Tara Lewis

Tara Lewis – Marketer

I am a children's, middle-grade, and YA book marketing expert with twenty-five years of experience in the Big Ten and freelancing.

Overview

I am an experienced children’s marketing professional with more than twenty-five years in the children’s book publishing industry. I have insight into the workings of children’s book publishers and internal operations and processes, having managed a global marketing department as a Director at Disney Publishing Worldwide for six years and managed teams at Scholastic Inc. for six years.


I have worked with a broad range of children’s original titles in the picture book, middle-grade, and young adult categories. I have also spearheaded the campaigns for many licensed book series such as Scooby-Doo, Disney Princess, Harry Potter paperbacks, Pokemon, Powerpuff Girls, Marvel, Lego, Tinkerbell, Matchbox, Winnie the Pooh, and Baby Einstein.


My marketing planning included not only devising the strategies but also conducting competitive analysis reports, writing press releases, articles, blogs, catalog copy, and news pieces for the product. I worked on a daily basis with the editorial teams to bring a successful book to market.


As a freelancer, I am thrilled to provide the following services:


-Marketing plan development (strategy, tactics, social, deliverables, etc.)

-Writing press releases, author bios, catalog copy, book blurbs

-Market research and competitive analysis



My areas of specialty are picture books, middle-grade, and YA sci-fi/fantasy. I love working with self-published authors to help them navigate and understand the publishing process. I also enjoy working with seasoned publishing veterans.


I have an impeccable career history at the highest level at the best publishing houses in the world. Let me help you - and your book - make the leap from good to great! I will help your book get the exposure and readership that it deserves.

Services
Non-Fiction
Children’s Non-Fiction Parenting & Families Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Fiction
Middle Grade Picture Books Young Adult
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • Dale Carnegie leadership training
  • Disney Institute leadership and business training

Work experience

Self-employed

May, 2008 — Present

Provide children's, middle-grade, and YA publishing services including marketing plan development, book reviews, book proposals, query letters, editing, competitive analysis, and more.

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Jul, 2000 — Apr, 2006 (almost 6 years)

Managed the global marketing department for Disney Publishing Worldwide and all its imprints. Oversaw marketing strategy and campaigns, publicity, promotion, author relationships, multi-million dollar budget, staff of 26 employees worldwide.

Scholastic Inc.

Aug, 1994 — Jul, 2000 (almost 6 years)

Marketing manager for trade paperback and licensed imprints. Oversaw all marketing, promotion, and publicity campaigns and author relationships for relevant books and series.

Projects

Science-Fiction and Fantasy marketing

Comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign including social and digital media, Amazon marketing, press release, author bio, awards and grants.

Me and My Afro by Aiden Taylor

Create a full media, publicity, and marketing campaign to launch this wonderful story of self-love, inclusion, diversity, and acceptance.

Freelance book campaigns

Edit and/or develop marketing strategies and analysis for self-published authors or to enhance book proposals for published authors.

Harry Potter

Managed the paperback book marketing for the first three Harry Potter books.

-Dovetailed off the massive hardcover marketing campaign to push the paperbacks into all bookstore and non-traditional outlets
-Worked on a one-of-a-kind , never-before, and never-since book launch event: a nationwide midnight launch party for book IV

Disney licensed properties book publishing

Managed the marketing strategies for all of Disney book brands including Winnie the Pooh, Tinkerbell (and Peter Pan), Mickey Mouse, W.I.T.C.H., and more.

-Implemented a valued multi-million dollar promotion through McDonald's Happy Meal for the W.I.T.C.H. book series

-Was the Walt Disney Company's and Disney Publishing Worldwide's brand ambassador for Disney Fairies across all book and consumer product outlets

Goosebumps

Managed and executed the marketing plans and strategy for over 160 of these series titles.
-Instrumental in the development and production of the Goosebumps Scare Shack, one of the largest in-store floor displays ever created for a children's paperback series
-Implemented one of the largest free book giveaways ever in Central Park, New York City

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Managed marketing plans for five years for this well-loved and longstanding early book series.

-Oversaw the creation, production, and approvals for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon
-Worked with our television synergy partners on marketing opportunities with consumer products and media

Portfolio

Isle of Dragons (# 1)

Thompson, L. A.

Spoken: A Novel

Weiss, Melanie

I AM

Allen, Mary C.

Silver Planet

Johnson, Tom

ME AND MY AFRO

Taylor, Aiden M

Emily Elizabeth recalls a snowy day while Clifford was a puppy, when he went sledding in her boot, was rescued from the ice by a hockey player, and helped build a snowman
Discover the bone-chilling adventures that made Goosebumps one of the bestselling children's book series of all time. Now with all-new bonus materials!Greg thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he found. The photos keep turning out . . . differen... read more
In the W.i.t.c.h. boxed set, see how the story started as the girls discover their new responsibility in The Power of Five and then find out how a friendship is destroyed in The Disappearance. In Finding Meridian, the girls travel to a new world and in The Fir... read more
Baby Einstein: Mirror Me!

Julie Aigner-Clark

Can you stick out your tongue like Frog? Puff up your cheeks like Cow? Scrunch up your nose like Jane the Monkey? Look in the mirror and try! This busy book with a mirror on every spread (and a peekaboo finale!) teaches babies and young children parts of the f... read more

Tara has 302 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Yves G.

Yves G.

Aug, 2024

I have worked with Tara several times in the past, and I really value her metadata and blurb optimization expertise. She has helped me with my other children's books in the past, and whenever I am about to release a new book, I always seek her expertise to get my marketing and promotional text ready for my book launch. I highly recommend Tara—she is amazing at what she does, she delivers resul...
Read more
Allyson J.

Allyson J.

Aug, 2024

I hired Tara to do the marketing plan for my first self published book. She was very prompt and professional. She sent me a very detailed marketing plan -- or as I like to say - my marching orders to promote my book. Her ideas are very creative. I hired her very early on so I referred back to her plan throughout the stages of my self publishing as I was working with my illustrator. It was very ...
Read more
Tara L.
Thank you so very much, Allyson. Your book was so incredibly unique and fun, it made the project very rewarding to work on. I am very glad to hear you are finding the materials useful now and in th...
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Sara H. F.

Sara H. F.

Jul, 2024

I loved working with Tara! She gave me an amazing marketing plan to help guide me through publishing my first children's book. If you are a new author feeling a little lost in when it comes to putting your work out there, I highly recommend reaching out to Tara!
Tara L.
Thank you so much, Sara! I loved working on your amazing project -- your book is wonderful. I appreciate your feedback and am so glad you feel informed and prepared to marketing your book. Good luck!
Puja S.

Puja S.

Jul, 2024

Tara is a stellar book marketing planner! Her strategic approach and dedication ensured my book reached its audience effectively. Highly recommended!
Tara L.
Hi Puja! It was so much fun working on your project. I appreciate your feedback and am very glad you had a great experience. Good luck to you!
Ed M.

Ed M.

Jul, 2024

I am so glad I chose Tara as my book marketing expert. She has 20 years experience in promoting young adult and children's books, and she is a consumate professional. The materials she created for my book "Aurora and the Whispering Jewels: A South Pole Christmas Story" include a helpful timeline for things I can do three months... two months... one month before launch -- and beyond. There is...
Read more
Tara L.
Hi Ed! I am so delighted to read this, thank you so much. I'm looking forward to hearing about all the good things that befall Aurora!

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