A press release will not sell books by itself. It is not a magic button, and anyone who says otherwise is selling fog.
But a good release can help an author get seen by journalists, bloggers, podcasters, librarians, booksellers, and local media. The key is choosing the right service for the story you have.
1. eReleases: Best for authors who want editorial review and national wire reach
eReleases is a strong fit for authors who want help making a book announcement sound like news before it goes out. That matters. Many author releases read like back-cover copy. A journalist needs the angle. Before choosing a distribution service, it helps to review a few book press release examples and templates so you can see what a newsworthy author announcement looks like.
eReleases distributes through a custom national Cision PR Newswire distribution and includes editorial review, which can help authors avoid the common mistake of sounding too promotional.
Best for: nonfiction authors, business authors, memoirists, experts, and authors with a timely hook.
Strong angles include a book tied to a trend, a study, a personal story with public relevance, or an author with real credentials.
2. PRWeb: Best for basic online visibility
PRWeb is useful when an author wants a simple way to publish a release online and gain some syndication. Its public pricing starts at $120 per release, with higher tiers adding broader distribution.
This can work for authors who are not expecting major media pickup but want a searchable announcement they can link to from a website, newsletter, media kit, or social post.
Best for: debut authors, self-published authors, and authors with modest budgets.
3. EIN Presswire: Best for authors issuing multiple releases
EIN Presswire offers a $149 single-release option and discounted multi-release packages. That makes it worth considering if you plan to announce several milestones, such as a book launch, award, speaking tour, audiobook release, or foreign rights deal.
Best for: authors with several announcements over the year.
A word of caution: do not issue releases just to “stay visible.” Issue them when you have a real reason.
4. Newswire.com: Best for authors with a larger launch budget
Newswire.com starts at a higher price point, with a starter plan listed at $399 per release and broader plans above that.
For authors, this may make sense when the book supports a bigger business, speaking platform, consulting practice, or brand campaign.
Best for: authors using the book as part of a larger strategy.
5. PR Newswire: Best for major publishing announcements
PR Newswire is one of the best-known distribution networks, but it is often more than most individual authors need. It makes sense for major publishers, celebrity authors, institutions, or books tied to national campaigns.
Best for: high-profile launches with a serious media budget.
How authors should choose
Start with the story, not the service.
Ask yourself:
- Is there a timely reason for the media to care?
- Is the author available for interviews?
- Does the book connect to a trend, problem, event, or audience?
- Is there a local angle?
- Is the release written like news, not advertising?
For a broader launch timeline, Reedsy’s guide to creating a book publicity plan is a useful companion to the distribution decision.
The best choice is not always the biggest list. It is the service that matches the story, the budget, and the follow-up plan.
If your book has a real news angle, use distribution to open doors. Then follow up personally with the journalists, podcasters, and local outlets most likely to care. That is where the real publicity often begins.
Mickie Kennedy founded eReleases.com in 1998 after watching PR firms charge small businesses a $20,000 minimum for a single press release. For 27 years, he’s been closing that gap — distributing 150,000+ releases via Cision PR Newswire, serving 30,000+ clients including Manscaped, Squatty Potty, and 40+ Shark Tank brands, and generating $132M+ in earned media. A sought-after podcast guest and two-time Amazon bestselling author of Beginner’s Guide to Writing Powerful Press Releases and The PR Strategy Manifesto. Mickie holds an MFA in Creative Writing from George Mason University. Based in Baltimore, MD. LinkedIn