The History of Smith Publicity
Built on experience and driven by purpose, since 1997.
Our Story begins in 1997, in a small bedroom office.
Dan Smith came to book publicity by an unlikely road.
No publishing background. No industry connections. Just fresh eyes, relentless creativity, and a willingness to try things that had never been done before.
That outsider perspective turned out to be an advantage. Unburdened by how things had always been done, we approached book publicity differently from day one — placing the author, not just the title, at the center of every campaign.
We pioneered the concept of the book as a business card.
We believed that every author brings a different message, different goals, and different constraints.
We refused one-size-fits-all campaigns and rigid playbooks, and instead built campaigns customized to the author, the message, the moment, and the goals.
Our strategy was a hit, and the agency grew fast.
Within two days of launching the very first Smith Publicity campaign, our client was on national television and word spread quickly.
It was imperative that we build a strong team of people who care deeply about each other, about the authors we serve, and about doing this work incredibly well. And so we did.
We know that the secret to a successful campaign is in the quality of the partnership.
Our role is to stand alongside our clients — helping them make smart decisions, navigate complexity, and move through the process with steadiness and care.
We learned from every client we worked with and brought that forward, continuously refining how we position and guide our authors.
Nearly three decades later, the mission is the same, and the team has never been better.
Today, Smith Publicity is led by CEO, Sandy Poirier Smith, and President, Marissa Eigenbrood, alongside our dedicated team of publicity professionals – many of whom have been with us for over a decade.
That kind of continuity isn’t accidental, it reflects a culture built on trust, collaboration, and a real love for what we do. The founding belief that great publicity starts with great partnership is alive in every campaign we run today.
From our story to yours—let’s launch your next chapter.
How We Work
We build customized campaigns combining strategic publicity and expert positioning.
Explore ServicesWho We Help
We specialize in nonfiction works across three main genres: business, lifestyle, and public affairs.
Learn MoreWho We Are
We are led by an incredible team of book publicity professionals who are ready to support your goals.
Meet the Team