Long-time managing director Marissa DeCuir has been promoted to president and partner at JKS Communications, a book marketing and author publicity firm, effective immediately.
DeCuir started with the firm eight years ago as a book publicist and has steadily risen through the ranks. During her tenure, she has been a key factor in building the firm from a two-person operation to a team that is headquartered in Nashville with satellite operations in New Orleans, Atlanta and Charlotte.
“Marissa is the quintessential leader. Her understanding of publicity from the perspective of what a journalist needs on the other side of the table is key to our growth. Her expertise in implementing cutting edge technology, while focusing on results driven campaigns to serve our clients, is central to making JKS Communications one of the top publicity firms in the country,” founder Julie Schoerke said.
Her leadership has been instrumental in the book publicity firm’s growth to which has now represented more than 1,000 books and more than 600 authors. While experiencing exponential growth, the firm has been committed to building a culture of “family” and the authors represented are often known in the industry as “The JKS Family.”
JKS Communications works with both traditionally and independently published authors, as well as small presses. The firm specializes in helping authors navigate the ever-changing book industry, while implementing creative strategies to stay ahead of the curve.
“I am proud to lead a strong team of former journalists and publishing experts that have managed campaigns for New York Time and USA Today bestselling authors, some of the most award-winning books and those that change lives and make the world a better place. I am so proud of what we have accomplished with our authors. I look forward to our JKS family’s continued success in the future,” DeCuir said.
A former journalist herself, with USA Today and Gannett Company, her work has been featured in National Geographic and The Chicago Sun-Times in the past several years as well. She grew up in a family of journalists who own newspapers in Louisiana, and she is a journalism graduate of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, where she served as managing editor of The Daily Reveille and lsureveille.com.
DeCuir takes the reins of running the firm from Schoerke, who founded the company in 2000. Schoerke will focus on strategic planning of the firm going forward.
Angelle joined the Books Forward team in 2014, and her experience and dedication has led to her being named our lead publicist. Her distinct pitching style and effective research has secured media coverage for our authors and their books in Vanity Fair, Buzzfeed, The Associated Press, The New York Times and USA Today, as well as countless regional media outlets.
Our authors love Angelle’s meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to their vision and their books. Other publicists frequently spend time learning from her — how to ask probing questions, find the right person to contact and craft a successful pitch.
She began her professional career at news outlets across the country before surrendering to her love of books. An award-winning journalist whose own work has appeared in local and national publications, including NPR, she is tenacious in finding the right angles to utilize for each campaign and connecting with the right reporter for the job.
Angelle can usually be found at a concert, working on Mardi Gras costumes or taking photos of random cats that she meets wandering around New Orleans.
