Episode 4: Interview with Robert Venditti creator The Surrogates (Top Shelf Comix)

Whether you're a new author, new publisher, or just someone who's been in this business a long time, you probably understand the reality here.

With nearly 300,000 books published every year, it takes real know-how and promotional intensity to make sure your book stands out from all the other new books being released.

You need that promotional intensity because, with deep pockets, your competition is very serious about how they play the book promotion game.

So, in order to win, you need to know two basic rules.

Rule 1: The Media is Your Best Path to Consumers

The big publishers know the value of great media exposure and what it can mean to the success of a new book.  The game to win is getting on the air and in the news, as soon and as often as possible....and ahead of everyone else!

Considering that fall is a prime publishing season, you need to get a jump-start on your competition - preparing your materials and creating your media strategy NOW.  Why?

First: RIGHT NOW, every book publicist and publicity department at publishing houses have their strategies defined and press materials in progress, or in many cases, in place.

Second: What many book marketers don't realize is that there are a finite number of media opportunities available for guest interviews. It's not like buying advertising time to promote your book where your money is all that matters.

Third: There are a finite number of media opportunities for specific topics! Let's say your book is about real estate investing, and there's a similar new book just released from the big boys. Since the morning news shows are slated to only do a couple of stories, at most, about your topic, the race is on to secure those slots. Whether it's just you (the author) or a big publishing house, it will still come down to who got to the producer first with the best pitch.

Rule 2: Know the Media Timelines

Timelines are how long it usually takes for each of the different media to "bring you to the public." For example:

1. Magazines. They have the longest lead time-monthly publications often schedule 3 to 9 months "out."

1. Book Signings. If book-signings are part of your strategy-and they should be-even if only on a local level -- you need to work these well in advance of radio and TV. Particularly if your book is a fall release. Competition for book-signings is fierce this time of year. If possible, we'll start as early as 3 months in advance.

1. Local TV. We find it best to pitch producers 4 to 6 weeks in advance. Yes, some producers ask us to call back closer to the date our author will be in town... but even in this case, we're still there first with our pitch and have hopefully left a positive enough impression to land the segment.

1. Radio Interviews. Two weeks in advance is a good rule of thumb. Sometimes producers will want you sooner, but this depends on the timeliness of your topic.

1. Newspapers. We pitch local newspaper journalists one to two weeks in advance, not earlier.  Daily papers are looking for "news" and unlike magazines they're not planning as far into the future.

As you can plainly see, you need to start your campaign plans right now, right in the middle of summer. That's the case whether you're handling your own book promotion or hiring professionals like us to do the job.

And, if you are looking for professionals to help you-keep us in mind. For nearly twenty years now, we've been getting media exposure each and every week for non-fiction authors, publishers and a host of other clients.

The difference between us and many other PR firms is our slogan: Guaranteed Media Attention. We guarantee what we'll do for you. If you pay for talk radio interviews, you'll get the number of talk radio interviews you paid for.  If you want TV coverage, you'll only pay for the TV appearances we arrange. Period.

"What happens is that the current economic crisis puts pressure on advertisers to save money and find more effective marketing channels," said Karsten Weide, program director of Digital Marketplace and New Media at IDC.

While much of what is left of the marketing budget is being filtered into online media, traditional advertising like newspapers are facing the biggest dip in revenue in 50 years according to The Newspaper Association of America (NAA).

This advertising cutback is prompting many businesses to seek out cost-effective alternatives, such as PR, to build their small and mid-sized businesses into larger ones.

Although corporations may understand the power of public relations, many assume that a media-focused PR campaign is beyond their fiscal reach.  This comes down to the fact that most traditional public relations firms charge hefty monthly retainers without offering any guaranteed results.

Yet, when it comes to PR the results are all that matter.  Executives are demanding more bang out of every buck, with none of them wanting to pay for pitches that don't pan out.  At the end of the day, executives and decision makers need to know that their financial investment will be rewarded with a measurable return.

None of this is news to Marsha Friedman, CEO of EMSI (Event Management Services Inc.).  A pioneer in pay-for-performance PR, her firm has been delivering guaranteed results for their television and talk radio campaigns for nearly twenty years. To her, there's nothing "trendy" about it.

Friedman says, "While most PR firms want to be paid for the entire campaign procedure, the philosophy of our firm is to only get paid for the media exposure we obtain.  We developed a fee structure based on the delivery of radio and TV appearances, which forces daily focus on the end result instead of the process.  Let's face it.  In this economy, when it comes to PR, clients are hungry for tangible results."

A growing number of marketing departments and CEOs across the nation are sitting up and taking notice. In these critical economic times, marketing dollars are a precious commodity and must be invested wisely.

He ended up creating a nametag2.0, which is a pretty clever idea. Rohit has done several really innovative tactics for his book promotion, as did Rob Walker for his recent book, Buying In.  Attention is a precious commodity today and with dozens of books coming out seemingly every week in the marketing/culture/consumer trends category alone, authors have to work very hard, and very smart, to get any traction. 

But the law of diminishing returns are going to set in soon. The novelty of blog book tours and other web 2.0 tactics that seem so fresh right now won't next time around.  I'd like to see an author bring readers into the process earlier, not just after the book is printed and ready to ship.  Can a social network be created around a proposed book? How could the 'wisdom of crowds' help direct the creation of a book, and how could readers have a sense of ownership? Is that possible, or even desirable?  Perhaps a blog about the creation of the book - a sort of 'behind the scenes at the sausage factory - from writing to working with the publishers to the book tours.

I think we soon going to be talking about the promotion of books as much as the books themselves very soon.

on her Blog Talk Radio show. I wanted to invite you all to listen in. Here's the link to the show.

P.S. - Today, Elaine will be undergoing a c-section as she, her husband and their toddler son welcome the second baby boy into their family. Good luck, and congratulations, Elaine!

Ed Robertson
Pop Culture Critic and Entertainment Journalist
Co-Host, Talking Television with Dave White
Share-a-Vision Radio, KSAV.org
www.edrobertson.com
www.doctorrerun.com
www.talkingtelevision.org

My publisher, Zumaya is having a sizzling summer sale to celebrate their author, Chester Aaron's (Garlic Kisses) upcoming "appearance" on NPR's All Thing Considered on Sunday (7/6).

You can purchase my novel, The Road to Weird, and many others at 10% off. Use the promotion code CHESTER during checkout and get free shipping.

Hurry! Sale ends July 13, 2008.

Click here to access the Zumaya Bookstore.

Happy 4th of July!

Carey from Parenting Tales is planning to write a review of I Will Not Be Broken, according to he post Just Call Me Critic:

I will also be reviewing a book from Survivor Corps co-founder as he writes about what he has learned from his personal struggles in life and how he was able to turn his tragedy into triumph.

Jennifer, The Army Wife blogs about Survivor Corps, Jerry White's organization, in a post titled Survivor Corps:

One of their founders, Jerry White, has recently written a book entitled I will Not Be Broken. I'm lucky enough to be receiving a copy of it from Survivor Corps, and I'll be posting a review of it when I'm finished. It talks about how to deal with adversity, and the ups and downs that life throws us all too often, and I know we can ALL benefit from some advice on that subject!

Ilori Olalekan revived a blog partially based on excitement over I Will Not Be Broken over on Parenting Cares in the post Dealing With Life Crises:

Life crises are unavoidable experiences which everyone of us must pass through. It is not to be bargained. These experiences though differing from one person to another is at the same time very similar in nature. This is why sharing ones experiences with another is of great help during these critical times, cause it infuses the courage and strength to bear the crises. Based on this truth mentioned above, I will like to introduce a book written by Jerry White, co-founder of Survivor Corps;"I will Not Be Broken Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis". This book is aimed at helping us overcome life crises.

Outwitting crisis is a blog post about the interview that Guy Kawasaki did with Jerry White of Survivor Corps over on Angel 4 Angels:

We may have all faced or are facing crisis in our lives, in varying degrees. Some of us may have survived it, others may have given in. But there is always a lot to learn from those who have suffered unimaginably but triumphed by sheer grit and self will. Excerpts from an interview Guy Kawasaki had with Jerry White, whose life changed in 1984 after he lost one leg to that lethal litter called landmine. He later co-founded Survivor Corps and went on to share the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Stephen Hershey of Reality Sandwich covered Survivor Corps and I Will Not Be Broken in the blog post Reframing Survival:

Jerry White, landmine survivor and cofounder of Survivor Corps, shares his own healing process while advising those who are suffering from tragedy in I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis. White seeks to turn "tragedy into triumph," encouraging victims and their families to face facts, choose life, reach out, get moving, and give back. Voices include Lance Armstrong, Princess Diana, and Elie Weisel. The first chapter is available for download.

Deborah Evens over at Paravanes: Christian Meditations writes about Jerry White's book, I Will Not Be Broken, in a post called No Middle Ground: I Will Not Be Broken:

After reading White's five steps to overcoming, I realized there is no middle ground in recovery and reclaiming. Either you forever live as a shadow of your former self, or you emerge to become greater, more lovingly creative, and stronger. If you think you're on the middle ground, you're in shadow land. Perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul referred to when he asserted "…in all these things, we are more than conquerors…" (Romans 8:37). Properly understood (meaning from God's point of view), we can not only survive our LAEs, we can "more than conquer" them.

Victor Kaonga of the blog NDAGHA writes about survivorship and Jerry White's 5 Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis:

Jerry White, a cofounder of Survivor Corps, an organization that helps victims of war and terror. Our mission, and my passion, is to help survivors heal and get on with their lives. Sounds simple, but in many places where we work, the idea of overcoming doesn't always resonate.

This sounds to be a very promising book. I should admit that though I have not read the whole book (I am under extreme pressure to survive writing…-will disclose later), I sense the book has inspiring stories that would give someone some needed strength or perspective on life as we survive.

Of course for me I wish the book clearly advocated for God's help in life because human strength alone is not adequate. I strongly believe that survivorship is not complete without God and in any case our simple survivorship is simply a foretaste of what we really need to be. We need to be thriving and not surviving.

Scott Goodson write about the Interview that Jerry White did over on Guy Kawasaki's blog on his blog, Scott Goodson's Writings in his post, Five Steps For Overcoming a Life Crisis:

Jerry White has recently published an extraordinary book (entitled "I will not be broken") which I have ordered on Amazon tonight. He is the co-founder of Survivor Corps (formerly Landmine Survivors Newwork). His changed in 1984 when he lost his leg in a landmine explosion while visiting Israel. After this experience he has championed the cause of survivorship and became a leader in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In 1997 he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Jody Williams for his efforts. He recently published a book called I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis. Guy Kawasaki has a wonderful posting with an interview with Jerry today.

Kathi mentions I Will Not Be Broken over on her blog in a post entitled Monday Potpourri of Things to Pass On:

I received an email about a book that looked interesting, if you want to find out more about it, it's called I Will Not Be Broken : Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis by Jerry White. I'm looking forward to reading it and will let you know what I think when I finish my copy.

Karine found I Will Not Be Broken over at Guy Kawasaki's blog and mapped it to surviving entrepreneurial failure — and how to take that feeling of being a failure and the victimhood associated and turn it around and realize that just because you have a failed experience doesn't — and shouldn't — paint you as a failure — in a post called Surviving a failed project:

I read an excellent post from Guy Kawasaki's blog, How to change the world. The post was an interview with Jerry White, the co-founder of Survivor Corps. The interview focused on the art of survival. How do you go .. a tragedy, how do you move away from that event?

It made me think about the aura that failure can give you. When you project fails, you can surrender to the failure or move on, determined to make the next project a success. You can also choose to become a victim of that failure, a let it taint the next project with defeatism.

The Interview that Jerry White did over on Guy Kawasaki's blog on his blog really resonated with Shane over at What Leadership Demands in a post called Survival:

Of all the articles and stories I read this week this one stuck with me. I am fascinated by how much of what Jerry White has learned through is own personal tragedy translates to all of us and how we go through life.

At some point we are all confronted with a "life crisis". This crisis will ultimately test our faith… the question for each of us is where, or in who, will our faith be placed? Pay specific attention to question 3. The five steps Mr. White identifies as essential to overcoming a crisis in this world looks a lot like the stages anyone would go through as they accept Christ and begin to follow him to get beyond their past without him.

Mr. White does not speak to his own personal faith journey so I can not offer an opinion on his source for his survival process. Truth, though, has only One source regardless how we think we arrive at it. He does quote the Dalia Lama but that does not necessarily point us to where Mr. White's ultimate faith lies.

Jim and Brenda Johnson wrote a wonderful post about I Will Not Be Broken on their blog, Straight, Not Narrow, in the post "I Will Not Be Broken":

That's the title of a new book which, while it is not specifically about the LGBT community, it does cover some topics that are of value to everyone, perhaps every particularly LGBT people. The information below is from the official website for the book. I was contacted and asked if I would post something here about the book, and I am happy to do so.

Bruce Tomaso of the The Religion Blog of the Dallas News wrote a very lovely post about I Will Not Be Broken entitled Landmine Survivor Writes About Coping with Crisis

Jerry White, who lost a leg when he stepped on a landmine in Israel in 1984, is a co-founder of Survivor Corps, a group dedicated to helping the victims of violent conflicts around the world. He's been active in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which shared the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.

White has written a book, "I Will Not Be Broken: 5 Steps To Overcoming a Life Crisis," in which he offers his advice on how to get through tough times — the loss of a loved one, a painful divorce, a serious injury, and so forth.

Jill Army of her eponymous blog, Jill Army, plans to review I Will Not Be Broken by Jerry White — in fact, she was inspired to revive her blog partially in order to do the review! We really appreciate it (via I'm un-jinxing myself!):

I intend to begin blogging again…right after I scrub the residual sticker goo off my computer. I will be reviewing a book : "I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis," by Jerry White, the co-founder of Survivor Corps http://iwillnotbebroken.org. I've already read the intro and first two chapters (thanks to the free download) and it's going to be inspirational and help so many people. I know it is something all my readers (yes all two of them …hi dad!) will enjoy and pass on to those around them that need to hear the message and take the steps. I know I will. Looking forward to blogging again.

At 8 Hours & A Lunch, Deb Owen wrote a review of the Interview that Jerry White did over on Guy Kawasaki's blog:

There's a must-read interview with Jerry White on Guy Kawasaki's how to change the world blog today that he is calling "The Art of Survival." […] I began to look for my "favorite snippet" in the interview, but the whole interview is worth the few minutes to read. It's a great perspective with applications many of us could use in multiple areas of our daily lives. Check it out.

Heidi blogs about Jerry White's book in a post called, "I Will Not Be Broken": The Book by Jerry White, Survivor Corps, on here blog, Mommy Monsters:

I have not read this book … but this looks like a worthwhile read for those who are struggling to rise above circumstances from their past or present. So I wanted to pass it on to you!

Guy Kawasaki wrote a stellar blog post about his interview with Jerry White on the Art of Survival, about Survivor Corps, and about Jerry White's new book, I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis:

Jerry White is the co-founder of Survivor Corps (formerly Landmine Survivors Newwork). His life changed in 1984 when he lost his leg in a landmine explosion while visiting Israel. After this experience he has championed the cause of survivorship and became a leader in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In 1997 he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Jody Williams for his efforts. He recently published a book called I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis

Erin Burke of Liquid Heat wrote a forum post about the book, I Will Not Be Broken over on the forum SL Exchange:

I will be the first to admit that I am not a book reviewer or even a professional blogger for that matter. Recently a book was brought to my attention that I felt compelled to let everyone know about. The book is titled "I Will Not Be Broken" and the author is Jerry White.

It's funny how life works sometime, the person that told me about this book thought I would be interested because I work with Relay for Life in Second Life. I work with Relay for Life because on June 21, 1996 I lost my mother to cancer and it makes me feel as if I am honouring her life by hopefully helping raise money to find cures for cancer, so that someone else will be saved the pain and fear she went through and the pain and fear I have continued to go through by losing her.

I Will Not Be Broken is not a book about cancer survivors specifically, it is a book about survivors period. Survivors of any crisis that enters their life and how to live with it and overcome it. There was a line in Jerry's book that although very simple, really struck me

"They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It's not quite that simple. I believe you have to decide it will make you stronger."

There is a very thoughtful and Buddhism-focused blog post about Jerry White's book over at Transparent Eye, I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis by Jerry White:

I don't usually respond to press releases, but the one announcing I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis by Jerry White interested me enough that I checked out the intro and first chapter, which are available online.

White is the co-founder of Survivor Corps who lost his leg to a land mine. The book sounds like it has a self-help orientation, and is chock full of anecdotes. He distills it into a five-point program

o Face facts
o Choose life
o Reach out
o Get moving
o Give back

My sense is that it is compatible with Buddhist notions of compassion, though oriented more toward international humanitarianism.

Speaking now from my own knowledge, studies of human happiness have shown that it has little to do with actual circumstance, and more to do with predispositions are are either genetic or developmental. People can come back from tragedy, but a key step is to loosen attachment to the way things were but no longer are(Buddha's Four Noble Truths). Once that block is overcome, finding new life goals and working toward them can provide a path to achieving satisfaction.

Sharon of The Reservoir wrote a very complete review post entitled Book Review: About I Will Not Be Broken, a Book by Jerry White:

From a leader of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning movement to ban landmines and founder of Survivor Corps comes an astoundingly effective guide to recreating a happy and fulfilling life after catastrophe strikes—a book that Bob and Lee Woodruff call "a road map for the individual and their family to re-enter the land of the living." In I WILL NOT BE BROKEN, Jerry White reframes the question "why do bad things happen to good people?" and asks, given that bad things do happen, how do people absorb the blows and move through them?

Sharon also wrote a touching and insightful personal testimonial in a post called Dealing with loss (my experience):

In November of 2006 I lost my cousin to a fatal road accident. It was even more harrowing because I had known him for little over 10 years; both families had recently become reconciled. He was also one of my favorite cousins.

It was like most deaths of that sort, a needless one. I remember when I first heard the news, the question I kept asking was why? I needed to know why it happened. He was only 24 years old, he hadn't even begun to really live life. How could he just be snuffed out like that?

I'd just been called to bar (in fact, he was buried on the same day I was called to the bar). So I just buried it deep down inside me and didn't think about it.

Then less than a year later, I met my husband to be. In telling him about my family, I started to tell him about this cousin when I felt a deep flood of emotion threaten to drown me. I started crying and just couldn't seem to stop. I cried so hard, I wanted to die. I was still asking why?

I finally dried my tears. I still don't understand why. I became a lawyer and he wasn't there to rejoice with me. I'm getting married soon and he never even met my fiance. I still haven't deleted his email address from my inbox. Many times I think I'm over it and then I feel the grief well up again; and the tears start to trickle down unobtrusively.

But I have refused to allow the grief incapacitate me. Instead I tap into it and it makes me stronger. It gives me more compassion for others, keeps me in touch with my feelings. It reminds me of my own immortality and helps me keep my priorities straight.

In my own way, I have assimilated the 5 steps to dealing with crisis in Jerry White's book, I Will Not Be Broken and made them work for me.

I know my cousin is gone and nothing I do will bring him back; not all the grieving in the world. I can't shut down because of that (he wouldn't want me to). So I have chosen instead to live and not merely exist. I get together with my brothers and his brother every now and then to reminisce about him. It keeps him alive in our hearts and we offer strength to each other. I live my life in a way I know will make him proud but more than that, the experience has made me more compassionate to others who are also grieving.

These steps are time tested and have been proven (especially in my own life). We can't stop tragedy form happening but we can overcome tragedy. However it is a personal choice. But it is a choice that can be made if the steps in I Will Not Be Broken are diligently applied.

Sandy Carlson writes about Jerry White's book, I Will Not Be Broken: Five Steps to Overcoming a Life Crisis by Jerry White, in the post Review: I Will Not Be Broken:

The book outlines a program of five steps for coping with disaster. He draws on his experiences as well as those of famous persons such as Lance Armstrong; Diana, Princess of Wales; Christopher Reeve, the American Psychological Association, and the not so famous–his college roommate, his mom, Bosnians who survived the warn in their country, a little Cambodian girl who also lost a leg to a landmine. His drawing on the wisdom of persons from all walks of life underscores he beliefs that wisdom is a collective resource as well as an individual one and that all life is interconnected. White's book approaches the challenge of trauma positively by focusing on individual strengths rather than dwelling on what went wrong and why.

I Will Not Be Broken is an earthy, conversational, and real testament of the beauty and wonder of all life.

Burkitt wrote a post about I Will Not Be Broken by Jerry White in the the British Cancer Survivors forum:

I received an email from somebody recommending this book: I will Not be broken. I had a look at the website and I think the book is worth recommending to others, even though it was not written by somebody affected by cancer.

Carl Wilton wrote, in May 12, 2008 - Unbroken, on his blog, A Pastor's Cancer Diary, how the experience of a man who has lost his leg to a Landmine in Israel has a lot in common with someone suffering and surviving cancer. That illness and tragedy is transforming and always immensely difficult to overcome — to survive and then thrive:

I think White's conclusions can be generalized to include the experience of being diagnosed with a slowly-progressing disease like cancer. In the book, he recalls a conversation he had with Princess Diana, with whom he worked as an anti-landmine activist. Touring Bosnia and speaking with survivors, they observed that everyone seemed to have "their date." They could all state precisely on which date they had been injured or bereaved.

Many of us cancer survivors can do the same with our dates of diagnosis (mine was December 2, 2005). Before that date, we may have a suspicion something is wrong, but we still have the luxury of hoping it's nothing serious. After that date, we can never return to such naiveté. We will, forever after, be cancer survivors.

Mommy blogger, Robin, wrote a powerful post on her blog, Around the Island, Rebuilding a better world, one survivor at a time:

Until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of Jerry White, let alone known that he is a leader in the international fight against landmines. I didn't know that he has this calling because he himself lost his leg to a landmine when he entered an unmarked minefield in the north of Israel, my own country, in 1984. I didn't know about his struggle to redefine his life after his accident, to choose survival, and I didn't know that he had taken it one step further, going on to found the Nobel Peace Price-winning Landmine Survivors Network (LSN), the same organization that Princess Diana was involved with.

I didn't know that he had recently expanded LSN's mission from aiding those injured by landmines to aiding all those who are victims of the worst epidemic of all - the very preventable epidemic of war and violence. The new mission bears a new name as well - Survivor Corps - which reflects both its calling and its philosophy.

Now I know, and I am proud to help spread the word.

If you're interested in blogging about either Survivor Corps or the book, I Will Not Be Broken, pop me an email and I can hook you up.

While researching indie bookstores to add to my list, I came across an interesting mailing list which you can download as a PDF here. It is a 64 page list of bookstores in the U.S. and Canada, and based on the number of addresses per page I'd say it contains at least 2100 total addresses. Now, there's no guarantee all of these stores are still in business, but I have to say the list is quite magnificent and the only one of its size I've found. It's also already formatted for label printing. Based on its web address, the list appears to be the product of author Karen Chance, although I could not find a link to it on her cool author site.

Since I only have 100 postcards, I'm compiling my own list of stores which I'm researching to be sure they are indeed still in business. But I wanted to share this helpful tool with those authors who may be looking for a quick place to start with their own mailings and promotion.

As I'm always on the lookout for bloggers who can host my clients, I came upon this really interesting blog that I'd like to share with you. The title is History's Mysteries and what this blogger does is take each day in history according to what day it is today and she/he blogs about it. For example, for today July 2, she/he has picked July 2, 1937 when Amelia Earhart disappeared. What else makes this in interesting history blog is that she/he has included pictures which adds to the beauty of the blog.

What can book promoters (you, the author) who have blogs (and if you don't, shame, shame, shame) can you learn from this?

I may or may not be back to the blog (unless the blogger has thought to add a feed where half the posts come into my email box and I'm forced to go over there to read and as a history buff, that would be a good idea on the blogger's part), but what caught my eye besides it being informative was that it wasn't a blog that simply promoted...anything.

It was a blog that gave to the community instead of pitching something and if the blogger has a product somewhere down the line that tied into what he or she was doing, I'm sure they would place that information in the sidebar so it doesn't detract from the already pleasantly informing information they have up there.

As book promoters who use our blogs to promote our products (namely, books), we of course can't do that. Our blogs are to help others find out more about our books, right? So how can we do this without coming over as a sales pitch?

Unfortunately, you can't. You need to keep adding information to your blog that pertains to your book; however, maybe you can use a bit of ingenuity in the middle of all those blog posts about where you got the idea to write your book, book excerpts, promo to where you're appearing on the net or offline to promote your book, and well, you get the idea.

You need to provide something that gives to the public. Let them go away from your blog not filled with excerpts and book promo, but something that has the wow factor. Something different that no one else is doing.

I occasionally mention my company on this blog but I don't throw it at you. Instead, I include book marketing tips and guest posts from authors telling you how they buzz their book which comes in handy when you are trying to promote your book. For readers, it helps them learn more about the author and their book. So, it's all good.

The main point of this blog post is to ask you what can you do to give to the community?

While you might not be a history buff like me, wander over to History's Mysteries and have a chance to learn something today. Meanwhile, take one pointer from the blogger...blogging every day will help you get your blog into the search engines. That's how I found them in the first place. ;o)
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“Celebrating youthful curiosity, discovery and learning through books and reading."

• Entry now open - Just $95 per category until August 15th
• New categories include Children's Poetry, Environmental Issues and Spanish Language Book

Click here to download complete guidelines and entry form:
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/MoonbeamGuidelines.pdf

Announcing the call for entries into the second annual Moonbeam Children's Book Awards www.MoonbeamAwards.com, designed to honor the year's best children’s books, authors and illustrators. The new book awards program is accepting entries until August 16th, 2008 for books with 2007 or 2008 copyrights or that were released in 2007 or 2008, and is open to authors, illustrators, and publishers of children’s books written in English and intended for the North American market.

Presented by Jenkins Group and IndependentPublisher.com, the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to support childhood literacy and life-long reading. Awards will be given in 30 categories covering the full range of subjects, styles and age groups that children’s books are written and published in today.

“The inaugural Moonbeam Awards were a huge success, says Jim Barnes, Awards Director at Jenkins Group. “We had a great turnout of support from the children’s book publishing community, and we’re going to make this year’s awards even better. Last year we recognized a wonderfully diverse group of authors and publishers, from first-timers to seasoned veterans, and the award-winners make up an amazing ‘must-read’ list of books for kids. 

Click here to view last year's results, photos, etc: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1192

Jenkins Group has been involved in book packaging, marketing and distribution since 1988, and many of its founders and employees now have children and grandchildren who strongly influence the company culture with their youthful exuberance and love of books.

                                   

“We all have kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, and we all recognize the role books play in enriching children’s lives, says company founder Jerrold Jenkins, father of four children ranging from ages 5 to 15. “As our society has gotten more complex and growing up has become more complicated, children’s book authors and publishers have risen to the occasion, creating books that not only celebrate the joys of childhood, but also help families deal with its challenges. We want to recognize and reward the best of these books and bring them to the attention of parents, booksellers, librarians – and to the kids themselves.

Click here to enter online:
http://www.moonbeamawards.com/entry.php

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What you do is what you should be doing anyway: writing interesting stuff on a regular basis. That way, when lightning does strike, and the curious new reader looks around to see what else you’ve got, you have stuff that will make them realize the Big Post that got their attention wasn’t just a one-time fluke. The Big Posts bring them in, and that’s their value; it’s everything else you’ve got that keeps them coming back, and that’s the value of the blog as a whole. Jot that down, folks.

Not everything you’re going to write is going to be interesting. You’ll find your groove eventually and write more interesting stuff than not, but until then, you should make up for your inexperience by updating your blog frequently. At the very least, post a message a day. I don’t do that here, but I do on my personal site. I’ve decided to make this blog topic specific, book marketing. I try to update the blog once or twice a week, but on my R.W. Ridley blog, I update 6-7 times a week. My traffic is about ten times greater on that blog as opposed to this blog.

You can read Scalzi’s blog post on blogging here: The Difference a “Big Post” Makes

Authors know all about pre-buzz. Once they find out their manuscript has been accepted for publication, their mind races to think of ways to promote it. Booksignings might be one of them. Buying postcards and business cards might be another couple of things the authors might do in terms of publicity tools, but if you're aiming online, the first thing I would think of if I had a new book out was how to find ways to get those thousands of Internet buyers interested.

Setting up a virtual book tour should be at the top of everyone's list. Whether you set one up yourself or hire us to do it, there is no other way to get more exposure for your book if you do it right.

I sent out a few questionnaires to last month's clients to see how effective their virtual book tour went in their own opinion and one of the questions I asked was "How much pre-buzz did you create for your virtual book tour?" I will be sending a flurry of blog posts through here to let you know how that went, among other valuable information in case you're planning a virtual book tour launch. If you'd like, you can sign up for our feed at top left to be alerted when new posts are published.

I do hope that all authors realize the importance of pre-buzzing your book launch. Do stay tuned for more posts on this subject to make sure your book campaign stands out from the rest and while you're waiting, wander on over to ProBlogger...they've got really good tips that will help you create that online presence which virtual book tours are good for.

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My trip to San Diego is only half way over, and I'm already exhausted!  Not even close to maintaining the schedule of a politician or celebrity promoting a new film, I am feeling tuckered from the late night events and go-go-go day time schedule.

Since making the successful drive to and drop-off-of-kids at my parents' house, I've hit SD with a bang:

Thursday morning, after a kick butt hour long rung with my dear friend Tera. (I haven't run for one consecutive hour for...um...years?  Unless, of course, I included running after children, and through daily routines.  But that is another story.)  Then I attended a Stroller Strides workout with about 10 other women--all pushing children in strollers, ranging in age from 4mo's - 6 years old.  We chatted.  We did squats.  We Hoola-Hooped.  We laughed.  We did push-ups and stair climbs.  We chatted some more.  At the end of the workout we sat around a primary colors parachute (where we had been drilled through a variety of crunches, plank poses, etc.) and talked about the joys and challenges of motherhood.  Children milled around us.  Moms gave each other encouragement and understanding smiles.  And I told them about my book.

Thursday night, I met with an incredibly lovely group of women for a book club gathering, from the Mama Fest Book Club Donation I sent down here in May.  All mothers themselves, these women had insightful questions regarding the process of writing A Dozen Invisible Pieces , questions about how my children are doing now in comparison to what was happening in their lives at the time the book was written (actually, they're doing quite fine, I'm happy to say) and about how much the book resonated with them.  And that's all I can really ask for.

Thursday afternoon and yesterday I visited several book stores, baby stores, and mommy stores in the greater northern San Diego County area.  I promoted my book.  Gave out free copies.  Dropped sell sheets and hoped store owners would see enough value in my little ol' story to order a few copies in for their customers.  Oh, and Andrew bought a couple gifts for our kids who are now starting to wonder if we've forgotten to return for them, even though we call twice a day.

Last night.  Last night was incredible, indescribable and phenomenal.  Our dear friends Tera and Brett through us one hell of a party.  We transformed their home and pool-side back yard into an Aisian wonderland.  With tables adorned with orchids, platters presenting chicken stay, California rolls, and coconut shrimp, and Martini glasses filled with the best tasting Leche Fruit Martinis under the sun, we celebrated the release of my book with 50 of their friends.  There was much laughter, joy, drink and song to be had by all.

My head hit the pillow at 1:12 this morning and by 1:13 I was fast asleep.

Tonight, we will take in a b-ball game between the Padres and my old home-town team, the Seattle Mariners.  Tomorrow morning:  my big lecture/book reading and signing event at Indigo Village.

Pictures will follow.  Stay tuned.

Amazing! I love that song!

Big round of applause for Ann.

Check it out --

Click here to read my review of Just Be You.

Most people seem to believe they can write a press release, mail or email it to a radio or television station, and sit back and wait for the avalanche of phone calls.  But as time passes and no producers are beating down the door, they make a few phone calls only to discover that no one even read the release.

The following are components of radio and TV press releases that will make your show idea come to life for producers and hosts, and also position you ahead of the pack.

1. Headline! Headline? HEADLINE!!!

Arguably the most important aspect of your press release, headlines are so vital that entire books and seminars are dedicated to the art of constructing the most effective ones.  Now, don't let this scare you.  Writing a killer headline is definitely a skill that can be developed; all you need is a clear and concise overview of your topic.

Write down your show idea and look it over.  Now look it over again, remembering that it should be an idea for an interview that relates to your book but most definitely not a summary of the book's theme or content.

What is your key message? Is your show idea newsworthy? Are there any well-known people you can tie into your topic?  Do you have any impressive statistics that are relevant?  Does anything controversial tie directly into your subject?  The answers to these questions will help you develop a headline that will capture the attention of producers and hosts.

First and foremost, your headline must instantly communicate the topic of the show.  The test is, if you can envision what the conversation will be about just from the headline - you've got it!

Generally, headlines should be no longer than one sentence.  As this is a lot of weight to put on a single sentence, sometimes you will need a subhead to support it.  The result is that anyone who reads the headline and subhead together will immediately click on the concept of the show.

Here are two examples of the successful headline and subhead combination:

Global Economic Chaos?

Expert Reveals Predictions on Grim Future of US Economy

Are Personal Conflicts Ruining Your Life?

How to Successfully Resolve Squabbles in Everyday Life

2. Topic Summary

This is your chance to present a concise summary of your show topic.  It should continue naturally from the headline and expand on it.  The headline gets the attention, and the discussion topic gives the reader more.

The discussion topic component of your press release should be two or three sentences, tops.  Again, try to tie your topic to current events, big names, big money, or controversy.  Don't be worried about repeating yourself in different sections of the press release. After all, you want to get a cohesive point across!  Tip: Try writing the headline and topic summary together.

Here is an example of a headline with a topic summary.  Notice the bolded words and how they tie the two together.

Global Economic Chaos?

Expert Reveals Predictions on Grim Future of US Economy

The United States is about to move into a period of major economic chaos and poverty that will wake up people to overthrow the rule of money in society in a ballot-box revolution.  Let an internationally renowned expert reveal predictions on the grim future of our economy.

3. Talking Points/Question

These are an absolute must for radio and TV because they are the shaping tools that guide the host through your topic.  Often, hosts read directly from press releases during an interview.  This not only makes them look knowledgeable; it saves them heaps of time.  So why not have them ask you questions you've created, enabling you to get your specific message heard?  This makes you look knowledgeable and makes for a great interview!

Yet again, you will need to tie in current events and any controversy that will stir interest.  Generally, it is good to give no more than 7 or 10 of these conversation shapers.  For instance, here are a few questions that were used in a release for a radio show on "How to Find the Perfect Pet for Your Lifestyle":

• What are the primary reasons people decide to get a pet?
• What criteria should people follow when choosing a pet to make sure it fits into their lifestyle?
• What can families do ahead of time to determine what type of pet is best for them?
• How can families prepare children for the responsibility of caring for a pet?
• What are some of the things people need to consider before adopting a puppy or other young animal?

If you do get invited as a guest, your interviews will generally last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes for talk radio and 3 to 5 minutes for TV.  So, concise is a word you should keep in the forefront of your mind.

Remember: The more you focus your questions on the topic of your book, the more interested listeners will be in it.

Well there you have it: the first 3 pieces of the press release puzzle!  Coming up: the final two pieces.

I wanted to share with everyone what was done at yesterday's book group. When reading the transcripts please feel free to share your views and comments. Next book group will be on September 24 @ 6pm. We will be doing another Stephenie Meyer book - The Host. Come join us then.

16:04 monster7of9 We'll I just finished the first book this afternoon.

16:04 monster7of9 It was an interesting take on vampires even though is was barely mentioned in the book.

16:05 Aya true

16:05 monster7of9 What took me aback was how Edward was able to walk in daylight provided it was cloudy.

16:06 Aya but I liked how they gave the idea of "Vegiterian" Vampires

16:06 Hatori-Moons yea, it's different from what's usually heard about vampires

16:06 Aya well i always thought about the whole daytime thing

16:06 Hatori-Moons but the fact that it was cloudy does help, since there was no direct sunlight

16:07 monster7of9 If you look at the comic book or movie version of Blade, he had all the abilities of a vampire and none of the weakness. He control his urges through some type of drug.

16:07 Aya Yea

16:07 Aya wasn't he half vampire though?

16:08 monster7of9 Angel tv series was able to use the LA sewers to travel the city as well as a blacked out car.

16:09 Aya True

16:09 Hatori-Moons hm, don't know much about those two O.o

16:09 Aya I'm going to have to make you watch them Hari

16:10 Aya They're really good

16:10 Hatori-Moons hm, ok. So now I'll have movies to watch, books to read, and games to play

16:10 Aya wow

16:10 monster7of9 I don't remember if Angel had a mental connection to Buffy.

16:10 Aya Hm... I don't remember him having one.

16:10 monster7of9 I know Edward couldn't read Bella. Is this explained in the other two books?

16:11 Hatori-Moons um... sort of

16:11 Aya uh... Not yet really. I think Breaking Dawn will explain it more

16:11 monster7of9 This is from the official book group online for twilight: Is the fact that Edward can’t read Bella’s thoughts more important than it seems? Will it serve a larger purpose?

16:11 Hatori-Moons yea. Edward is kinda still puzzled as to why it happens

16:12 Aya I think it will have to do with her Powers as a Vampire

16:13 Aya and I really want to know what her powers will turn out to be, I'm so anxious about it

16:14 monster7of9 I know at the end of book one she wanted to be turned, was there something in her past?

16:15 Aya Not that I remember. All I remember about her past is her living in LA with her Mom

16:16 monster7of9 Here's another question: Bella faints at the smell of blood. If she were to become a vampire, how might this serve as a hindrance? How might it be an asset?

16:17 Aya Well if she faints from smelling Blood she may not be able to DRINK said blood. Big hindrance there

16:18 Aya I don't really see that as an asset

16:18 monster7of9 I would think this type of arrangement would be the death of her. How could she feed? Pour some blood in juice or soda like you would put a child's medicine in juice.

16:19 monster7of9 Hatori, any cooments?

16:19 monster7of9 comments, sorry.

16:20 Hatori-Moons well, I can see how her fainting at the sight of blood would be a problem

16:20 Hatori-Moons but, it may help her control her urge to drink it, also

16:20 monster7of9 But she would still have to hunt like Edward to drive down the urge.

16:21 Hatori-Moons hm, thats true

16:21 Hatori-Moons there wouldn't be a chance of that going away if she's turned into a vampire, would there?

16:22 Aya Maybe

16:23 Aya Like when you've lived in a certain area for a long period of time the smells that may have made you sick before don't.

16:23 Hatori-Moons yea, since you get used to them

16:23 Aya Exactly

16:23 monster7of9 Perhaps is she were to become a vampire, the smell of blood would not smell like rust as she mentioned. If it smelled better like the way Edward describes Bella's scent, that should work.

16:24 Aya True, Edward said that her blood smelled really sweet.

16:25 Hatori-Moons yea, they become more sensitive to it and all that. So maybe Bella would find that blood smells differently to her

16:25 monster7of9 On the topic of feeding, there are different versions of one become a vampire.

16:26 monster7of9 In Dracula with Gary Oldman, you had to be bitten 3 times in order to be turned.

16:27 monster7of9 In twilight, we don't the exact details but there is some type of venom when a vampire bites a human.

16:27 Aya Yea. And there was Interview with a Vampire. I'm pretty sure it was that movie That you didn't HAVE to be turn'd if you had gotten biten it was up to the Vampire that was bitting you

16:27 Hatori-Moons oh

16:28 Aya They don't really go into detail in that Movie about it though. Maybe the Book has it more in detail

16:28 monster7of9 Speaking of which, Edward was turn to a vampire to save his life. Was there any mention of how? I don't think there was.

16:29 Aya Not in the first book.

16:29 Hatori-Moons yea, it's explained later on

16:29 Aya But in the third Book they explain it more.

16:29 monster7of9 okay

16:30 Aya it is the third Book right?

16:30 Hatori-Moons wasn't it the second one?

16:31 Hatori-Moons no actually yea, I think you're right, it probably was the third book

16:31 monster7of9 Is there a running storyline on all the books?

16:32 Aya yea it basically the same story split into more then one book

16:32 Hatori-Moons yea, the story picks up from the last book, so you can't really just start reading the second or third book and not read the first one, and fully understand everything

16:32 Aya I can't wait for Breaking Dawn

16:33 monster7of9 Is Edward selfishly putting Bella in danger or is Bella being too stubborn for her own good? Is it a little bit of both? What are the threatening factors facing Bella and are there ways of avoiding them?

16:33 Hatori-Moons well, some threatening factors already present are the vampires themselves

16:33 Aya I think it's Bella being stubborn

16:34 Aya Becuase Edward TRIED to push Bella away and she just wouldn't have it

16:34 monster7of9 If Edward didn't become involved with Bella the chase at the end would have never happened.

16:35 Aya True, but Bella wouldn't give up till she got what she wanted

16:35 Hatori-Moons yea, but then there wouldn't be a storyline, or at least the one there is now. it'd be really different, probably

16:35 Hatori-Moons she still hasn't gotten it, though

16:35 Aya True.

16:38 Aya See i don't understand how Bella couldn't realize that... What was his name? Well what ever his name was, didn't have her Mom from hearing her repeat her name and it end up being from a home video.

16:39 Hatori-Moons oh, him... wasn't his name Vincent or something?

16:39 Aya I don't remember his name.

16:39 Aya I remember Victoria

16:39 Hatori-Moons I would have thought the voice would sound odd, it being from a home video

16:39 monster7of9 I think it was Vincent.

16:41 Hatori-Moons or at least different from how actual people sound when they're in the room. but I guess it was just because Bella was panicking, and didn't make the connection right away

16:41 monster7of9 The first thing I was thinking, why doesn't Bella write down who was on the phone?

16:42 monster7of9 At least clue in the people, vampires, that are trying to protect you.

16:42 Aya Because it would worry Edward

16:42 Hatori-Moons but even then, that might cause them to not allow her to leave more than they already were

16:42 Aya I think the Evil Vamp's name was James

16:44 Hatori-Moons yea, it's James

16:44 monster7of9 I went to IMDB, it is.

16:45 monster7of9 Reminder: We have about 10 more minutes for this book group.

16:46 Hatori-Moons so yea, and if James was telling Bella not to tell anyone about it, her being in her panicked state, she wouldn't tell anyone, not wanting the risk of him finding out, in case he really did have her mom

16:46 Aya Hm... You know I like'd the ending How Bella ended up going to the dance with a huge Cast

16:47 Hatori-Moons That was interesting

16:47 Aya i thought it brought back some of the humor in the story

16:48 monster7of9 Other storyline - Jacob Black's father, is he more in the other books?

16:48 Aya Yea.

16:49 monster7of9 Does the bad blood he feels for Cullens explained?

16:49 Aya So is Jacob and his fellow Quileutes

16:49 Aya Yea

16:50 Aya in quite a interesting way to say the least.

16:50 monster7of9 And as far as Alice, does she get to remember when she was turned?

16:50 Aya Hm... I don't think that's mentioned again is it Hari?

16:51 Hatori-Moons Um... not that I can remember

16:51 monster7of9 Okay, for the next five minutes, are there any books you would recommend for the next book group?

16:52 Aya I'd say The Host

16:52 monster7of9 The next one will not be until September 24

16:52 Aya It's great, I love the story line and I am recomending the book to all of my friends

16:53 Hatori-Moons Blood and Chocolate's good also, if you're into Werewolves

16:53 monster7of9 If we do the Host, will you not only tell them to read but come to this program?

16:53 Aya Sure can

16:53 monster7of9 Blood and Chocolate? Is that L.A.

16:54 monster7of9 L.A. Banks?

16:54 Hatori-Moons L.A. Banks?

16:55 monster7of9 the author of blood and chocolate.

16:55 Hatori-Moons no, I believe the author is Annette Curtis Klause

16:56 Aya yea it's Annette

16:56 monster7of9 Okay.

16:56 Aya There's also the Eargon Triligoy

16:56 monster7of9 All right, let's make The Host the next book for the online book group.

16:57 Aya Ok

16:57 Hatori-Moons Ok, thats cool. I'll probably come again to that one if I've read the Host by then

16:57 monster7of9 Please send me an email to lopezmo@hotmail.com so I can keep you up to date with the time and any new info.

16:57 Aya Knowing me I'd get you to read it before hand.

16:58 monster7of9 Any interest in the audio version?

16:59 monster7of9 Thank you very much to attending this book group and don't forget to tell your friends to join us. Take care.

16:59 Aya Speaking of The Host I really need to finish. I want to see why my mom doesn't like the ending

16:59 Aya Ok bye

17:00 Hatori-Moons byes

17:00 monster7of9 Bye Aya and Hatori

Go check it out.

For those who may not be aware, the Scifi/Fantasy Book Group that I am hosting will be this coming Tuesday, June 24. I moved the time from 7:30 to 7:00 in case the group is larger than I expected.

Don't forget, you can also be online through my MySpace account and use the Meebo widget - www.myspace.com/monsterscifishow or you can go directly to the chat room at http://www.meebo.com/room/scififantasybookgroup/. Either way, I'm expecting you to show up. Yes, I talking to you. You who is read my blog. You who thinks I don't know who you are. You who.... just show up. : )