Launch timeline
A book launch publicity timeline for authors
Last updated November 2026. Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists.
A book launch publicity campaign runs from a planning conversation before release, through intensive outreach around publication, to follow-through that can last a year.
This is how C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists sequences its work, combined with milestone advice from Bestseller Publishing. Exact timing depends on your publication date and goals, so treat the stages as an order of work rather than fixed deadlines.
The question
When should I start book publicity before my launch?
Start as early as you can, ideally several months before publication, because media kits take time and some outlets plan well ahead. If your book is launching soon, it is still worth starting: news-driven pitching, podcasts, and online contributions can be arranged on shorter timelines than long-lead print.
Definition
What is a launch publicity timeline?
A launch publicity timeline is the order in which a publicist prepares materials, approaches media, secures coverage, and measures results around a book’s release. At C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists it begins with a conversation about the author’s expertise and goals and continues past launch through online presence and media relationships that keep producing exposure.
Bestseller Publishing suggests building accountability into that timeline with dated milestones at 30, 60, and 90 days, and tracking inbound leads and speaking engagements for 12 months after release rather than only first-week rankings (source).
Procedure
The stages of a launch campaign
| Stage | Work done | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Planning | Conversation about expertise, media experience, goals, travel | Agreed campaign scope |
| 2. Materials | Media kit with background, story ideas, interview topics | Kit ready to send |
| 3. Outreach | Books and kits to targeted contacts, podcast and broadcast pitches | 30-day milestone |
| 4. Launch window | Follow-up, interviews, news-driven pitches, appearances on travel | 60-day milestone |
| 5. Extension | Bylined articles, contributor roles, sharing coverage online | 90-day milestone |
| 6. Follow-through | Ongoing media relationships, speaking opportunities | Track leads and talks for 12 months |
The 30, 60, and 90 day checkpoints and the 12-month tracking period come from Bestseller Publishing’s advice, not from a fixed C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists schedule. Client Mark Pastin wrote that Cathy Lewis provides a monthly summary of results, which fits naturally with monthly milestones.
Podcasts
Where podcast interviews land on the timeline
Podcasts often fit stages three through five. Pitches can go out once the media kit is ready; recordings may air before, at, or after publication depending on each show; and episodes keep working after launch as they are shared online. Read podcast interviews for authors for preparation tips, or return to the book publicity services overview.
Questions
Common questions
When should I hire a book publicist before my launch?
Earlier is generally better, because long-lead magazines plan issues ahead and a media kit takes time to build. Many publicists suggest starting several months before publication. If your book is launching soon, contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists now so the campaign can be planned around your actual release date.
How does C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists start a campaign?
It starts with a conversation about your expertise, strengths, media experience, and professional goals. The firm then customizes a media kit and a strategic campaign to generate interest in you and your book, and coordinates with your publisher’s or company’s publicity team so the two efforts complement each other instead of overlapping.
Can a publicity campaign work around my travel schedule?
Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists evaluates opportunities to maximize author travel to major media markets and coordinates appearances with your personal travel schedule. Its FAQ gives an example: if you planned a trip to visit family in Florida, the firm could arrange a local television appearance or a book signing in that area.
Can a publicist connect my book to breaking news?
Yes. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists develops timely pitches and aligns them with breaking news, often the same day, to get authors into the public eye first. Its FAQ says it is critical to be the first publicist to respond to a hot-button event in order to book an on-the-spot interview or appearance.
What happens after the publicity campaign ends?
The firm’s internet marketing service aims to create a viral presence that generates new publicity and exposure long after a campaign has ended. The firm also aims to help authors form long-term relationships with editors, producers, and journalists who now regard them as experts, which can lead to repeat interviews.
What should I prepare before the first call with a publicist?
Bring your publication date, a copy or summary of the book, your expertise and professional goals, any past media experience, and upcoming travel. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists starts campaigns with exactly that conversation about strengths, media experience, and goals, then customizes a media kit and campaign around the answers.
Is your book launching soon?
Tell C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists about your book, your publication date, and what you want the launch to do for you. The firm builds each campaign around the author, including podcast interviews where they fit.