A Modern PR Agency for Authors, Publishers & Storytellers
About
Publicity & Marketing for Authors, Publishers & Storytellers
At Wildbound PR, we build creative, multi-channel publicity campaigns for writers, publishers, and literary organizations who want to connect meaningfully with readers and the media.
We don’t just do press.
We combine media outreach, social campaigns, advertising, events, web, and video into one cohesive, strategic effort.
What sets us apart isn’t just our familiarity with these tools — it’s knowing how to weave them together, track progress in real time, and build momentum without losing clarity or consistency.
We don’t outsource.
We don’t overpromise.
We do the work, and we keep you in the loop every step of the way.
Julia Drake
Co-Founder / President
Born in the Black Forest of Germany — where fairy tales were practically invented — Julia moved to Los Angeles to study filmmaking and screenwriting at UCLA and the American Film Institute. She later shifted to literary PR, founding what would become Wildbound PR in 2006.
Julia combines her background in film, writing, and media with a deep love of books and cultural storytelling. She’s served as President of the LA chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, mentored through WriteGirl, and spoken on publishing panels across the country.
Her gift lies in connecting each author’s message with the audiences and platforms it deserves.
Jared Drake
Co-Founder / CEO
Jared brings 15+ years of experience in filmmaking, branded content, and live event production. After graduating from UCLA’s film program, he directed the feature Visioneers (starring Zach Galifianakis) and more recently released Buried: The 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche, which became the #1 documentary on Netflix in November 2023. He is currently producing the feature film Wall of White alongside Martin Scorsese.
At Wildbound, Jared leads all things video, virtual/hybrid, and creative production. His work blends narrative instinct with high-end execution, helping authors bring their message to life across formats and platforms.
Jonathan Shipley
Senior Publicist
Jonathan is a seasoned writer and editor with a passion for uncovering untold stories. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, he’s written for The Los Angeles Times, BBC Travel, and Discover, and brings his editorial eye and media savvy to Wildbound PR. He’s also a Pushcart Prize-nominated essayist and a lover of baseball, history, and craft beer.
Amy Hagedorn
Senior Publicist
While at Knopf and Pantheon, Amy ran campaigns for Joan Didion, Ruby Tandoh, Dolly Alderton, Claire Dederer, Tayi Tibble, Kaveh Akbar, Michael Ondaatje, Nini Nguyen, Clare Sestanovich, Sammy Harkham, and Marie N’Diaye, amongst others. Her passion for people and obsession with the ever changing media landscape combine to make her a dynamic, nimble, and engaged publicist. Her philosophy degree, unbridled love for Björk and Carly Rae Jepsen, and 13 years of therapy make her the kind person you might actually enjoy meeting. Her body lives in Chicago but her soul lives in the moment.
Tiffany Summer
Social Media & Design Specialist
Tiffany is a seasoned writer, editor, social media, and marketing specialist with a love for all things creative. As a former editor at Bilibili and a freelance creative, Tiffany has a proven ability to create a fully immersive experience for readers and clients. Their greatest expertise lies within the realms of literature, fashion, beauty, film, anime/manga, and global cultures.
Tiffany Michaelis
Digital Advertising Director
Tiffany has worked in the social media marketing space for more than 15 years. From content creation to ads strategy and implementation she strives to take campaign goals and find the sweet spot where strategy meets storytelling. Ask her about the books she’s reading, the next roadtrip she has planned, or the latest recipe she’s trying to bake!
Camila Paleno
Web Designer
Camila is a website designer and frontend developer with experience across agency, startup, and freelance work. She specializes in building custom, visually distinct websites using tools like Next.js, Squarespace, and Shopify, blending thoughtful design with clean, scalable code. Her work also extends to SEO, branding, and digital strategy, with a focus on creating interactive, user-centered experiences. Outside of work, you can find her with a backpack and a camera on a solo trip somewhere, enjoying a new cuisine or (attempting) to learn a new dance!
Cris Marks
Director of Operations
Cris is Wildbound’s Director of Operations, with nearly a decade of experience in customer success, SaaS, and project management. She excels at scaling teams and streamlining processes. When not optimizing operations, she’s traveling, gardening, or reading with her family and two dogs.
Nicole Zinn
Campaign Project Coordinator
Nicole is a brand and project management leader with experience guiding creative campaigns, building stronger processes, and keeping cross-functional teams moving from big idea to finished product. She has worked across agency, nonprofit, education, and entertainment brands, bringing a steady mix of strategy, organization, and clear communication to every project. Outside of work, she’s usually spending time with her family, reading a psychological thriller, or catering to the very specific demands of her Sphynx cat, Ezmae.
Kellie Rendina
Director of Business Development
Kellie Rendina is a book industry professional with more than a decade of experience helping authors, thought leaders, and publishers bring meaningful stories into the world. Throughout her career she has worked across publicity, marketing, advertising, and business development, giving her a broad understanding of what it takes to connect a book with the readers and communities who will care about it most. Before joining Wildbound PR, Kellie spent nine years at Smith Publicity developing customized publicity strategies for a wide range of authors and experts across memoir, health and wellness, lifestyle, business, fiction, and other genres. Outside of work, she enjoys running, reading, and making a mess in the kitchen.
We’ve worked with
Client Praise
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“Within a matter of weeks, Jared and Julia of Wildbound Live took the National Book Critics Circle awards team from virtual production newbies to a superb virtual awards event, featuring several dozen pre-recorded videos and live hosting, all seamlessly interwoven. We were overjoyed with the intimate flow, the minimal stress, and the fact we could manage this all within a tight nonprofit budget. We’ll always be grateful to our Wildbound angels.”
Jane Ciabattari
Vice President/Awards, National Book Critics Circle -
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“Wildbound didn’t just write a couple of press releases and call it a day. They read my book, understood everything I was going for with it, and worked hard to line up exactly the right placements and events around it. I could never have done that on my own.”
Katy Towell
Author of Charlie and the Grandmothers & creator of Skary.com -
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“How can you cut through the noise of the culture and get attention for deserving work? Hire Wildbound, for starters. They’ve got a lot of arrows in their quiver and their aim is true.”
Steve Wasserman
Publisher of Heyday and former books editor of the Los Angeles Times -
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“Working with Wildbound is a dream! They’ve taken our book festival to new heights through extensive press coverage and leading edge social media strategies, not to mention snazzy video production that achieves exactly our purpose. Their expertise, commitment to excellence, and joyful exuberance add tremendous value to our efforts. We look forward to having Wildbound on our team for years to come!”
Cherilyn Parsons
Founder and Director, Bay Area Book Festival and Women Lit
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“What makes the Drakes at Wildbound so special is they embody the essential qualities that are at the heart of a successful public relations team. And what are those qualities - insight and sensitivity - which translate into a talent to shape and frame the innate power and beauty of a book. Their dedication, effort and professional artistry has had a profound impact on our work and proven indispensable to our success.”
Boston Teran
Internationally bestselling author of Creed of Violence & God Is a Bullet -
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“Wildbound keeps a writer way too busy with innovative strategies and energetic pursuit of promotion all while maintaining a deep understanding of the sensibilities of authors...no matter how eccentric their personalities.”
Peter Mehlman
Emmy nominated writer/producer of Seinfeld & author of It Won’t Always Be This Great -
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“Julia and Jared Drake are perfection. They are the consummate professionals who put their heart and soul into every client. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for their wisdom, genuine dedication and insight.”
Dr. Nina Ansary
Historian & author of Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran
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“Julia is a passionate book lover, and I came to see she was not only a superb publicist but a wonderful editor as well. Her energy and enthusiasm kept me going. I’d work with Wildbound again in a minute.”
Richard Kramer
Emmy Award-winning writer/producer & author of These Things Happen -
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“I hired Wildbound to help me with the publicity for two of my novels and have found them to be well-connected, efficient and organized. I heartily recommend them to anyone seeking competent and professional help with publicity."
Margaret Coel
New York Times bestselling author of the Wind River mystery series
Why Work With us?
We actually read your book!
We don’t blast out generic pitches.
We take the time to build real relationships, tailor every campaign thoughtfully, and treat your work with the care it deserves.
Our focus is on the long game: helping your book find its readers, spark meaningful conversations, and make a lasting impact.