Client: Steve Vesce, author of One Ordinary Man: A Novel Based on the True Story of Harry Hopkins (Savannah, GA)
Services: PR & Media Outreach, Social Media (Instagram & Facebook)
The Challenge
Steve Vesce self-published a 620-page biographical historical epic about Harry Hopkins — FDR’s closest confidant and one of the most influential, least-known figures of WWII — through independent publisher Verlibri Media. As a debut novelist without a major publisher’s publicity machine behind him, Steve needed to build critical credibility and reader awareness from scratch: getting the book in front of history readers, podcast audiences, award juries, and national press on the strength of the story alone.
The Approach
I ran an ongoing PR and social program built to layer credibility on credibility:
- PR & Media Outreach: Continuous pitching to book reviewers, historical podcasts, YouTube creators, regional press, and literary award programs — positioning Steve in his three roles (author, speaker, entrepreneur) and leaning on his real credentials with historians, corporate audiences, and civic organizations.
- Social Media Management: I started managing the book’s Instagram and Facebook presence, publishing consistent content around Hopkins’ story and tying in timely promotional windows, like a Father’s Day gift-guide push for history-loving dads.
The Results
In under a year on the market, the book has built a genuinely layered body of earned credibility:
Key Highlights:
- 6 national and international award recognitions — including 2026 Kirkus Indie Awards Contender, 2026 London Book Festival Runner-Up, New England Book Festival Runner-Up, 2025 American Writing Awards Finalist, Literary Titan Gold Book Award, and Amazon Bestseller status.
- 6 editorial reviews secured, including starred coverage from Kirkus Reviews and a 5-star review from The Coffee Pot Book Club.
- An endorsement from Dr. June Hopkins — Harry Hopkins’ own granddaughter and Professor of History Emerita at Georgia Southern University — the single most powerful third-party validation available for this book.
- 7 podcast and video placements, including History of WWII Podcast, Southern Reads, Book 101 Review, Moments with Marianne, and LA Talk Radio.
- Regional press coverage in Savannah Morning News, Marietta Daily Journal, and multiple library features across the Southeast.
- Instagram following grew 18% (78 to 92) since launch, with 48 posts published.
- Facebook following grew 32% (25 to 33), with content generating over 256,000 page and media views — largely driven by shared podcast and interview clips.
The Impact
One Ordinary Man has moved from an unknown independent debut to an award-recognized, critically reviewed, and broadly covered historical epic — with an endorsement from Harry Hopkins’ own granddaughter lending it a level of authenticity no press release could manufacture. The layered mix of awards, editorial reviews, regional press, and podcast placements has built the kind of credibility that compounds: each new win becomes fresh news to pitch the next outlet, giving Steve a growing foundation to keep landing bigger podcasts, video features, and speaking engagements.