Emily Explains the Role of a Publicist

The first job of a publicist

'My first job will be to read the book and think, 'what's the story behind the story?' What is the author doing that is really interesting and will capture the public's attention? What are the characters doing that's new and exciting for children that will make them want to pick it up?'

The difference between publicity and marketing

'The easiest way to describe the difference is that publicity is generally free activity, so unpaid activity. That is pitching for press pieces in newspapers and magazines, and setting up events. Marketing activity is generally paid-for activity, so the adverts you see when you're on the underground or the ads you might see when you open the newspaper.'

Presentation skills

'That doesn't come naturally to everybody so don't worry if you don't have that yet. It's something you acquire over time, but I'm constantly pitching my books out to people I know. Internally, editors so they know what's going on for their books, but also people I don't know, people that I've never met before in festival green rooms about pieces that I think would be good for the books I'm working on, and pitching to journalists.'