Marketing & Publicity Associate - Romance in Naperville, Illinois at Sourcebooks

Do you love building buzz around books and finding creative ways to connect stories with readers? Sourcebooks is looking for a Marketing & Publicity Associate to help build excitement for Bloom Books and Casablanca titles through thoughtful media outreach, reader-focused campaigns, events, influencer engagement, and social content.

This hands-on role is ideal for someone who loves developing compelling pitches, managing campaign details, and collaborating with authors and cross-functional teams. You will serve as a day-to-day campaign coordinator for assigned titles, helping bring campaigns from early planning through publication while supporting the continued growth of our authors and imprints.

This is a hybrid position based in Naperville, Illinois or New York, NY , with a three-day-per-week in-office requirement.

This is a non-exempt, hourly position with a pay range of $23.00 - $26.00. We determine starting pay based on a thorough evaluation of job-related factors, including geographic location, market conditions, relevant experience, training, and education. This process ensures a fair and competitive salary that aligns with both the company and the candidate’s qualifications.
What You'll Do:

• Plan and execute integrated publicity and marketing campaigns for assigned Bloom Books and Casablanca titles in alignment with imprint goals, author strategy, sales priorities, and publication timelines.
• Handle media outreach across trade, traditional, digital, podcast, newsletter, and consumer-facing outlets to build awareness for assigned authors and titles.
• Pursue trade reviews and opportunities in anticipated, seasonal, roundup, “best of,” and category-specific media coverage.
• Write compelling press releases, media pitches, Q&As, talking points, and other publicity and marketing materials.
• Coordinate author events, tours, conferences, and festivals, including bookstore communication, schedules, assets, event listings, materials, and follow-up; travel occasionally as needed.
• Support and execute influencer outreach, preorder campaigns, retailer promotions, advertising initiatives, reader activations, and other title-specific marketing programs.
• Serve as the day-to-day campaign coordinator for assigned titles, managing timelines, deliverables, author communication, outreach, assets, mailing needs, and promotional deadlines.
• Create promotional graphics, social assets, and marketing materials for Sourcebooks, imprint, and author channels.
• Support organic social content by drafting copy, creating assets, gathering materials, monitoring trends, and helping execute scheduled promotions.
• Coordinate ARC and galley mailings and manage key campaign dependencies, including asset needs, press-material deadlines, influencer deliverables, retailer deadlines, and social content needs.
• Track publicity coverage, media responses, review activity, event updates, and campaign results, and communicate meaningful updates to authors and internal partners.
• Support Sales Conference and internal sales meetings, collaborate with bookstores and retail partners on promotional opportunities, and identify backlist opportunities tied to frontlist releases and author news.

What You Bring:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• At least three years of experience in publishing, publicity, marketing, public relations, or a related field; experience with books, romance, fantasy, or consumer entertainment is strongly preferred.
• Excellent promotional writing, media-pitching, and communication skills, with the ability to identify compelling angles for different audiences and outlets.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills, sharp attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple campaigns, priorities, and deadlines at once.
• Working knowledge of social media platforms and online communities as tools for author, book, and brand promotion.
• Basic graphic design skills and familiarity with consumer design applications; basic HTML knowledge is a plus.
• The ability to work independently, take initiative, and contribute thoughtfully to shared team and department goals.
• A collaborative, adaptable, and solution-oriented approach, along with a genuine passion for romance, fantasy, storytelling, and reader fandoms.

Ready to Apply:
Please submit your resume, salary requirements, and cover letter detailing your relevant experience and interest in this role. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Show us your passion and creativity — we’re looking for someone who’s as enthusiastic about this opportunity as we are!

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription Drug Insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care, Dependent Care, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, 401(k), Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&D Insurance, and generous paid time off.

Sourcebooks values the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.