more—a full deck outlining everything is provided in advance (books must be mailed or delivered prior to event, small consignment fee to help BCE cover sales tax, handling, and storage)
  • Invitation to join the annual BCE Los Angeles Times Festival of Books VIP Dinner
  • Photos from event provided after the event

Premium Branding Strategy & Media Coaching—Black Château (BCE) takes a deeper dive into your brand message and strategy. More branding sessions and the addition of the expertise of a working journalist brings your branding and media coaching to the next level.

• Three to four 1-hour sessions
• Journalist expertise—a session or mock interview will be conducted with a journalist or member of the media to fine-tune your talking points

Deluxe and VIP Tiers of the Author Network

The Deluxe Tier includes everything in the Premium Tier Author Network, plus additional advertising and digital marketing services.  The Deluxe Tier is perfect for authors who want a customized advertising component to their marketing strategy.

The VIP Tier is for authors and personality brands who want to focus more on public relations and need top media opportunities. It includes everything in the Premium Tier Author Network, plus additional exclusive services for top media opportunities and guaranteed placements.

Are You Ready to Promote Your Book or Brand?

Send us an email and let us know if you’re ready to talk about your book launch and your marketing strategy.