Testimonials

Any author, no matter how well published, needs an independent publicity team in his or her corner, and the book wizards of Books Forward are the best. Their passion for books is unparalleled, allowing them to tailor unique campaigns that suit each author’s individual needs, strengths, hopes, and dreams.

Jenny MilchmanUSA Today bestselling author and Mary Higgins Clark award winner

The team at Books Forward is incredibly passionate about their authors. I’ve been blown away by their fast-communication, thoroughness, and the impeccable standard of professionalism that goes into each facet of their work.

J. ElleNew York Times bestselling author of Wings of Ebony

I'm just blown away by everything you've poured into this book. Thank you for seeing something in the story and for generously giving so much of your time, energy, and efforts to it. Publishing is so wild, so it's truly a comfort to know that there are people in your corner who will follow through and never drop any balls. I'm just feeling grateful and very lucky to have worked with you.

Joan HeNew York Times bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find

Books Forward was invaluable in introducing the book to important audiences I could not have reached otherwise.

Andrew MaranissNew York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside

Books Forward is fire! They were absolutely invaluable to setting up my book tour and promoting my memoir to TV and other media. From strategy to roll out of my campaign they were organized, attentive and total pros! This queen will be working with them in the near future.

Big FreediaQueen of New Orleans Bounce and author of God Save the Queen Diva!

I've become an evangelist for Books Forward. The attention and care I received was much more hands on and personalized than I expected! This is novel number four for me, and I wish I'd contracted with them way back with my first. So grateful to my team who went above and beyond.

LS HawkerUSA Today bestselling author

Being on a debut author journey with Books Forward has been an absolute blessing. I was in such capable of hands that the anxiety of publishing and putting myself out there as an author lessened, which created room for an amazing and exciting experience, rather than the terror I initially felt until the campaign began. I would highly recommend Books Forward to any author looking for a solid start to their career and an incredible experience.

Ana Lal DinAuthor of The Descent of the Drowned

One of the smartest decisions I've made in my writing career has been to hire Books Forward. I came to them with an extensive self-driven publicity plan already in action, and they tailored their publicity work to fill in the gaps and elevate my entire campaign. I am continually astounded by the level of creativity, communication, and quality of everything they do. Books Forward has become an integral part of my writing career team.

Tori EldridgeLefty and Edgar Award-nominated author of the Lily Wong Series

Books Forward has been invaluable to our work at American Blackguard, Killer Nashville, and for me personally as an author. I’ve worked with PR firms for over 30 years and the team at Books Forward is hands-down the best, bar none. I recommend them all the time to other authors and literary organizations.

Clay StaffordPresident/CEO of American Blackguard, Founder of Killer Nashville and bestselling author of over 1.5 million copies

Thank you for everything you did for this book. I am so glad you got assigned to this book and if I may say so we worked so well together. I can't wait to work more in the future...I am going to track you down for my next book!! I am so, so glad I went with Books Forward!

Chaithanya SohanAuthor of America Deconstructed

I can’t tell you how many times I thank the fates or my own good instincts for choosing to work with Books Forward. I’m so happy with the visibility the book...There were things I never really imagined would happen and things I hoped would happen that did and still exceeded my expectations. What I didn’t know was just how much fun this would be. As many other authors talk about their stress, and the pressure, and their worries, I just keep saying, 'But isn’t this the most fun ever!' I like their reporting process, and communication was comfortable and easy with Books Forward. I’m certain I made the right choice for me, for my book, and my style of communicating. Everyone has to find the fit that feels best for them, but I really encourage you to talk to Books Forward if you haven’t already.

Donna CameronKirkus Best Indie Nonfiction winner and author of A Year of Living Kindly

Everyone I’ve worked with at Books Forward has been friendly, kind, intelligent, professional, enthusiastic and incredibly supportive. They have good connections, work hard for their clients, and take time to add a personal touch to their work, something that is rare. They are savvy, can think outside the box, and they truly care about the books and authors they represent. I trust Books Forward and highly recommend them.

Cheryl RainfieldAuthor of Scars, the No. 1 American Library Association’s “Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers”

Since 2013, I've worked with the fantastic people of JKS Communications (now Books Forward), first as a client and then later as a colleague. Upon independently publishing my first novel, the JKS team became my mentors. They eagerly guided me through many challenges that all first time authors face in the literary market. Often, their support and service went above and beyond, simply because they believed in me. JKS was more than just a firm, they became my friends. By applying many of the skills I learned from them, I eventually became an Amazon best-selling author. To this day, I collaborate with JKS as a literary podcaster. I'm absolutely ecstatic to witness their continued success as Books Forward, because that is what they do best -- They push books forward, beyond expectation to the next level.

Demethius JacksonAward-winning and bestselling author of The Realmsic Conquest Trilogy and host of The Chapter One Podcast

It was so nice to have Books Forward wearing the "publicity hat" for me, so I could enjoy being creative and writing and wearing the "author hat."

Caroline DuBoisAuthor of the 2020 Kids Indies Introduce List & Fall 2020 Kids Indie Next Pick The Places We Sleep

Books Forward delivers RESULTS. Quite simply, they have a wide network of connections and this allows them to break down the barriers authors often face. Because of Books Forward, I placed a personal essay in one of my dream magazines.

Karen StefanoAuthor of the memoir What a Body Remembers, short story collection The Secret Games of Words, and more

Thank you for all of your support! Working with you and your team has been nothing short of a joy. I am forever grateful to you.

Robyn LucasAuthor of Paper Doll Lina

You have not only met my expectations you have surpassed them! My deepest appreciation!

Bryan RobinsonAuthor of #CHILL and more than 40 other nonfiction books and novels

I had a wonderful experience with Books Forward. Ellen was a wonderful publicist and, often, the kind of warm friend every writer needs when their book is about to launch. I can't recommend their services enough!

E.A. AymarAward-winning author of The Unrepentant and managing editor of The Thrill Begins

Books Forward was extremely easy to work with and really made marketing fun. I learned a lot along the way and feel equipped to keep up the momentum!

D. Hale RamboAuthor of Tools of a Thief

I had an amazing experience with Books Forward. They not only made connections with media outlets that I would not have been able to make on my own, they treated me like their most important client, working hard on my behalf and keeping me informed every step of the way. I can't recommend them enough.

Kathleen ValentiAuthor of the Maggie O'Malley Mystery series

My expectations of the service I received from Books Forward were exceeded. The professionalism of the staff was outstanding. Equally important was the responsiveness and the care I experienced. I felt throughout the process that not only my book, but I myself was treated with the utmost respect and consideration.

Tessa BridalAuthor of The Dark Side of Memory: Uruguay's Disappeared Children and the Families Who Never Stopped Searching

Thank you with all my heart for making the release of my debut novel thrilling and filled with joy and love. I am having a ball with all the media interviews and events that Books Forward has arranged. I couldn’t ask for a better experience or a better team.

Julie MaloneyAuthor of A Matter of Chance and Founder/Director of Women Reading Aloud

My publicity team was fantastic, hard working, professional, and wholly engaged with my needs, expectations, and concerns. The publicity staff at Books Forward not only met, but far exceeded the expectations I set for my own book’s success. Without their assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to pull off so successfully a book tour, obtain as many positive reviews for my book as I did, or sell the number of books I did, all for charitable beneficiaries. I cannot speak highly enough about their knowledge within the field or the effectiveness of their methods.

Anthony MaraniseAuthor of Cross of a Different Kind

I was amazed at how well organized and attentive Julie Schoerke and her staff at Books Forward were. They were on top of everything, down to the slightest detail. They were always helpful and somehow you got the feeling that you were the only author they were working with, which of course wasn’t the case. Not only would I have no hesitation about working with them again — and I will — but I’ve recommended them to all my author friends.

Charles Salzberg Author of the two-time Shamus Award nominated Henry Swann detective novel series, and winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award

Books Forward reached millions more readers than I could have on my own. Literally, millions. Thank you!

Nicole MagistroAuthor of the Kid’s Indie Next List pick Read Island

Books Forward’s willingness to promote Silent Sorority and to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on a complex and misunderstood topic is a testament to character and professionalism. The unflagging support and ideas were invaluable. Books Forward is a true gem.

Pamela Mahoney TsigdinosAward-winning author and expert on the limitations of reproductive medicine

The team went above and beyond to get my name out there and get me placed in amazing places. Looking back, I can’t imagine how I would have managed without this team. Not only did you get me placed far and wide, but you kept me on track making sure I had every detail, appointment, and deadline (which was instrumental while working and parenting)...The team was so encouraging, professional and motivating! I was overwhelmed by all the writing and interviewing, but they kept reminding me of our goals and what good coverage this would be, and they were always right. By the way, Everything Is Negotiable hit No. 4 on the Oklahoma bestseller list in its first week!

Dr. Meg Myers MorganBestselling author of Everything Is Negotiable

I was impressed with the impressive amount of outreach and connections that the Books Forward team delivered. My book received significant coverage that I would not have accessed on my own. It was wonderful having Books Forward in my corner.

Rita SeverOrganizational coach and author of Leading for Justice: Supervision, HR, and Culture

Bringing Books Forward on board to help with the publicity for The Porch’s first fundraising event is among the best decisions we’ve made. The media exposure that Books Forward has generated both for the event and for our organization has led to a sizable increase in our class registrations, email mailing list and social media following. Books Forward has helped put The Porch on the map.

Katie McDougallCo-Founder, The Porch Writers Collective

My publisher recommended several awesome publicity firms to help me market my books and after many interviews, Books Forward quickly rose to the top of my list. The team Julie has assembled emulates her amazing work ethic, her ‘never say never’ attitude, and her ability to open doors for authors in creative, professional, and unconventional ways.

Sandra BrannanAuthor of the two-time Indie Next Pick award-winning Liv Bergen Mystery series

Hannah did an excellent job on my campaign, working hard to connect me with units that successfully publicized the first book in my new series, Murder Knocks Twice. She was very prompt, professional, and courteous; thoughtfully connecting me to industry professionals, book stores and readers.

Susanna CalkinsAuthor of the Speakeasy Murders series and other mysteries

You and your team are such remarkable women, partners, and advocates. I can already tell the book is doing just what I’d hoped it would, thanks to the many doors that Books Forward is opening. And I'm learning so much from everyone I engage with.

Kate KaufmannAuthor of Do You Have Kids? Life When the Answer is No

Books Forward handled the promo for the months leading up to the publication of my novel, The Kitty Committee. This was my first experience with a publicity firm so to say I was nervous is an understatement...I literally felt that someone was holding my hand at every step of this journey. They also continuously modified the marketing plan according to my experiences — what I became willing to take on as my confidence grew and what I felt wasn't working for me...I would highly recommend them for the true professionals they are.

Kathryn BerlaAuthor of The Kitty Committee

It has been such a great experience working with all of you. I appreciate everything - your caring and expertise. Your excellence shines in every interaction. I am very lucky to have gotten to work with your team. I look forward to working with you all soon again!

Amy Leafauthor of Harry and the Pelican

Books Forward helped with the launch of my very first book, The Crowns of Croswald. They really adapted to an out-of-the-box approach I had in mind and helped connect me with readers all over the world.

D.E. NightAuthor of the bestselling middle grade Croswald fantasy series

I have six books out by major publishers and have used Books Forward for publicity for several of them. Since my publishers provide promotion I was reluctant to hire a private firm, but am glad I did. Books Forward provided the kind of personalized attention I was hoping for and I would use them again.

Patricia HarmanBestselling author of the Hope River series and other books

Books Forward was the perfect boost to keep momentum going after the launch of my third book. I’d never used a publicity firm before and loved how they targeted appropriate media and took care of the details for ongoing book promotion. Their communication is outstanding and everyone I interacted with was professional and fun to work with.

Kayce HughlettAward-winning author of Soul Stroller and more

You are a fantastic, smart, and organized team. I am lucky to have found you. Un gran abrazo to you two. Viva Books Forward!

Marlena BarafAuthor of At the Narrow Waist of the World

Books Forward is definitely not a one-size-fits-all publicity company. They tailored my campaign to suit my particular needs and circumstances. Books Forward has significantly increased my visibility. I can’t thank them enough.

Deb BrandonAuthor of But My Brain Had Other Ideas, essayist and brain injury survivor

Promoting regional fiction takes imagination, knowledge of the marketplace, connections to opinion-makers, and a bottomless reservoir of energy…They kept me unbelievably busy for months and the results surpassed all expectations. I tell all the authors I meet that the secret to success in the fiction world is to work with Books Forward.

Mike NemethAuthor of the Randle Marks Redemption trilogy

You all have made my launch day a total success!!! We ended up as No. 1 on two of the e-book categories. Today we actually ended up hitting the No. 1 in the remaining e-book category!! So – COULDN’T BE ANY better!!! Thank you both for all your assistance! This has been the perfect launch…time to set my sights on building sales!

Debbie WooldridgeBest-selling author of A Manager’s Guide to Unleashing the Intrapreneur

Books Forward was a huge help in the rollout out my novel. My contacts there were incredibly fast in their response times, and really went above and beyond in the work they did on my campaign. Rolling out a new book can be incredibly stressful, and it was great to have Books Forward right there, helping me navigate the process at every turn.

Chris TebbettsAuthor of Me, Myself and Him

Working with Books Forward on my recent book release has accentuated the effectiveness of my business...signing on with Books Forward was a business and learning decision I made so I could allocate my time well, focus on creating, and pair myself with a professional that would walk alongside my journey and champion the story I worked so hard to share...I thought I knew what marketing and promotion was before I signed on with Books Forward and came to realize I really didn't know. To do promoting well, one needs help. To which degree and in what area depends on you, but accept help from the pros if you can! Once you see how much work goes into a full promotional campaign, it will change the way you do things for the better from there on out.

Cole WilliamsAuthor of Dr. Brainchild & Radar and other award-winning children’s books

My great thanks to Books Forward! You got me the exposure that I wanted. You were very easy to work with, and I feel that the whole campaign went very smoothly. I will recommend Books Forward to all my writer friends and hope to use Books Forward again when my next book comes out.

Aaron PoochigianCritically acclaimed author of Mr. Either/Or

The staff at Books Forward really understood and passionately embraced my book. They provided all the support I could ask for.

Ames SheldonAward-winning author of Lemons in the Garden of Love

I’m happy to say that the story of Holmes, Lincoln and, of course, the bees is finding its audience thanks to all your team's efforts. One Must Tell the Bees is gaining traction better than I dared to expect. We have 4.7 stars on Amazon with 100+ reviews and counting, and every couple of days I get a very kind email or a comment on Facebook from a reader. You can imagine my delight when, one morning, the following comment appeared on my Facebook author’s page: "Bought it. Read it. Loved it." Doesn’t get much better than that, right? My deepest appreciation to you and your team in this endeavor.

J. Lawrence MatthewsAuthor of One Must Tell the Bees

I enjoyed working with Books Forward and found everyone on staff to be responsive, caring and helpful, on top of being knowledgeable and showing genuine interest in promoting my books. I also appreciated that they were receptive to my ideas and always asked for my feedback before trying something new. Their blend of professionalism and enthusiasm made them a pleasure to work with.

Ellen MarshAuthor of The Forbidden Gems trilogy

You did everything you’d said you’d do and more, and it worked out great — lots of visibility, and I’m happy about that...I would recommend Books Forward to anyone.

Steve RodgersAuthor of the Spellgiver fantasy series

Books Forward helped connect me with independent bookstores, writers groups, other authors and readers. Our initial five months on my debut novel helped to get my name and title into the public forum beyond a simple hit in a search engine. I recommend Books Forward and look forward to doing good things together in the future.

Gary McPhersonAuthor of the thrilling Berserker series and other short stories

Everyone knows it isn’t easy being a writer these days. That’s why it’s almost a necessity to have someone else in your corner. During the rollout for my latest, Cancer Crossings, I could always count on…the good folks at Books Forward.

Tim WendelAuthor of thirteen books

I’m thoroughly impressed with the Books Forward team…Their publicity campaign for my book was extensive, streamlined, and highly accountable, making it exceptionally easy for me to reach my audience. I couldn’t be happier.

Michelle DesPresAuthor of Intuitively You

What I appreciated most is that you did what you told me you would do. I was also kept abreast of everything going on in my campaign and I liked that aspect a lot. Thanks again for supporting me on this journey. It has been a pleasure to work with Books Forward.

Linda AtwellAuthor of the award-winning debut memoir Loving Lindsey

We can see what Books Forward is doing and how it is working. Reaching the Top 10 again, a year out from our launch tells me we are finally breaking through.

Jeff Berebitskyfor our work on Dr. Jenni Kleinman Berebitsky’s ALS Saved My Life...Until It Didn't

The staff's attention to detail makes for a very pleasant experience — no surprises, no dropped balls, and very thorough follow through.

Caroline TaylorAward-winning author of Death in Delmarva

I’ve really enjoyed working with your group and learned a lot about the promotional side of publishing. Even if you write the best book it won’t really matter if no one knows about it and reads it.

David SklarAuthor of Atlas of Men

Thank you for your assistance through this process!! You have an amazing team!

Colleen D. ScottAuthor of Everybody Needs a Bridge

Working with Marissa and Chelsea has been a sheer delight. Marissa set out a plan, Chelsea followed through and whatever was promised, was achieved. I can’t thank them enough. All collaborations should be this easy.

Margo T. KrasneAuthor and speaking coach

I only wish I had contacted Books Forward sooner!

John B. LaneAward-winning author of The Beatin’ Path

Marissa DeCuir and the team at Books Forward are creative, passionate, and incredibly savvy book people. Books Forward is my go-to recommendation for clients looking to supplement or revitalize their publicity and marketing plans.

Elizabeth CoppsLiterary Associate, Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.

The Books Forward team is the marketing ninjas of the book industry. When I was a publisher, they did a wonderful job launching my author's book. Now that I am a literary agent, I recommend that my authors use them to build their brand and audience which helps me sell their next book. Their collective experience, expertise and professionalism are key reasons I recommend them again and again.

Julie GwinnThe Seymour Agency

Your efforts were very comprehensive, and have helped this book reach a wide range of readers. We appreciate it!

Cheryl QuimbaPublicity Manager, Cornell University Press

The materials you provided to me will make all the difference in promoting this program. Seriously. She has some good publicity people working for her.

Teresa MyersLongmont Public Library

Since 1998, I’ve been producing and hosting radio broadcasts. You’ve been terrific to work with and I hope to continue the relationship. Sincerest gratitude for being a professional.

Cynthia BrianStarstyle® Productions