TGEP Author Career Library
Author Media Kit
A practical guide to preparing professional press, interview, event and publicity material for authors
An author media kit is a reliable collection of approved information and files that journalists, reviewers, event organisers, booksellers, librarians, podcasters and publicity professionals can use when covering an author or book. It should be accurate, current, clearly organised and easy to download.
Make the correct information easy to find and easy to use.
A strong media kit reduces errors, saves time and prevents journalists or organisers from relying on outdated biographies, poor-quality images or unofficial book information.
Primary Purpose
Media Readiness
Recommended Format
Web and Download
Essential Files
Biography and Images
Review Cycle
Every Six Months
What an Author Media Kit Should Do
The media kit should support accurate, efficient and professional communication across different publicity and event contexts.
Provide Accuracy
Supply approved author, book, publication and contact information.
Save Time
Reduce repeated requests for biographies, covers, photographs and links.
Support Coverage
Give media professionals enough context to prepare interviews and features.
Protect Identity
Ensure the author's name, image, credentials and work are presented correctly.
Essential Media Kit Components
Begin with the essential files, then add supporting material according to the author's publishing and publicity needs.
Component 01
EssentialAuthor Biographies
Provide several approved lengths so organisers and media outlets can choose the version suitable for their space.
- Short biography
- Standard biography
- Extended biography
- Correct name and pronunciation
Component 02
EssentialAuthor Photographs
Supply current professional photographs in high-resolution and web-ready formats.
- Portrait orientation
- Landscape orientation
- High-resolution file
- Photographer credit
Component 03
EssentialBook Covers
Provide clean, approved front-cover images for current and forthcoming titles.
- High-resolution JPG
- Web-resolution JPG
- Correct edition
- No retailer watermark
Component 04
EssentialBook Information
Include accurate publication details and concise descriptions for each title.
- Title and subtitle
- Publisher and date
- ISBN and formats
- Book description
Component 05
UsefulPress Release
Provide a factual announcement for a new book, award, event or major publishing development.
- Clear headline
- Publication summary
- Relevant quotation
- Media contact
Component 06
UsefulInterview Material
Help interviewers understand the author, book and principal areas of discussion.
- Suggested questions
- Key themes
- Research background
- Author talking points
Component 07
UsefulReviews and Endorsements
Include selected verified quotations that help establish context and reception.
- Reviewer or publication
- Exact approved quotation
- Source link
- Permission where required
Component 08
UsefulSpeaking Information
Present the author's available event formats, subjects and audience experience.
- Speaking topics
- Session descriptions
- Audience types
- Booking contact
Component 09
EssentialContact Information
Give media and event professionals one clear and reliable route for enquiries.
- Author or representative
- Publisher contact
- Media email
- Official website
How to Build the Media Kit
Build one controlled source of approved material rather than sending different files each time a request is received.
Collect
Gather current biographies, images, covers, book details and links.
Verify
Check names, dates, ISBNs, titles, claims, credits and permissions.
Standardise
Prepare consistent filenames, formats, descriptions and approved versions.
Publish
Add the media kit to the author website or a reliable download location.
Maintain
Replace outdated files and review the complete kit at regular intervals.
Prepare Three Author Biographies
Different media and event contexts require different lengths. Maintain approved versions rather than rewriting the biography for every request.
40–60 Words
Short Biography
Suitable for event programmes, contributor notes, captions and brief introductions.
- Author name
- Principal writing area
- Main book or credential
- Location where relevant
100–150 Words
Standard Biography
Suitable for publisher pages, interviews, festivals, podcasts and media features.
- Published work
- Literary interests
- Relevant background
- Selected recognition
250–400 Words
Extended Biography
Suitable for detailed profiles, institutional events and major media coverage.
- Career development
- Major books and themes
- Professional experience
- Current work
Author and Book Image Standards
Provide enough image options for print, web, posters and social media without overwhelming users with unnecessary files.
High Resolution
Suitable for print use, usually at least 300 dpi at the intended size.
Web Resolution
Optimised for websites, email, digital articles and online event pages.
Portrait Format
Useful for author profiles, interviews, programmes and vertical publicity.
Landscape Format
Useful for banners, editorial features, event screens and wide layouts.
Book Information Sheet
Prepare one concise information sheet for each current or forthcoming title.
Bibliographic Details
- Title and subtitle
- Author name
- Publisher
- Publication date
- ISBNs
- Formats and page count
Editorial Information
- Short description
- Extended description
- Genre or subject
- Principal themes
- Intended readership
- Comparable context where appropriate
Availability and Publicity
- Publisher page
- Retail links
- Review-copy contact
- Rights contact
- Selected endorsements
- Related events or campaign information
Interview Preparation Material
Suggested material should support the interviewer without attempting to control every question or answer.
Book Background
Explain the origin of the project, the central subject and why the book was written.
Author Background
Identify the experience, research or personal connection relevant to the work.
Principal Themes
List the main subjects that can support a meaningful discussion.
Suggested Questions
Offer thoughtful starting points rather than promotional questions designed only to praise the book.
Sensitive Areas
Identify factual, legal, privacy or spoiler concerns where advance clarification is genuinely necessary.
Useful References
Provide relevant articles, research, previous interviews or source material where appropriate.
The Digital Press Room
The author website should offer a clearly labelled media page or press room.
Visible Access
Place the media page in the main navigation, footer or Contact section.
Individual Downloads
Allow users to download biographies, photographs and covers separately.
Complete Package
Offer one organised ZIP file where a complete media package is useful.
Current Contact
Display a dedicated media or publicity contact with expected response time.
Recommended File Formats
Use common, accessible formats that media professionals can open without specialist software.
Best for complete media kits, book information sheets and press releases.
DOCX
Useful for editable biographies, press releases and approved text.
JPG
Suitable for photographs and covers used online or in print.
PNG
Useful for logos and graphics requiring transparency or clean edges.
File Naming and Organisation
Clear filenames help users identify the correct author, book, file type and version.
Use Clear Filenames
- AuthorName_ShortBio.docx
- AuthorName_Headshot_HighRes.jpg
- BookTitle_Cover_HighRes.jpg
- BookTitle_PressRelease.pdf
- AuthorName_MediaKit_2026.pdf
- BookTitle_InformationSheet.pdf
Avoid Unclear Filenames
- IMG_4728.jpg
- FinalBioNew2.docx
- CoverLatestMaybe.jpg
- PressReleaseFinalFinal.pdf
- Photo1.jpg
- Document.docx
Professional Media Kit Standards
Every item should be accurate, usable, current and appropriate for external publication.
Good Practice
- Use approved and current biographies
- Provide high-quality original images
- Check every title, date and ISBN
- Credit photographers and sources
- Include a reliable media contact
- Remove outdated editions and announcements
- Make files easy to download
Avoid
- Unsupported bestseller claims
- Low-resolution social media images
- Outdated biographies
- Unverified review quotations
- Retailer screenshots as cover images
- Private contact information
- One large file with no organisation
Media Kit Review Schedule
Update the kit when major information changes and conduct a formal review at regular intervals.
Before Every Launch
Book Review
- Add the new title
- Replace provisional covers
- Confirm publication details
- Update purchase links
Every Six Months
Content Review
- Review biographies
- Check photographs
- Verify contact details
- Remove expired announcements
Every Year
Complete Audit
- Review all files and permissions
- Update media coverage
- Check download access
- Archive obsolete material
Author Media Kit Checklist
Use this checklist before publishing or sending the complete media kit.
Author Material
Book Material
Access and Control
Recommended Author Visibility Path
Build the author's official identity and information before beginning substantial publicity activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical guidance on creating and maintaining an author media kit.
Does every author need a media kit?
A basic media kit becomes useful once the author has a published or forthcoming book, receives interview requests or begins participating in literary events.
Should the media kit be one PDF or separate files?
Ideally both. Provide a concise complete PDF for quick reference and separate downloadable files for biographies, photographs, covers and press material.
Where should the media kit be hosted?
The author's official website is usually the best location. A reliable cloud folder may also be used for large files, provided access is simple and professionally organised.
Can review quotations be shortened?
Quotations may be shortened only without changing their meaning. Any omission should remain fair, accurate and consistent with the original review.
Should personal phone numbers be included?
Not normally. Use a professional email address, publisher contact, agent or dedicated business number where necessary.
Who should maintain the media kit?
The author, publisher, agent or publicist may maintain it, but one person should be responsible for version control and regular updates.
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