Publicity That Works: Helena Brantley on Grassroots Book Marketing

In today's episode, I sat down with Helena Brantley, a seasoned communications professional who left corporate publishing to launch her own boutique publicity firm, Red Pencil Publicity + Marketing. Helena walks us through her career journey, starting with her time managing campaigns at HarperCollins and Nolo Press, and what ultimately led her to build a business on her own terms—collaborating with publishers, university presses, and authors on custom marketing strategies that truly connect books to readers.

We get into the heart of grassroots book promotion—how to identify your audience, where to find them both online and offline, and how to include authors in the marketing process in meaningful ways. Helena also shares how she helps clients stretch small budgets for maximum impact.

For anyone considering leaving corporate publishing to start their own venture, Helena offers thoughtful advice about building and contributing to community first. This is a conversation about sustainability, creativity, and what it really means to market a book.