If something inside of you is real, we will probably find it interesting, and it will probably be universal. So you must risk placing real emotion at the centre of your work.
Anne Lamott, in Bird by Bird: Some instructions on Writing and Life
The success of your book is up to you. As well as getting it into the hands of readers through personal contact, sales, events, gifting, and more, it’s the ideal time to step into the spotlight yourself, through speaking gigs, media interviews, podcast guest spots, and more.
Thousands of books are published every week, so your new book is probably not a news story on its own – unless you are noteworthy in other areas. So, where is your story?
Early in my book, ‘Smart Women Publish’, I asked you to dig deep and identify how you and your book add value to a bigger discussion in the world before you even begin to write. That is now where the story lies.
As Tricia Brouk teaches, talk about ideas for change, not just issues that overwhelm us.
Regional, state and national media companies may be keen to feature you and your book if you connect with a larger issue of interest to a sizeable part of their audience, and share your ideas. For example, if you’ve written a book on small business, you may be a credible authority during a story on government funding options for business, providing insightful comments on this national issue from a local perspective.
My book, ‘Smart Women Publish’, for example, is not newsworthy. The purpose of the book, however, is to encourage women to step into the spotlight and take ownership of their expertise. To become vocal and visible – and proud. To be successful and financially independent. To be present in decision-making circles.
We live in a society in Australia where women are still struggling for equal pay; where intelligent women are bullied in our Parliament until they choose to leave their hard-earned political posts; where women are starting businesses in increasing numbers because they feel invisible in the corporate space; where smart women are bullied or abused at home. Do you think my deeper message has a place in a larger story?
Definitely. As the author of this book, I could speak about those higher-level issues within my space in an authoritative way.
Does that lead directly to book sales? No, but it leads to impact, influence, presence, profile, and more open doors to do good work – which is the true purpose of our books anyway.
FINDING MEDIA CONTACTS
Subscribe to media services such as SourceBottle (www.sourcebottle.com), Media Connections (www.mediaconnections.com.au), and MediaConnect (www.mediaconnect.com.au) because media people use such platforms to call for expertise and commentary relevant to stories they work on from time to time.
Many journalists use Twitter to watch for potential stories and call out for sources.
Use LinkedIn to find publications and staff, and make contact.
Use online media release distribution services such as Handle Your Own PR; PRWire, Medianet, Get the Word Out, and more.
Search online for podcasts with an audience of people in your target readership and reach out.
AUTHOR MEDIA KIT
The purpose of a media kit is to provide information to media outlets, news desk managers, journalists, publicists, and other potential interviewers, with the goal to secure useful and interesting conversations. It should include:
- Contact details
- Bio
- Media release
- Sample Q&A/ Tips sheet: this helps interviewers by providing 7-10 questions and sample answers you prepared earlier
- Photos of you and your book cover, separately. Provide both 72dpi and 300dpi versions.
- Recent news coverage
- Book details including title, author, genre, audience, ISBN, publication date, synopsis, availability, testimonials/reviews
- Sample of your book – downloadable
AUTHOR SPEAKER KIT
The purpose of this is to provide information to meeting planners, event organisers, speaker bureaus and agencies, or podcasters, with the goal to secure speaking opportunities of benefit to others. It should include:
- Contact details
- Bio
- Speaking topics and descriptions
- Speaking testimonials
- Photos of you and your book cover, separately. Provide both 72dpi and 300dpi versions.
- Recent speaking engagements – include links to video or audio if you can
- Recent news coverage and/or awards
- Book details including title, author, genre, audience
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This is the fourteenth of a series of fifteen articles taken from the book, ‘Smart Women Publish – Write the book that expands your world’ by Bev Ryan. Each article in this series will present some of the key ideas in its fifteen chapters, from what a book can do for you, through planning, writing, publishing and leveraging your published book.
Bev is a certified non-fiction book coach (including memoir with a message) and book production manager, working with accomplished and interesting people as they write and self-publish their best non-fiction books.
Are you procrastinating or stuck in the planning or writing stages? Contact Bev to find out how she can help you with your book, and your publishing choices.