Children’s and YA book publicists and PR

Children’s and YA book PR and publicists

Why do you need a publicist or PR agency for your children’s or YA book?

Things are surprisingly disconnected in the interconnected world of social media, online book sales, book review sites and blog tours. Going into this arena blind can be intimidating and frustrating. The accounts on social media that make the most noise are not always the ones that drive the most sales. The book review sites that come top of the search results aren’t always the ones your target audience will want to read, and if you pick the wrong blogs for your online tour, your new audience might number tens, and not hundreds or thousands.

A good freelance publicist or PR firm will be able to cut through all of this and direct your new book to reviewers, influencers and websites that your buying audience – whether that be parents, teachers, librarians or teens – will read. They will know which blogs generate actual traffic, and they will be able to discern which social media influencers offer genuine audience engagement. A publicist will help to get your book seen.

Children's and YA book publicity


  • Jane Acton PR – An independent PR consultant specialising in cultural communications.
  • Stephanie Allen – PR & social media specialist. Former book publicist.
  • Catherine Alport – Freelance book publicist and author organiser.
  • Andrews UK – eBook distribution and promotion.
  • authoright – Authoright works across the publishing industry, with literary agents, traditional publishers, self-publishing platforms and writing communities.
  • Sarah Bennie PR – UK publicity campaigns for authors and books, specialising in the areas of food, lifestyle, memoir, health and personal development.
  • Black Crow PR – ‘The boutique PR & marketing agency on the darker side of publishing, specialising in genre fiction, pop culture, and all things nerd in the UK and US.’
  • Vickie Boff – Marketing consultant specialising in publishing.
  • Books On Tour – ‘an initiative to support Australian authors and illustrators in launching their new children’s and YA books into the virtual blogosphere.’
  • Book Rockstar – ‘Book Rockstar is a book launch consultancy helping authors set marketing strategies to build their author brand, sell more books, and feel like a rockstar throughout the process.’
  • Bounce Sales and Marketing – available to publishers, not authors, but their website is a goldmine for useful marketing information and promotional ideas.
  • Cameron Publicity and Marketing – ‘Dynamic book publicity, promotion and marketing for publishers and independent Authors.’
  • Lucy Chavasse – Freelance publicist.
  • ed Public Relations – ‘EDPR is an award-winning communications agency specialising in books, culture and inclusive storytelling.’
  • Children’s Books North – ‘CBN aims to connect published children’s authors, illustrators and publishing professionals living in the NW, NE, Yorkshire and Scotland.’
  • Naomi Cooper PR – Freelance publicist for children’s books and co-founder of Authors Aloud UK.
  • Amy Dobson PR – ‘a dedicated communications specialist with over 12 years’ experience – mainly within the children’s publishing industry.’
  • Elly Donovan PR – ‘Expert, one-to-one, individual tuition, coaching & mentoring for authors and publishers.’
  • Nina Douglas PR – ‘Publicist, PR trainer and consultant, with over 16 years’ experience in books PR and promotion, with a focus on children’s books from picture books to YA.’ Highly recommended.
  • Kate Duke – ‘Freelance Books & Arts Publicist with wide-ranging media relations experience.’
  • Francesca Eden PR – ‘Freelance Books & Arts PR.’
  • Emma Finnigan PR – ‘Award-winning book PR, arts PR and general communication services.’
  • Victoria Gilder – Freelance book publicist.
  • Corinne Gotch – Publicist, ‘love books particularly children’s books.’
  • Jacqueline Graham – Publishing professional, publicist.
  • Hannah Hargrave PR – ‘Hannah is an award-winning publicist and event producer with 17 years’ experience managing challenging and high-profile media projects.’
  • Harwood PR – ‘Harwood PR’s mission is to craft impactful publicity coverage, and drive book sales.’
  • Alex Hippisley-Cox – ‘PR working with Frankfurter Buchmesse, The Chalke Valley History Festival, Pippa Funnell’s Pony Tales, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and Bitter Lemon Press.’
  • Just Write For Kids – ‘Founded in 2014 as a support group for aspiring and emerging authors and illustrators, Just Write For Kids has developed into a supportive network that promotes Australian children’s literature and advocates for book creators.’
  • KM Digital – Freelance Publicist & Writer.
  • Literally PR – ‘Literally Public Relations is a multi-prize-winning publicity and marketing agency specialising in creative, innovative and cost-effective PR.’
  • LK PR – Freelance publicist specialising in children’s books and YA.
  • Isabelle Knight – ‘I help my Authors to find their voice and to make it heard, in a way that feels aligned and true to who you are and how you want to be presented in the book world.’
  • Carolyn McGlone – ‘Award-winning publishing professional with over 10 years’ experience in the children’s book world.’
  • Mark McGinley – Freelance public relations consultant.
  • Maxwell PR – ‘I am a publicist with a background in journalism and specialising in book PR.’ Merged with Read Media.
  • Midas PR – ‘We transform brands with brilliantly bold ideas.’
  • Dusty Miller PR – ‘I’m an award-winning, independent communications consultant with 30 years of publishing, event and campaign experience.’
  • Rebecca Mortimer – ‘Book marketing and publicity. Founder and Co-host of The Northern Connection podcast.’
  • Sally Oliphant – Freelance Book PR and marketer.
  • Tabitha Pelly – Freelance publicist.
  • Julia Pidduck – ‘I spent 14 years in the marketing departments of major publishing houses (including Random House and Hachette).’
  • prforbooks – ‘The UK’s Leading Book PR Specialist for Authors and Publishers.’
  • Dannie Price – ‘I’m a PR and marketing specialist with over 20 year’s experience… and I’m currently available to hire on a freelance basis.’
  • Nicky Potter – Public Relations Specialist.
  • Katrina Power PR – Publicist for books, awards, events.
  • Palamedes PR – ‘If you’re looking to launch a new book and promote a fiction or non-fiction title in the wider British press, you’ve come to the right place.’
  • Platypus PR – ‘The Platypus approach to publicity is friendly, passionate and conscientious.’
  • PR Collective – ‘The PR collective comprises of a group of independent experienced freelance publicists who work in collaboration.’
  • Pretty Boy PR – ‘An established background in print journalism, TV production and Entertainment & Media Public Relations.’
  • Publisher Publicity Circle – ‘For over fifty years the Publishers Publicity Circle has enabled all book publicists from publishing houses and freelance PR agencies to gather and share information on a regular basis.’
  • Rachel Quin Marketing – ‘I am a creative and award-winning marketer with a wide range of experience and a passion for marketing.’
  • Read Media – ‘READ Media is an Oxford-based book PR and literary publicity company.’
  • Riot Communications – ‘Specialists in arts, culture and entertainment.’
  • Julie Richards – Freelance Publicist and Writer.
  • Rowanvale Books – ‘We provide book marketing and publicity services via a strategic alliance with selected award-winning UK and US publicity companies.’
  • Scribbleaway – ‘Playful and purposeful PR and content.’
  • Laura Smythe PR – Children’s/YA book publicist. Highly recommended.
  • Liz Scott – ‘Freelance children’s book publicist specialising in providing publicity and marketing services to UK book publishers and authors.’
  • Stonehill Salt PR – ‘A communications consultancy specialising in media relations and profile management for the creative sector.’
  • Sophie Stott – ‘Freelance publicist and writer, specialising in arts, culture & the creative industries.’
  • The Book Network – ‘Unlock a community of 10,000+ book lovers.’
  • The Book Publicist – ‘Our book launch packages have successfully delivered powerful exposure for hundreds of non-fiction books.’
  • Helena Towers – ‘Publicist, formerly Headline and HarperCollins.’
  • Catherine Ward PR – ‘I specialise in publicity and events for children’s books and have more than twenty years experience in the publishing industry.’ Highly recommended.
  • Jaime Witcomb – Freelance Publicist.
  • Antonia Wilkinson – ‘Freelance book publicist, mostly children’s/YA.’
  • Wordshaped – ‘We have worked in national broadsheet journalism, magazine publishing, book publishing, event management and publicity.’

Have we missed someone? Get in touch and let us know.




About Tom Tolkien

Photo of author
Tom Tolkien is a highly qualified (BA Hons, PGCE, QTS) children's literature expert and teacher with over 25 years of experience. He has led inset courses, developed curriculum materials, spoken at conferences, advised on longlisting for several international children's literature literature awards and written for educational publishers including contributing to a BETT award-nominated app. Social profiles: Twitter | Linkedin

This resource was last updated on April 2nd, 2024 and first published in 2023.