The Complete Guide to Book Publicity
Publicizing a book, whether it's your own or someone else's, can be a daunting task. With books piled precariously high in editors' and producers' offices, how do you possibly make yours stand out? Relax. "There's no such thing as an author or book that isn't publicizable," says Jodee Blanco, who has been promoting books for nearly 20 years. "You have to be willing to tailor the campaign to fit the situation." Blanco's approach is to read the book, interview the author, then explore all possible angles. Some books are best publicized from the national level down; others fare better with grassroots campaigns. InThe Complete Guide to Book PublicityBlanco explains the ins and outs of writing press kits, conducting media research, making pitches, tailoring and running publicity campaigns, and organizing book tours. She divulges the secrets to interview success, which include the author's knowing as much about the interview as possible ahead of time (it also helps, she says, not to wear plaid and not to hawk the book too blatantly). Most important, though, Blanco knows how to get a media contact to read her mail, and even to return her phone calls. Sometimes, she says, she'll "messenger [a] note with a flower or piece of chocolate. A touch of human kindness works wonders."--Jane Steinberg