Book Publicity School brings professional book PR support to authors and academics as they navigate the publication of their work. Powered by Press Shop PR, a top independent book publicity firm, we leverage our years of in-the-trenches literary publicity experience to give writers the tools, strategies, and know-how they need to successfully advocate for their work.
Press Shop PR has worked on media campaigns for #1 New York Times bestsellers including ON TYRANNY by Tim Snyder, MARCH by Rep. John Lewis, and WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSE IN 3D by Neil deGrasse Tyson, as well as a wide range of nonfiction, literary fiction, memoir, academic titles, short story collections, and poetry. Press Shop regularly lines up coverage in outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post, The Atlantic, & shows on NPR, MSNBC, & CNN.
Leah Paulos, the founder of Press Shop PR, has worked at the intersection of books and media for over 25 years. She’s led publicity campaigns for hundreds of authors, helping them line up media attention and events and supporting them as they navigate the (somewhat bizarre) world of publishing.
Leah has long wanted to offer publicity support to more authors than Press Shop PR can accommodate for full media campaigns. Book Publicity School is her answer, allowing her to bring her decades of experience and passion for championing authors to more writers at an affordable price.
She’s spoken about book publicity at many venues including Columbia School of Journalism, the CUNY Graduate Center, and on this episode of The Writer Files podcast.
She began her career as a magazine editor at Condé Nast, then worked as a writer and editor for several national magazines. She graduated from Cornell University in 1998. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and co-book publicist Andy Davis and their two boys.
Emma McGlashen (she/they) is Book Publicity School’s development manager and a publicist with Press Shop PR. She brings her years of experience as a publicist as well as her perspective as a poet to Book Publicity School’s course development, creating curricula that are accessible to authors at all levels.
She is an alum of the University of Michigan with degrees in Literature, Neuroscience, and Drama. In her free time, she is the creative director of Murmuration Theatre Company, a Brooklyn-based independent theatre organization.
Madeleine (Maddie) Barnes (she/her) is a writer and visual artist who has worked with Press Shop PR since 2017. She is the author of one full-length poetry collection and four chapbooks, and she holds an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University.
At Book Publicity School, she wears many hats — she works on web design, marketing, social media, and curriculum development. Over the years, she has helped Press Shop with numerous high-profile campaigns, projects, and collaborations. This experience, in combination with her writing background and practice, continually informs her dedication to helping authors skillfully and creatively represent their work.
Pei Ying Ren (she/her) works on marketing, social media, and workshop administration at Book Publicity School. She joined Press Shop PR as a research intern in 2021. She lives in New York City and attends Hunter College where she’s pursuing a BA in English Literature with a concentration in Creative Writing.
Among the books Press Shop PR has worked on:
Book Publicity School is powered by Press Shop PR,
which was featured 2x in the Observer's annual list
of the country’s top PR companies.
“Today’s media environment is noisy, fast-paced, and fractured—it’s really hard for any author to break through. At Book Publicity School, we share insider insights and our tried-and-true strategies to help you get attention for your book at an affordable price. Every author needs expert advice and energetic support from a publicist. We are thrilled to be able to offer it through our programs!”
—Leah Paulos, founder of Press Shop PR and Book Publicity School