When National Public Radio interviews an author, it’s almost a ticket to the top of the Amazon.com lists. But the way book publicist Yen Cheong calculates it, the chances of an author landing an interview on National Public Radio is 15 times harder than getting into Harvard. Cheong, the assistant director of publicity for Viking and Penguin Books in… Read More
Authors & Publishers
Teleseminars will teach radio, TV publicity tips
If you’re aching to get onto radio and TV, check out the five free teleseminars offered the last week in May by Web Business Ownership, devoted to teaching small business owners and entrepreneurs how to set up an Internet business. You can register here for Media Week 2008: Sunday, May 25: “Small Business Meets Big Media.” J. Roger Powe of NBC… Read More
Book Waiver Forms
If an author asks to interview you and write about your business for a new book, don’t be a pain in the neck. Give a great interview. When the author sends you a waiver form that explains who gets rights to the information and how the publisher can use it, read it. Unless there’s a… Read More
How can publicists promote a book about identical twins?
Publicity Hound Sharon Dotson of Houston, Texas writes: “I am working with two other publicists to promote identical twins Anabel Stenzel and Isabel Stenzel Byrnes, 35, of Redwood City, CA, who between them have survived three lung transplants. “Half Japanese and half-German, the sisters were born with cystic fibrosis and were not expected to live… Read More
Children’s book publisher needs a ‘big idea’ for publicity
Angie Dzalamanow of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina writes: “I am the public relations manager for Sylvan Dell Publishing, a children’s book publisher committed to exciting children’s imaginations with artistically spectacular science, math and nature themed stories. We’re doing fairly well at securing reviews for our 29 titles with key trade publications, regional parenting magazines and bloggers,… Read More
Who else wants to read a book about military wives?
Marna A. Krajewski of Wakefield, Rhode Island writes: “I am an Army wife who had her first book published in May 2006 (HOUSEHOLD BAGGAGE: The Moving Life of a Soldier’s Wife.) It’s a collection of first-person stories about Army family life. “My next book, HOUSEHOLD BAGGAGE HANDLERS: Celebrating the Lives of Military Wives, is coming… Read More
Author of book for Christians needs publicity ideas
Catherine Painter of Raleigh, North Carolina writes: “My Bible study book, ‘So, You’re a Christian! Now What?’ is a 12-week study for small groups in churches, or for individuals who will work through it alone. “The book is in bookstores now and the publisher, Hensley Publishing, also sells them at their website. “I sell… Read More
Top 10 ways authors can make radio interviews pay
Joe Sabah, author of the book “How to Get the Job You Really Want—and Get Employers to Call You” brags that he’s sold $357,000 worth of books by doing 682 radio interviews “and 680 of them by phone.” He’s one of the masters of radio interviewing and he shares these 10 tips on how to make… Read More
The Crapper Digest #1 needs publicity ideas
Dave Kessler of Richmond, Indiana writes: “For the last 50 years I’ve sold everything from airplanes to caskets. But I’ve got a challenge now that is proving more difficult. “One of my ebooks published by Amazon.com (in the Amazon Shorts program) is The Crapper Digest #1. It’s available for 49 cents, and readers can download… Read More
Why I hate Amazon, B&N best-seller campaigns
My blood boils when I see authors wasting time on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble best-seller promotions in which they rally their friends and their friends’ friends to buy their book on the same day so it jumps to the top of the list. Unless you’re already a big-name author, these campaigns rarely bring lasting results. Besides, so many… Read More