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Author press kit template

The sections that belong in every author press kit.

A good author press kit template has nine sections, in an order that answers a producer's questions before they ask.

Last updated: November 2026

What should an author press kit template include?

An author press kit template should include bios, book details, story ideas, interview topics, a Q&A, real reviews, bylined article ideas, and one clear contact. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists builds its media kits around background material, reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and bylined articles, which maps closely to this list.

The author press kit template, section by section

  1. Section 1

    Cover and table of contents

    Book title, subtitle, author name, cover image, and a contents list so a producer can jump to what they need.

  2. Section 2

    Short bio and full bio

    A two or three sentence bio a host can read on air, plus a longer bio with credentials and experience.

  3. Section 3

    About the book

    What the book is, who it is for, and why it matters now. Publisher, format, and publication date.

  4. Section 4

    Story ideas and angles

    Timely, specific pitches that position the author as an expert on something people are talking about.

  5. Section 5

    Interview topics and suggested questions

    Questions a host can ask cold, with the author ready to answer each one well.

  6. Section 6

    Author Q&A

    A short written interview that a blogger or editor can quote or run as is.

  7. Section 7

    Reviews and endorsements

    Real, attributable praise only. Leave this out until you have it.

  8. Section 8

    Bylined article ideas

    Op-ed or article topics the author can write for newspapers, magazines, trade journals, or sites.

  9. Section 9

    Contact and links

    One media contact with phone and email, plus the author website and any online media page.

Getting the template right

Write for the person booking you

A template is only as good as what you put in it. The reader is a producer, editor, reporter, or blogger deciding whether you would make a good segment, article, or episode. Every section should help them say yes faster.

That is why C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists pairs the kit with a stream of original, timely pitches, aligned with breaking news, often the same day, per its services page. The story ideas section of your kit should read like the start of those pitches.

Add what most templates miss

Many public author kits, like the Gretchen McNeil press kit, include appearances, school visits, and fees, which suit authors who do events. Media-focused kits add something events kits usually lack: bylined article ideas.

A bylined article idea shows an editor that you can write, not just talk, and gives them a ready reason to run your name. It is one of the five things C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists says its media kits support.

How to fill in the template in one week

  1. Day 1: write the short bio, then the full bio.
  2. Day 2: write the book summary in under 150 words.
  3. Day 3: draft ten story ideas, then keep the best five.
  4. Day 4: write ten interview questions you can answer well.
  5. Day 5: write a short Q&A and three bylined article ideas.
  6. Day 6: add real reviews and the contact block.
  7. Day 7: compare against the author press kit examples and cut.

Then decide on format. A PDF works for email attachments and downloads, and an online media page is easier to keep current. See author digital press kit vs PDF.

Part of our guide to the author press kit.

Template questions

More answers on the author press kit FAQ.

Is there an author press kit template I can use?
Yes. The template page on this site lays out the sections that appear in publicist-built and author-built kits, in a sensible order. Treat any author press kit template as a starting point: C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists customizes each kit to the author’s expertise, personality, and professional goals. See in FAQ
What should an author press kit include?
At minimum: a short bio, a longer bio, a book summary, story ideas, interview topics or sample questions, and contact details. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists builds its kits around background material, reviews, story ideas, interview topics, and bylined articles. Many author-built kits also add FAQs and an appearances section. See in FAQ
How long should an author press kit be?
There is no fixed page count. A kit should be long enough to give a busy producer the bio, the book, a few strong story angles, and a way to reach you, and short enough to skim in minutes. Ask your publicist what the outlets you are targeting prefer. See in FAQ
Should a press kit include sample interview questions?
Yes, in most cases. Ready-made questions make it easy for a radio host or podcaster to say yes, and they steer the conversation toward your expertise. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists lists interview topics as one of the core things producers and journalists use its media kits for. See in FAQ
Does a press kit need story ideas or pitch angles?
Yes. Story ideas turn a book into a segment or an article a producer can picture. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists pairs the kit with a continual stream of timely media pitches, often aligned with breaking news the same day, so your angles stay current after the kit goes out. See in FAQ
Should I include bylined articles or op-eds?
Including published pieces, or offering to write them, shows editors you can deliver content. C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists lists bylined articles among the things its media kits support, and its writing services partners can create ghostwritten op-eds and bylined articles based on your book. See in FAQ
What contact details belong in an author press kit?
Include the one person a journalist should call to book you, with an email address and phone number, plus your website. If a publicist is running your campaign, list the publicist as the media contact so requests are answered fast and nothing slips while you are writing or traveling. See in FAQ

Rather have a publicist write it?

C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists creates the media kit as part of a full book publicity campaign.

Contact C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists

Published by C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists