Literally Public Relations Ltd

NEW ARTICLE: Elevate Your Career to High Influence by Writing Powerful Blurbs and Reviews for Your Peers Are you an expert in your field, aiming to amplify your influence, establish credibility, and expand your professional reach? One of the most effective (and often overlooked) ways to position yourself as a thought leader is by writing blurbs or reviews for your peers’ books. Here’s why this simple action can be a game-changer for your career (for more: https://lnkd.in/ekiT4Jqv): 1. Establish Yourself as a Person of Influence and Credibility When you endorse a book, you’re saying, "My opinion matters in this field." As your name and expertise get associated with other credible works, you naturally become someone whose opinion holds weight. This builds your authenticity and credibility, both for yourself and for the book's author. Think about it – if potential readers see your name linked to a book, they’ll recognise you as an authority in that niche. This association creates an instant, powerful impact. 2. Expand Your Professional Network – Fast! Reviewing or blurbing a book connects you to people outside your current network, including literary agents, publicists, publishers, editors, journalists, and influencers. You become visible to a whole new audience of potential clients, collaborators, and fans. Imagine being on the radar of top professionals in your industry simply because you took a few minutes to craft a thoughtful review. The ripple effect can be immense, with the possibility of gaining new business connections, opportunities, and visibility. 3. Reciprocity: Give a Little, Gain a Lot Giving your time and insights to review someone else’s work can lead to future support when you need it most. By offering your opinion freely, you’re creating a foundation of goodwill. When your own book or project needs a review, you’ll already have a list of people who are more than willing to reciprocate. This mutual exchange strengthens your network, ensuring you’re surrounded by a community ready to support you when it matters most. 4. Boost Your Profile as an Expert in Your Field Every time you review a book, you’re demonstrating your knowledge and expertise. It shows that you not only understand your field but that you’re respected enough to be a voice others listen to. This can lead to more invitations to speak, write articles, or even participate in panels and podcasts, further establishing your status as a trusted expert. To join our Non-Fiction TBR (The Book Review) Community, please email beckysmith@literallypr.com

📣 CALLING ALL INDIE & SELF PUBLISHED YA AUTHORS!📣   I'm working on a very exciting venture with YALC, the UK's biggest Young Adult Literature Convention - to create a zone in this typically very 'big 5' space for Indies. It's going to be called the #InspiringIndies Zone, and will feature a number of indie authors and publishers, sharing their books and merch, talking to YA readers, getting the chance to soak up the buzz of this event which is honestly the friendliest and most lovely in publishing, and there's also going to be a panel event on each of the two days of YALC (16 and 17 November) to discuss self publishing.   😮 SOUNDS EPIC DOESN'T IT? The fee is £499 and that includes LOADS such as a 2.5 hour dedicated slot in the programme when you can have a table to yourself (we're also there supporting you) to share any merch, goodies, chat with your next biggest fans etc? And some of the early bird sign-ups will get to join me on one of two panels (you can see them in the programme) to discuss the process of publishing in the indie space. 😍 One of the things I love about YALC is the wide range of people who come with a shared love of YA books. Many of them are writers, as I saw when I did a talk there last year about author branding - it was standing room only and capacity for that room was in excess of 50. People are there to learn, experience, discover and enjoy.   🥳 The price of being involved also includes inclusion in the official printed programme, you'll be featured in at least two press releases before and one after, my team and I will be on hand before and during the event to help and advise, appearance on one or two of the talks (you can get a slot per day at a discount so £799 for the two days rather than £998) and you'd be a VIP guest speaker on our after party event online to keep that buzz going (to happen before end of November).   I have to pay for the space, my team, marketing etc, hence the cost. But, my goal is to make this so successful that there's an #InspiringIndies zone in every YALC. This is the 10th YALC, it was first set up by Malorie Blackman, and it's held at Olympia in London alongside ComicCon, and everyone who has a ticket for that massive event can also come to YALC, so you get a massive footfall. It's just honestly the best event.   Perhaps if this isn't for you, then you have someone in mind who would LOVE this ready-made opportunity to promote their latest YA books, & network with readers and publishers? Oh, and you get a ticket for the weekend as part of the package price. Here's the line-up: https://lnkd.in/e9MV9ui3    Obviously, spaces are very limited, but next week it's going out on YALC's network, so I'm expecting it to sell out by this time next week. If you'd like to be part of YALC in a fun, stress-free, exciting new #inspiringindies way, then email me at helenlewis@literallypr.com for an info pack! 🥳    

It's National Working Parents Day today, so I wrote this poem - hoping it resonates with plenty of other parents (especially single Mums) out there too :-) #workingmums #nationalworkingparentsday #workingparents

The official 2024 Diverse Book Awards Shortlist is out now - congratulations to every author, illustrator and publisher on this outstanding list. Which books have you read? Which are on your TBR? Can't wait to celebrate with you all on 10th October at the winners' party! https://lnkd.in/gNn__wS

Hey everyone! 🎙️ Are you running a podcast that I shouldn't miss out on? Currently on the lookout for expert guests for interviews now or in the near future? Please share your podcast link below so I can tune in, subscribe, and explore further! 🎧 Excited to curate a list of must-listen podcasts for an upcoming article. Particularly interested in podcasts that feature authors (fiction and non-fiction) with captivating real-life narratives and a wealth of experiences to share. 📘 From authorship, writing, and publishing to diverse topics like travel, mid-life, parenting, health, sports, hobbies, business, careers, psychology, and more. If you know of any exceptional podcasts that fit the bill but don't host one yourself, feel free to drop recommendations too! 🌟 Thank you! 🙌 #PodcastRecommendations #AuthorInterviews #MustListenPodcasts

Who's publishing a book on Super Thursday (10th October) this year? Super Thursday is the annual biggest publication day - a time when publishers and authors clamour for attention from the retailers ahead of Christmas shopping sprees, stocking filler gift recommendations, and the media's 'must-read' books of 2024. This year, according to The Bookseller, 1,900 books are due to be published this 10th October, 457 of which are hardbacks. "This represents a 30% rise in hard covers over the previous two Super Thursdays, which slumped as book production contracted sharply post-pandemic." - writes The Bookseller. So if you are planning to release your book around Super Thursday, here's the competition: Boris Johnson’s Unleashed, Ian Rankin’s latest Rebus novel, A F Steadman’s fourth Skandar middle-grade and, of course loads of celebrity memoirs and cookbooks will be among more than 450 hardbacks to be released on this year’s Super Thursday. Last year, seven books released on Super Thursday sold more than £1m through Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market by year’s end in all editions, while 11 exceeded £500,000! To add some context, no other publication date produced more than four seven-figure titles. So this is one to watch! Have you heard of Super Thursday? Are you planning on releasing a book before Christmas?

Great launch event last night for Zero Ri$k by Simon Hayes at The Fable. Aside from the drink and mass celebration there was jovial interrogation from cultural commentator and fellow author Chris Blackhurst, insight and velvet tones from audiobook narrator Stephanie Racine and words of wisdom from the author himself Simon Hayes. A mention also to editor George Harrison who helped craft this meisterwerk to life and Helen Lewis at Literally Public Relations Ltd. The book is out now on Audible, you won't regret it: https://lnkd.in/guv3WuUy

This book, Move Up or Move On, is a fantastic career tool. Not only does it help to visualize and plan for the next steps on your career path but it also helps identify how to excel in your current role. The workbook exercises are very effective in helping to create a clear and concise picture of where you are now and where you want to go. I had the great pleasure of working for Angela Lane almost a decade ago. She continues to be one of my most trusted sources for career guidance and the most incredible career cheerleader. #MoveUporMoveOn #AngelaLane