Introducing the team at LitPR 

 
LitPR has proudly worked on more than 700+ campaigns since 2012. We've seen the rise of indie publishing, audiobooks and ebooks sales shoot through the roof, and of course, a global pandemic. Year after year, we are passionate about spreading the word about the latest must-read books - from horror to cookery, romantasy to historical, memoir to YA, self-help to picture books... we've seen it all! Built on the 25+ years experience of NCTJ-qualified journalist, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, fully-trained PR expert Helen Lewis, LitPR is a team of hard-working, friendly, creative individuals bringing a combination of more than 100 years experience to every unique campaign. 
 
LitPR specialises in working with indie authors - helping them to establish their author platform, build their brand, and connect them with their target readers in a strategic and optimised way. But in truth, we love working with ALL AUTHORS who know they want to build their author brand for a long-term career... regardless of how their books have been published. The team has experience of working with self-published debuts through to New York Times bestsellers by the 'big 5', and on campaigns for authors around the world. 
 
Helen Lewis is also the co-founder of The Diverse Book Awards and The Ink Book Prize, plus Ink! Publishing Services, Hashtag Press and Hashtag BLAK in partnership with award-winning author Abiola Bello.
 
A publishing entrepreneur with extensive experience of working in - and with - the media, with insider insights into the workings of the publishing world, LitPR is so much more than a book marketing / PR agency. As a caring, empathetic, hard-working team, we understand the need to elevate brilliant books above the HUGE noise, and we know that each book and author deserves a bespoke service and strategy, and a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable team around them. 
 
Our goal is to help educate and empower authors to understand what they can already do for themselves to market their book and build their author brand; what they can learn to do for themselves; and what they'd like our help with. 
 

 

Helen Lewis – CEO & Founder 

Helen Lewis is a prize-winning publishing entrepreneur who has launched over 700 authors in the past 13+ years. As the Director and Founder of LitPR (www.literallypr.com), a prize-winning publicity agency established in 2012 while balancing life as a new mother, Helen has built a stellar reputation for helping indie authors achieve long-term, sustainable success. Today, LitPR specialises in author branding, book marketing, and PR campaigns that truly make a difference, particularly and proudly championing indie authors, and those looking to build their brand across publishing routes.

Passionate about diversity and inclusion in publishing, Helen co-founded The Diverse Book Awards and The Ink Book Prize with award-winning author Abiola Bello, as well as Hashtag Press, Hashtag BLAK, and Ink! Publishing Services. She has organised and spoken at award ceremonies celebrating underrepresented voices and envisions a future where her daughters—and all children—experience a broader, more inclusive range of stories than she encountered growing up.

Helen’s expertise is sought at major industry events, including:

YALC 2024 & 2023: Chaired and participated in panels/workshops on indie publishing, diversity, and author branding.
London Book Fair 2024: Chaired the Writers' Summit panel on Diversity & Inclusion and was a guest speaker at Author HQ.
Self Publishing Conference: Presented multiple times on marketing and branding.
Society of Authors in Manchester: Delivered a talk on book marketing.
She has hosted, organised, and chaired over 100 author events, including book launches at Waterstones Piccadilly, Europe’s largest bookshop, and online panels like International Women’s Day celebrations.

Helen’s insights have been featured in The Guardian, Daily Mail, Working Mothers, Daily Mirror, Candis magazine (most recently interviewed about her daily journalling and tarot practice), BookBrunch, The Bookseller, SME News, and more. She has been interviewed by The People's Friend, The Authors Show, Melan Magazine, London TV, and QX Magazine, sharing her expertise and personal journey.

A sought-after speaker in writer coaching communities and publishing circles, Helen’s workshops, keynotes, and mentoring empower authors to achieve success.

Born in Yorkshire, Helen now lives in Kent, balancing her professional life as a single mum with her love of walking, travelling, yoga, and making memories with her teenage daughters, family, and friends.

Helen is a single Mum to Ellie and Macy, and is passionate about inspiring girls and women to make their dreams a reality through hard work and passion. 

Favourite Books - I read hundreds of books every year for work so my not-so-secret love is listening to self-help, positive and inspirational audiobooks!

Favourite Foods - Cheese. It's always cheese.

Favourite Drinks - An ice-cold glass or three of Viognier white wine or a classic G&T!

helenlewis@literallypr.com 

 

 

Diana Ashlee – Head of PR & Marketing 

Diana has more than 25 years experience in the marketing profession and prior to that, a career in the media sales industry. She worked for various media owners particularly in radio and press before moving into the travel industry where her interest in marketing was sparked. 

Diana's marketing experience has focused on working for blue-chip company P&O Ferries across various areas of marketing  for the UK and Europe, such as brand proposition, PR, customer retention and acquisition, sales promotions, commercial strategy, media buying, agency management and budget delivery. 

Diana has also worked on the Creative and Media Agency side, where her creative mind and experience was fully utilised. Building strategies and campaigns from the idea concept, to creative briefing and supply of final assets as well as negotiating costs and placement with media outlets.  

Diana is highly self-motivated and professional in everything she does, as well as being enthusiastic, innovative and bubbly, a must for any good PR person. She has very strong people, communication, negotiating and networking skills that will bring huge benefits to our clients. Diana had a small career break to have her two children and freelanced on and off during this time, then back into full work mode! She is very well established in her freelancing and within the Literally PR Team and loves working with our clients. 

Favourite Books: The Davinci Code and Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, and Wild Swans by Jung Chang, loves a good summer beach read as well! 

Favourite Foods: Tapas and Italian Food.

Favourite Drinks: Wine and Champagne.

dianaashlee@literallypr.com 

 

 

Rachel Knight – Social Media Manager  

Rachel specialises in supporting our clients with their social media activity as part of their PR campaigns - this could be by auditing your existing social media accounts and providing tips and advice on next steps, providing 1-2-1 advice and support through a PowerHour, putting together a social media strategy for you or actually running your social media channels for a set period of time. 

Rachel graduated from the Digital Mums Advanced Diploma in Strategic Social Media Marketing in March 2019. She has subsequently worked with a number of small business and individuals to support them with their social media. This is through a combination of training, consultancy and management of their social channels. 
 
Prior to specialising in social media Rachel spent over 10 years working in media relations, public affairs, stakeholder relations, events and publications in a range of health-related organisations. 

Favourite Books - I like to read when I'm on holiday, so anything that is an easy beach / pool read is right up my street.

Favourite Foods - It's so hard to pick my favourite food, I love most things. Friday nights are usual steak, an Indian takeaway or fish and chips.

Favourite Drinks - I love my coffee in the mornings and am partial to a glass of red or two at the weekend.

rachelknight@literallypr.com 

 

 

Kay Kett – PA to Helen Lewis and Admin Manager 

Kay worked in the insurance industry for 15 years, working her way up to secretary of the Claims Manager.  

She moved to the North East for her husband’s work, and then worked in retail until having her two boys before moving back to the South. 

She took a career break for a few years then worked part-time to work around the boys in the local school kitchen. 

She has worked for Literally PR for around four years now and loves it.  

Favourite Books - Not got just one but I love Harry Potter.

Favourite Foods - Curry, Italian, crisps. I just love food.

Favourite Drinks - Wine or gin, and coffee. 

kaykett@literallypr.com 

 

Lisa Goll – Head of Community 

After eighteen years producing marketing and events for book publishers, arts organisations and media, Lisa Goll now works for herself with writers as an event organiser, publicist and writing coach. Since leaving full-time work, Lisa spends the majority of her time these days as Boss Lady at London Writers' Cafe, where she arranges and hosts an array of writing workshops, masterclasses and socials for her community of more than 4,000 fiction writers. Lisa has worked with emerging, professional and published writers of all kinds since 2006 and her passion for talking books, storytelling, tall tales and great myths is limitless. Follow her @LisasShare and @Ldnwriterscafe or connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisagoll/) 

Favourite Books - Such a tough question! But probably, under duress I would vote for Persuasion by Jane Austen, Then by Julie Myerson and The Choice by Edith Eger but according to Goodreads I've read a few thousand others.  

Favourite Foods - Bring me all the sushi.  

Favourite Drinks - Red wine.

lisagoll@literallypr.com