Helen Lewis

Helen Lewis (https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-lewis-literally/) is one of the UK’s leading book publicists. With more than 25 years of experience, she’s helped thousands of authors, publishers and brands build meaningful, long-term visibility. Helen is the founder of Literally PR (LitPR www.literallypr.com), an award-winning book publicity and author branding agency that has worked with authors across every genre, from debut writers to Sunday Times bestsellers, celebrities, academics and thought leaders.

Alongside her publicity work, Helen is (alongside award-winning author Abiola Bello) the co-founder of independent publisher Hashtag Press, home of Hashtag BLAK, and the co-founder of The Diverse Book Awards, which celebrate the most inclusive and representative books published in the UK and Ireland. She also co-founded the Ink Book Prize, championing exceptional independent publishing.

A recognised industry voice, Helen regularly speaks at publishing conferences, literary festivals and industry events on topics including author branding, book publicity, publishing, diversity in literature and building sustainable author careers. She has delivered talks and workshops for organisations including the London Book Fair, the Society of Authors, the Self Publishing Conference and the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC).

Helen has developed her own long-term author branding methodology, the 10 Cs of Successful, Long-term Author Brand Building, which underpins her consultancy work with authors at every stage of their careers. Through her coaching programmes, including The Author Success Circle, she works closely with writers to build successful, authentic and commercially sustainable careers beyond a single book launch.

Passionate about championing independent publishing and underrepresented voices, Helen has helped launch and grow hundreds of bestselling books while creating opportunities for authors who have traditionally been overlooked by the industry. Her work combines strategic thinking with creative publicity campaigns, media relations, digital marketing and personal brand development.

Based in the Kent countryside, Helen is a proud Yorkshirewoman, a single mum to two daughters, an avid reader of crime and contemporary fiction, and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts. When she’s not working with authors, you’ll usually find her walking in the countryside, practising yoga, cooking, enjoying time with friends and family, or planning her next road trip.