Norm Goldman, editor of SketchandTravel.com and Bookpleasures.com wrote to complain about authors who miss opportunities to promote themselves:
“I just had an experience where an author, who conducts writing workshops, could not find the time (probably about less than an hour) to participate in an e-interview.
“The interview would have promoted her workshops, herself and her books. Postings would have been on my own site, Bookpleasures.com, as well as Searchwarp.com (this site has the uncanny ability of placing many of my interviews within the first 2 pages of Google), and some press release sites. The cost to her was less than one hour of her time.
“In another instance, the publisher of travel guide books would not give me the names of the authors of the various books they were publishing. I asked him how can I interview a phantom? Again, the interview would have meant some great Internet publicity.”
Indeed. Often, these are the same people who grumble that the media don’t care about them. That’s a fallacy. Many media outlets, like National Public Radio, for example, rely on authors and experts to provide interesting, compelling interviews that attract listeners. Authors should know how the NPR labyrinth works, how to find NPR shows that fit perfectly with their topic, and how to pitch the producers.
Book publicist Lissa Warren, who has booked more than 100 of her clients on NPR, was my guest on a teleseminr called “How to Get Booked on National Public Radio.” She said that sometimes the smallest publicity hits can have a way of snowballing and turhing into bigger hits.