Author: Jennifer Vance

Jennifer Vance is a publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers. Interested in what's possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.

April 2026: Books Forward Authors in the Media

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins for April 2026.

Guest Articles/Features

  • CrimeReads: “When the World’s Too Much: 5 Books that Blend Hilarity and Escapism” by Victoria Dillon
  • Writer’s Digest: “What Hope Looks Like Now: Hopepunk and Stories That Refuse to Give Up” by B.R. Kang
  • Best Self: “Varanasi and the Sacred Art of Dying: A Journey that Changed How I Live” by Sally Dukes
  • Book Riot: “8 of the Most Exciting Debut Romance Books of 2026,” featuring Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights by Celeste Dador

Interviews

Reviews/Features

  • BookLife: “Richly detailed WW2 adventure, with slow-burn romance and strong female lead,” Massawa by Pam Webber
  • Readers’ Favorite: “Channeling Marilyn is thoughtfully plotted, and the author demonstrates a great deal of skill in character development,” Channeling Marilyn by Mima Tipper
  • Old Style Tales: “It’s a sharp, visually rich, and consistently engaging graphic novel that manages to stand out in a crowded field not by reinventing the genre, but by recombining its elements with genuine care,” Woodstake by Darin S. Cape

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing not just in April 2026? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! And keep an eye on our Lit Happens blog for even more author news!

Books Forward Author Family: An update from Kimberly Hess

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

After decades of book marketing and brand-building campaigns for authors all over the world, Books Forward catches up with some of our author family members to see where their literary journeys have taken them since our early days of working together.

Kimberly Hess worked with Books Forward in 2021 on A Lesser Mortal: The Unexpected Life of Sarah B. Cochran, a biography showcasing the philanthropist, college trustee and coal industry executive in the early 1900s.

Was there anything in particular you learned during our Books Forward campaign that you’ve carried into future releases? Or a favorite part of working together?

I really appreciated the support from Jackie Karneth and all of the work that the team did to launch the book. There are so many moving parts to book publicity, and Books Forward made everything move forward smoothly.

What have you been up to since? 

I’ve continued to do interviews, presentations, articles and book talks, and I’ve created a website and Instagram account for the book because Sarah Cochran’s story just grows.

The most exciting and unexpected development is that the Metropolitan Museum of Art discovered my book and incorporated it into the installation of “Garden Landscape,” the monumental Tiffany window that Sarah Cochran commissioned. The Met purchased it in 2023, and I was invited to its unveiling in 2024. It was the subject of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin in February 2026. I was also named as Cochran’s biographer in the Acknowledgements.

The curator of American decorative arts invited me to lunch to discuss Sarah and Linden Hall while she was doing research for the installation. I shared some of my research materials and contacts with the museum.

I just gave a book talk to the Cairnwood Literary Guild & Book Club in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. Cairnwood is the historic estate of John and Gertrude Pitcairn. John was a co-founder of Pittsburgh Plate Glass and was also involved in Pennsylvania coal and coke, like the Cochrans. In April, I’m speaking via Zoom for the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.

     

About Kimberly Hess

Growing up with Sarah B. Cochran’s story helped author Kimberly Hess see a relationship between capitalism, feminism and philanthropy. And it gave her a role model for how a businesswoman could contribute to the greater good. Hess has written about or discussed her book for various organizations including Pittsburgh’s NPR affiliate WESA 90.5FM, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Women’s History Museum, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and the Smithsonian-affiliated Senator John Heinz History Center. She has shared research materials with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, donated artifacts to various museums and archives, and even gotten Cochran included in the board game “Votes for Women.” She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter. There she continues the genealogical research she’s been doing since 1984.

Stay up to date with our author family and more from Books Forward by checking out our Lit Happens blog!

March 2026: Books Forward Authors in the Media

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins for March 2026.

Guest Articles/Features

Interviews

Reviews/Features

  • Kirkus Reviews: A playful supernatural coming-of-age tale with an impressive undercurrent of real heart,” review of Channeling Marilyn by Mima Tipper
  • Novels Alive: “Another action-packed investigative story full of danger,” review of Side Hustle by Wendy Gee
  • The Werd Nerd Edits: “What stayed with me most was the hopepunk fantasy essence of the story. It is a testament to resilience in the face of relentless negativity,” review of Caput Mundi by B.R. Kang

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing not just in March 2026? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! And keep an eye on our Lit Happens blog for even more author news!

How to use social media to promote your book

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

We get it — social media is daunting. But here’s the secret: There is no single right way to be on social media. *Sigh of relief*

Every author should be on at least one social media platform, so check out these tips below to find what works best for you and how to make the most of it!

Highlight the basics

No matter what platform you’re on, make sure you’ve got your basics covered. You want your username and profile picture to be the same, if possible, across all your social media accounts. That way, your followers can easily recognize that it’s you on whatever platform they’re on.

This also includes adding your author bio, website and other social media links wherever possible. And, of course, if you’ve got a book coming out, you’ll want to include buy links right at the top of whatever platform you’re on so everyone can see!

Pick the right platform for you

Try not to feel too overwhelmed with all the different platforms – choose the ones that work best for you and build up slowly. Work with what works best for you, where your audience is, what you enjoy most and where you feel most comfortable engaging. If you know you aren’t going to enjoy making videos, then don’t worry about starting a TikTok account.

As long as you’re active somewhere readers can find you, that’s already a step in the right direction. When you’re ready, you can always take on another platform. Even though they’re on the internet, people can tell when posts and interactions are genuine, so if you aren’t having a good time, your followers will be able to see that.

Creating content

Creating content doesn’t have to be a time-consuming ordeal. You can even post the same things across all your different platforms, though keep an eye out on the different formatting.

Also, don’t be afraid to reuse content. Some of your followers might have missed you posting about a podcast you were on, so don’t worry about posting about it again. Reusing content helps take the load off you, and it’s also a great way to recognize the people who took time to review the book, interview you, etc. But make sure you have some sort of plan when you post: Be creative with your content — don’t post the same thing over and over — mix it up and plan out posts in advance if you can.

And if you’re worried you’re posting too much about your book, here’s a secret: You aren’t. In fact, you probably aren’t posting enough about it. Not everyone is going to catch every single post of yours, so don’t worry about inundating your platform with stuff about your book. It can be weird talking about yourself, but you should be proud of that book you’ve written — and the people following you are following you because they want to know more about you and your career!

Scheduling Apps

We know most authors want to spend their time…well…writing! Social media can seem overwhelming when trying to keep an active presence on various platforms — honestly, it’s a full-time job. And if you’re looking to save time, consider utilizing scheduling apps to create content in bulk so you don’t have to post in real time. This saves time and allows you to focus on what you love most! Different apps work for different platforms, but a few of our favs are Buffer, HootSuite, and Later.

Using social media to network

Use the search tool on each platform to see what’s trending and where you can join in on the conversation by using the same hashtags. It’s also important to always tag locations, companies, authors, etc. whenever possible. You want people to see you’re talking about them. This gives them the opportunity to share your posts to their network, which will hopefully make it back to yours.

In addition to following people who follow you and other readers, consider following accounts in the industry, other authors, bloggers, book stores etc. You can even follow media outlets and reporters local to you, as well as any local businesses, organizations, associations, etc.

And don’t forget to repost other authors in your genre, as well as interacting with them via replies. Promoting yourself and your work is great! But it all goes back to networking. The more you engage, the more likely their followers will see you and consider following and learning more about you and your work.

Building an audience

Does social media translate directly to sales? Probably not. But acquiring an engaging audience and building your author brand are both equally important, and cultivating that dedicated fanbase can indirectly lead to sales.

As you build your following, people will want to see that you’re active, so try and set a goal for yourself to post frequently. This can start with 1-2 posts a week and then slowly increase until you feel comfortable posting more often.

In addition to posting, you’ll also want to make sure that you’re frequently engaging not just with people who follow you but also with people you follow. Carve out time when planning your posts to also reply to comments, read posts from other people, and share posts when possible.

Originally published Aug. 16, 2022.

Interested in social media book marketing but unsure where to start? Let us help you! Check out our social media book promotion services.

Books Forward Author Family: An update from Tiffany Watson

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

After decades of book marketing and brand-building campaigns for authors all over the world, Books Forward catches up with some of our author family members to see where their literary journeys have taken them since our early days of working together.

Tiffany Watson (formerly Breeding) worked with Books Forward in 2018 and 2019 on The Metabolic Makeover: 8 Weeks to Macro Mastery, a guide that teaches you how to manage macronutrient intake to make over your metabolism and your mindset.

Was there anything in particular you learned during our Books Forward campaign that you’ve carried into future releases? Or a favorite part of working together?

I worked with JKS Communications / Books Forward on my very first book. That being said, I learned EVERYTHING 🙂 But the things I remember most were the amazing support, resources, the network of editors and designers that allowed me to feel like I truly had a team, and not just a PR company. I grew up in Nashville, bought summer reading books at Davis Kidd. So, having my book launch at Parnassus was one of the most special and memorable parts of my time with Books Forward, and I am so grateful for everyone who believed in my project.

What have you been up to since?

Well, since you asked 🙂 I actually just released my second book on September 30, 2025: Your Unique Fizeek: A Girl’s Guide to Faith, Fuel and Finding Your Superpowers. I published the book through a hybrid publisher, Storybuilders Press out of Atlanta. And I am proud to say it hit #138 on the USA Today Bestseller list during the week of release! I cannot believe what God has done and is doing in my life, and with this gift. I don’t know if I have another book in me, but I know this one is going to make a big impact on the lives of a lot of young girls and the adults who support them.

The most special part of this book was the young girls across the country who wrote diary entries for the chapters and topics in the book. It was so incredible to see the vulnerability, and help them identify their own superpowers as part of this project. I also built a mobile app to accompany the book so I can have an ongoing platform to engage and continue to provide content and interaction to readers. This is going to be my 2026 focus. Megan Woods’ song, The Truth, is also featured in the book. I have contacted her management team as well, and am still hoping I might be able to collaborate with her in some way.

Other than that, I am still running my Nutrition coaching business and trying to change the world one Donut at a time.

About Tiffany Watson

Tiffany Watson is a bestselling motivational author and competitive athlete. She grew up in Nashville and has spent over a decade developing a successful and sustainable approach to creating a lifestyle of health and performance.

Stay up to date with our author family and more from Books Forward by checking out our Lit Happens blog!

February 2026: Books Forward Authors in the Media

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins for February 2026.

Guest Articles

  • Chicago Story Press: “What We Carry, What We Share” by Julie Ryan McGue
  • Laura’s Books and Blogs: “Growing with a Story: What I Learned in My Journey of Writing One Book for Nearly 20 Years” By B.R. Kang
  • GirlTalkHQ: “Author Explores Reproductive Rights Post-Roe Through Speculative Fiction In New Novel” by Victoria Dillon
  • Spiritual Media Blog: “The Pilgrim” by y Sally Dukes

Interviews

Reviews/Features

  • Kirkus Reviews: “A compelling and compulsively readable tale told in a funny, deeply human voice,” review of I’ll Try Anything Twice by Carly Schwartz
  • Midwest Book Review: “A heartfelt story of adventure, discovery, new experiences, and coming to terms with the past,” review of Lola Gillette and the Summer of Second Chances by Kimberly Behre Kenna
  • The Autumn Library: “A perfect way to kick off a brand new year of reading,” review of A Gorgeous Excitement by Cynthia Weiner
  • BookTrib: “A captivating and haunting Young Adult horror/thriller with a paranormal twist,” review of Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion
  • National Association of Former United States Attorneys: NAFUSA Member Paul Coggins Releases New Book

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing not just in February 2026? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! And keep an eye on our Lit Happens blog for even more author news!

How authors can make the most of working with their publicists

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

There are so many great duos: Sonny and Cher. Peanut butter and jelly. Calvin and Hobbes. An author and their publicist.

If you’ve hired a publicist to help market your book, you’ve already taken the first step in building a truly dynamic partnership. And with any partnership, it’s important that both sides are working together toward a common goal.

Here are a few things to remember as you start working with your publicist:

Communicate with your publicist

You know your book better than anyone else. If you have ideas on marketing strategies, let your publicist know. Any author can hire a publicist and let them take over, but you’ll find value in collaborating with your publicist and truly being a team.

Ask questions

Whether you’re a debut author or you’ve published numerous books, the publishing world is constantly changing, and that goes for literary marketing as well. Your publicist is there to help answer questions and guide you through your book marketing journey. They might not always have the answers, but a good publicist will work to help solve problems and be a listening ear for your concerns.

Be open to new ideas

Your publicist’s job first and foremost is to promote you and your book, and sometimes that can mean brainstorming fresh ideas and new ways to market your book to readers. Together, you and your publicist can get creative and figure out how to set your work apart from the pack. You never know how one opportunity can lead to another, and even “smaller” opportunities have value in the short and long term.

Be timely

This one shouldn’t be a stretch: Most authors are used to working on deadline. If your publicist gives you a deadline for something, let them know if you’ll be able to meet that deadline — and then meet that deadline.

Be responsive

We know everyone gets approximately 1,187 emails a day, and your publicist isn’t purposely trying to add to your inbox (we promise!). Thankfully, the book industry isn’t one where fires are continuously being put out every single day.

Responding in a timely manner to your publicist’s communication helps them do their job. And the reverse is the same: Your publicist should be accessible to you, and you shouldn’t be waiting weeks to hear back from them.

Early on in your partnership, work with your publicist to set an expectation for response times that both of you can agree to follow. Or a good rule of thumb is responding within 24-48 working hours (aka, don’t feel like you need to give up your weekends or holidays).

And remember, if you’re going to be unavailable and away from email for an extended period of time, let your publicist know — we want you to enjoy that family vacay you planned without worrying about emails from us!

Be honest

They say honesty is the best policy for a reason. Every relationship requires honest communication, and a working one is no different. If you’re worried about an upcoming event or struggling with a particular task you’ve been assigned, let your publicist know. And also expect honesty from them in return.

Remember, your publicist is on your team

Your publicist wants what’s best for you and your book, and both of you want to succeed. Publishing and promoting a book is stressful, and the team you assemble should help make that journey easy to navigate. Cultivate a good relationship with your publicist, and allow them to take the reins so you can do what you do best — write!

Originally published Sept. 19, 2022.

January 2026: Books Forward Authors in the Media

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins for January 2026.

Guest Articles/Interviews

  • The Guardian: ‘He shouldn’t be allowed to hide’: the Golden State Killer’s prosecutor on the relentless search for the mass murderer
  • TripFiction: “Talking Location With Michael G Colburn – from CAPE TOWN to MELBOURNE”
  • Murder Mystery and Mayhem: “Dr. Wendy Gee — Sisters in Crime Author Combines Navy Experience with Diehard Talent”
  • Shepherd: “The most eggstraordinary books about eggs” by Victoria Dillon
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox: “Slasher Movies Taught me to Save Myself”: An Ode to the Final Girl’s Survival in LOST GIRLS OF HOLLOW LAKE, a guest post by Rebekah Faubion

Reviews

  • Kirkus Reviews: “A lively, imaginative middle-grade fantasy full of adventure and magical elements,” review of Caput Mundi by B.R. Kang
  • Foreword: “A neurodivergent scientist takes up the challenge to defy death in the intricate science fiction novel,” review of Quinto’s Challenge by Peter McChesney
  • Readers’ Favorite: “Everything in this audio production, from the sound effects to theatrical improvisations, music, and lyrics, was simply marvelous. I highly recommend this fantastic audiobook to fans of musicals,” review of Following Jimmy Valentine by Jeff Flaster
  • Independent Book Review: “A powerful meditation on the emotional, mental, and physical effects adult fights can have on young hearts,” review of Love Wars by Matthew Tower
  • Irish Film Critic: “One of the key strengths of ‘Woodstake’ is Kroll’s artwork with its richly detailed characters and appropriately moody atmosphere, which makes for compelling viewing in the way a good cinematographer can take a movie to an entirely new level,” review of Woodstake by Davin S. Cape

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing not just in January 2026? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! And keep an eye on our Lit Happens blog for even more author news!

Why authors should reconsider using AI

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

It’s become impossible for writers and other creatives to ignore the use of AI.

From social media captions to full-length novels generated in mere seconds, generative AI makes grand promises on speed, efficiency and scale. And it can be a tempting promise for authors juggling deadlines, marketing and PR demands, and the general pressure of gaining exposure.

But when it comes to writing books — and even creating content for your author brand — AI comes with serious costs. And it erases the very reason readers seek out human-authored work in the first place.

Here’s why authors should think carefully before letting AI do the writing for them.

AI and the author’s voice

Matthew Kressel adeptly noted in 2024 that using AI to write or even edit can greatly affect the end product. An author’s voice is not just style. It’s their writing fingerprint. 

AI-generated writing tends to favor safe, generic phrasing and mimics the style of other writers as opposed to defining a unique style. (Most generative AI tools are also trained on vast datasets of existing writing. Much of that writing was created by authors who were never asked, credited or compensated.)

“When we write, we are making thousands of such choices,” Kressel says. “It all comes from our unique experiences, our unique way of seeing the world, and our unique mode of expression. It’s these kind of subtle details that can take a story from mediocre to good, and from good to great.”

Over time, heavy AI use can flatten an author’s voice until it becomes indistinguishable from thousands of others using the same tools. And in an already crowded market, that similarity is a liability.

You can still love your em dashes (and we do!) while prioritizing and developing your own voice and style.

Writing takes practice

No writer is a great writer from the moment they start out. Writing well requires practice and repeated feedback and constructive criticism (and probably reading On Writing by Stephen King).

Authors who rely on AI to draft outlines, blog posts, social media captions, marketing copy, etc., are short-circuiting their own learning process. 

Kressel said “it’s in the hours of labor, the sweating over punctuation, word choice, character, and plot, where we learn and grow. Sucking is part of the process.”

AI use also hampers an author’s own confidence in their work. Finding your weak points as a writer — as well as your strengths — helps your development. Any tool should support an author’s growth process, not replace it.

Readers seek authenticity

Readers know exactly what they want. And it isn’t AI-written books. 

They can quickly suss out when AI is involved. When readers suspect or discover that a piece of writing was generated by AI, trust dissolves.

The whole point of writing is to create art that builds connection. Humans create art; AI does not. AI cannot share in the human experience, only echo back with what it’s been trained with.

This extends to authors who use generative AI for social media content, website graphics, book covers, etc. If an author is willing to cut corners in content creation, why should readers trust they haven’t done the same with the content of the book itself?

AI is also trained on the artwork of humans. And for the most part, those artists have not been compensated. Using generative AI for this kind of content prevents a creative from losing out on income. (And truthfully, AI images just don’t look great!)

AI’s impact on the environment

Bottom line: AI isn’t great for the environment. Researchers have said the industry is on an unsustainable path.

According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the computational power required to train generative AI models … can demand a staggering amount of electricity, which leads to increased carbon dioxide emissions and pressures on the electric grid.”

Large amounts of water are also needed to cool the hardware for these systems, putting a strain on local and municipal water supplies. A 2025 study found that AI-related water use alone now exceeds the entirety of global bottled water demand.

Every ChatGPT search affects resources across the Earth, which is already in a perilous position.

The industry is watching

Agents, editors, marketing firms (including Books Forward) and media outlets are becoming increasingly wary of AI-generated content. Many publications now require AI use disclosure. Others will reject AI-written submissions outright.

Authors themselves are also holding publishers accountable for their AI use. In an open letter to Lit Hub, more than 70 authors including Dennis Lehane and Gregory Maguire asked publishers to pledge “they will never release books that were created by machines.”

Ultimately, what seems like a helpful shortcut today could become a disastrous liability tomorrow for an author’s work and their reputation.

The bottom line

Readers don’t come to books looking for perfection. They open a book to seek connection.

They want to feel seen, challenged, comforted, excited, unsettled or understood by another human being. And no algorithm — no matter how sophisticated — can replicate that connection.

In a world increasingly filled with machine-generated words and pictures, human-written stories aren’t becoming obsolete. They’re becoming more valuable.

And that’s exactly why authors should keep writing these stories themselves.

December 2025: Books Forward Authors in the Media

Posted on | by Jennifer Vance

What can we say, Books Forward authors are always going, going, going! We’re excited to feature some of our authors and their recent media wins for December 2025.

Interviews

  • Dallas Morning News: “Dallas poet Fatima-Ayan Hirsi on motherhood, grief and her collection ‘Dreams for Earth'”
  • The Daily Free Press: “BU alum writes audiobook musical ‘Following Jimmy Valentine,’ starring West End performers”
  • Tagg Magazine: “Queer Magic and Healing: Inside Liz Parker’s Witches of Honeysuckle House“
  • Digital Pubbing: “An Interview with Michael G. Colburn, Author of Asylum Murders”
  • Beach Metro: “Beach author T.J. Derry’s book Carried Away to be released today”
  • Let’s Talk Memoir: “Why It’s Never too Late to Move Forward featuring Anne Abel”
  • NewsNation: “California prosecutor discusses new book on ‘Golden State Killer’”

Reviews/Reading Lists

  • BookTrib: “Dolly Parton Fans Will Love These 5 Books” featuring Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits by Arlon Jay Staggs
  • Publishers Weekly: “A riveting tale that’s both affecting and petrifying, juxtaposing psychological and supernatural terrors with tender queer romance and a heartwarming human-canine bond,” on Lost Girls of Hollow Lake by Rebekah Faubion
  • Kirkus: “Delightful and rib-tickling comic-book adventures with an adorable young hero,” on Zicky by Darin S. Cape
  • Brian’s Book Blog: “This one hit me hard. Ordinary Soil isn’t just a story about a farmer and his land; it’s about the quiet ghosts that live in our family histories and the choices we inherit without even realizing it,” on Ordinary Soil by Alex Woodard
  • Readers’ Favorite: “Lovers of science fiction novels with a touch of political intrigue and suspense will find Quinto’s Challenge by Peter McChesney an enthralling read.”
  • BookLife: “Through crisp, authoritative prose, Dillon’s expertise and empathy shine, making this seemingly impossible genetic innovation feel eerily plausible in the novel’s not-so-farfetched political and legislative landscape,” on Ava by Victoria Dillon.

Want to stay up to date on what Books Forward authors are doing not just in December 2025? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok! And keep an eye on our Lit Happens blog for even more author news!