Last Tuesday’s
post was all about promoting our books in interviews with the media. Dr.Katherine “Kat” Smith, herself both an author and a media personality,
prepared attendees at the spring workshop of the Writers’ Guild of Texas for the shock of actually selling our books. And although “selling” is nearly a
dirty word to writers how, Smith asked, do we expect to ever be bestselling
authors unless we sell?
While we prepare
by following her tips for making contacts with audio and visual media discussed
week, let’s take preparation a step further. Consider what happens when we
actually find ourselves face to face (or phone to phone) with a TV, radio or
Internet talk show host.
Smith started
early by dispelling one of what she called “the most common misconception about
media”: it doesn’t exist to provide free publicity for authors. What talk show
hosts look for are entertaining and compelling stories for their audience. Oh,
and a time-conscious story. Because while authors are talking, the host is
keeping an eye on the clock, looking to the next commercial break, looking
toward the next story on her schedule. And, believe it or not, she doesn’t have
time to read the book!
Not to panic. After
all, we don’t expect readers to have read our books before they grab them off
the shelf. Instead, we make it easy
for readers to take that step with our cannily-crafted book blurbs and
endorsements (See March 1, 2016’s post “Cozy up to a mystery at Henery Press”
for how-to’s). Let’s make it easy for our TV or radio or Internet hosts to buy
into our books as well with canny press releases such as FAQs/readers guides
included in the media kits on our site (see March 22, 2016’s Writers: prepare
for our closeups!”). Or consider creating a press release of “Top 10” lists
about our books. Or write an interview with yourself.
So now we’ve got
our press releases ready to send out. Who do we send them to?
Smith advises
against buying “cold call” lists of media hosts. They’re expensive, and who
knows when they were last updated? We need to research media hosts ourselves to
find those who talk about the things we love and write about.
Once we’ve made
contact, we need to be sure to make ourselves reachable. Remember last
Tuesday’s discussion of media kits? Always, always, provide contact
information. And follow up, especially by returning phone calls. “I can’t
believe how many people don’t return phone calls,” Smith said.
Once we're invited, in case it isn't obvious, we need to show up and be on
time, dressed and groomed appropriately for the show and its audience. And
speaking of grooming, there’s the issue of makeup, more delicate perhaps for
the men than the women. High definition cameras are horrible,
Smith warns, and studio lights are hot. Women should get their makeup done
professionally beforehand. Men need to find a powder in their skin shade, “and
if you have a mustache, remember to comb the powder out of it.” And don’t count
on being offered a makeup room. Bring a small pocket mirror and check yourself
before going on camera.
And because we'll want pictures or video to add to our media kits, we need to have access afterward to the interview footage. Ask for a copy, but just in case, set up a DVR or have a friend record it.
But what if, a
workshop member asked, we freeze up on a question? What if we don’t understand
the question? What if we don’t know the answer? Smith’s suggestions, “Can you
rephrase that questions?” Or “I’m not sure about that, but I’ll tell you what.
. . .” Or in case of embarrassment, “Oh, that made me blush, but my character.
. . ”
And always, smile. Because on camera or not, a smile always shows!
