Small, independent, or University presses are amazing places and put out hundreds to thousands of fabulous books a year. In many cases, however, these presses have small to nonexistent publicity departments, and need authors to manage things like reaching out to media, setting up a tour, and organizing other book-related events for themselves. Even with bigger presses and those that have dedicated publicity and marketing departments, there are often ways authors can benefit from knowing what publicity is and how to go about trying to get it. This class aims to give authors a crash course in publicity and some strategies for getting it.

Lauren Harr has worked in the book world for twenty years—as a bookseller in Asheville and Albuquerque, an assistant at literary nonprofits in Santa Fe, an intern at Graywolf Press, and a marketing assistant and publicist at Coffee House Press. She spent eight years at Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe where her passions were connecting readers and books and assisting the events program. She lives in Asheville with her husband and daughter and holds an MFA from Spalding University’s School of Creative and Professional Writing.

NOTE: For the safety of all FWR participants, masks will be required at all indoor IN-PERSON FWR workshops and events. In addition, you must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, including at least one FDA-approved booster shot, to attend any IN-PERSON workshop. Instructions for submitting proof of vaccination will be provided in your order confirmation.