Dealing with the press

Maybe you don’t think the press would be interested in you – but oh boy, wouldn’t a mention in your local paper help the sales of your book take off a bit?


People are interested in you especially if you out the righ spin to it. Go all out of the buzz Decide what, about you, would interest readers of a particular newspaper or local TV or radio station. If your paper is truly local, particularly if you are part of a small town, then use that to make a pitch to reporters, “Local Author Has Book Published”. Everyone wants a celebrity in their back yard so play it up.


While a newspaper halfway across the country would not be interested in your local ties to your community, you can find something else to entice them. Does your book pertain to any current events? Or does the story take place in that town halfway across the country? It’s called a hook.


Have some sample interview question and answers ready in case the writer asks you to supply some material for discussion. Have an author photo on hand, both in print in case you can hand it, or mail it, to the reporter and in digital form that can be emailed. Same thing for book covers – have it ready in case the reporter asks.


Look professional by having pertinent, clear and neat paperwork (again, hard print copy and digital fom) ready to hand to a reporter who really won’t mind not having to dig for answers or a story. Reporters are often busy, harried individuals who will certainly appreciate the easy story once in a while. If you can do the legwork for him. It’s sue to be appreciated.


If you have a web-site (and by all means you should at this point), build a Media room. Store those same digital pictures and book-covers for easy download, use thumbnails to display the pics that are available. If you have any restrictions on who, how and where these images can be used, be sure to post a disclaimer – be sure to include that “clicking on this site means you (the individual viewing your site) understand and will comply. Include a simple interview (10 questions and answers) on the web site (clickable links) in your media room as well as links to favorable reviews – upload book discussion packets and even a downloadable bookmark that a reader could print out and use.


Make sure your media room is neat and clear to read. Be careful that ONLY the information you want there about yourself is included. This is not the place to put down you family story, political views or personal life (unless it is relevant to your book). Set up this room so anyone can “interview you” for a newspaper story or blog post without ever really reaching you. You want the exposure so make it easy for them to give it. For a sample media room, visit http://chellecordero.com/media/


Writing exercise: Write or verbalize a five-minute conversation between you and a pet or inanimate object. Make sure the conversation is truly two-sided and flows.




Writing prompt: Put some music on your DVD, CD or tape player (or any equivalent system). Listen to the music and ignore any other sounds. Close your eyes and imagine your surroundings AS INSPIRED by the music you are listening to. (ie: if you were listening to a children’s song, you might picture yourself in a playground) When the song is over open your eyes and quickly write down a description of that place you visualized you were at.