Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Bragging rights. How many of you cringe when forced to brag about yourself? Count me in your number. There’s something about tooting your own horn that makes the music sound a bit flat, isn’t there? And where else is the requirement to do just that more obvious than in writing your bio?

If you’re a new author, you may not have written your first bio yet. Now is the time to get started. Veteran authors would do well to dust off the old bio and polish up a brand new version. In either case, you’ll find a well-written bio is useful for agent or editor pitches and essential in completing a book proposal.

There are several types of bios. Short, long, and in between, they all serve as your calling card to anyone who might pick up your book or, if you’re unpublished, your proposal. To dash through this exercise of creating a bio is to do a great disservice to your publicity efforts. While bios come in varying lengths, the first one any author needs to craft is the brief bio.

The brief bio is–generally one or two sentences–states who you are, what you write and, if appropriate, the general area where you live. Great examples of this can be found on the backs of most books. Here’s one from my friend Rachel Hauck off the back cover of her novel, Diva NashVegas: “Rachel Hauck lives in Central Florida with her husband and ornery pets.”

Not only does this bio do the trick in a modicum of words, but it also leads to my next point which is writing in voice. What does that mean? It means that a good bio should sound like the person it is describing. Rachel writes sassy, contemporary novels.

Be careful when plotting out the information you give in your brief bio. Notice how Rachel alludes to where she’s from but doesn’t go so far as to give her specific location. If you live in a large urban area, you might be safe in stating the city where you’re located. However, a general idea of where one resides is almost always better than providing a roadmap to your door.

Think about what you write. Does your bio reflect your voice? Next week we will talk about the longer bio, what to put in and what to leave out. In the meantime, I would love to hear your one-sentence bios. Wow me!

Location:  The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Gorgeous Texas fall day – sunny with a high in the 60s

Last week, the Books & Such experts weighed in on ideas for making the most of radio interviews. In the process of gathering all those valuable tips, I also got some what-not-to-dos that I just had to share.

“I have an iPhone. Its ring tone sounds like an old Ma Bell telephone, and it is loud. When we began the second half of a one-hour in-studio interview discussing my book How to Keep Your Inner Mess from Trashing Your Outer World, I set my phone’s timer for 30 minutes so I’d have a sense of how much time was left. I was smart enough to silence the ringer. With 45 seconds to go, while the host was signing off, the timer sounded off. I learned that silencing the ringer on an iPhone doesn’t silence the timer.” ~~Bill Giovannetti, www.innermess.com

“I did several radio interviews for my novel, Refiner’s Fire, which my publisher set up through a media group. At the end  of an interview, the host said, ‘I’d like you back when your next book comes out.’ When the next book did come out, I assumed my publisher was again going to set up the radio interviews, so I never followed up. Lesson: never assume. Once you make a great contact, keep it on file and pursue it, on your own if need be. My failure made me miss a good opportunity.” ~~Sylvia Bambola, www.sylviabambola.com

Lest you think that all interviews end in a less-than-ideal way due to something you’ve said or done, let me leave you with this:

“I’d say don’t panic if you think things went wrong. I thought I must have messed up when hosts cut me off very early and abruptly in Minneapolis during the drive home show-until I found out the bridge had collapsed during the interview. It has made me more mindful that our words on radio could be the last someone hears.” Karen Whiting, www.karenwhiting.com

So, what can you dare to share? Help those of us whose knees knock when the interview’s name shows on the caller ID to know that no matter what, even if the worst happens, God can turn it around.

Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Chilly and wet

Last week, we talked about television appearances. As promised, today is devoted to radio interviews. Because Books & Such Literary Agency has some of the best authors, speakers, and interviewees in the business, I went to them for ideas.

A few to-dos:

“Above all, I keep listener ‘take away’ at the front of my mind. What are their needs? What am I offering to the listeners? My best example of this was an interview with a Houston station right after Hurricane Katrina. The host and I tossed the ‘regular’ interview and talked about hope.” Judy Gann www.judygann.com

“Visualize the caller and talk to him or her. Radio is the most intimate form of mass communication. Make is sound as if the two of you are sitting and having a conversation.” John Thurman www.johnthurman.net

“Find a quiet room and put a note on the door for family. Make sure all the dogs are in a kennel or in a room far away. Check to see who’s calling whom.” Tricia Goyer www.triciagoyer.com

“Have a good wrap-up such as a short acrostic to sum up key points. For my book on time management, I use T-I-M-E: Trust time to God, Invest time in people, Manage the moments, and Evaluate your days.” Karen Whiting www.karenhwhiting.com

“I’ve learned from interview pros to stand up while I’m being interviewed. It helps with breath control and the energy of the conversation. I also try to smile when I’m answering questions–which allows me to sound friendlier and more engaging. Finally, I write down key talking points on a sheet of paper so I can quickly glance at it during the interview.” Dena Dyer www.denadyer.com

“I remember that ‘a soft answer turns away wrath,’ and to pray that no matter who calls in, the Lord will use the situation to reach the hearts of listeners that He has called to listen to the show.” Latayne Scott www.latayne.com

“Turn the interview around so that what you have to offer will benefit the listener. Yank off the ‘its all about me’ and focus on those who need what our books or services have to offer.” DiAnn Mills www.diannmills.com

Next week we will talk about what not to do, but for this week, tell me what you’re doing right.

Location:  The Woodlands PR Office

Weather:  Finally fall in Texas! 50’s – Brr!

For those of you who are just beginning to brave the spotlight and do public speaking, bravo! To make the most of your speaking engagements, consider combining them with other appearances. Often the contact person for the event will offer to set up book signings and interviews. As with public speaking, mastering the art of the interview is best done by starting with the basics. Next week I will talk about radio interviews. Today, however, I’d like to talk a little about television appearances.

1.  Watch what you wear. White is not your friend, nor is plaid or stripes. Stick to solids in brown, blue, or gray tones. Ladies, leave your clanking bracelets and sparkling, oversized earrings at home. When in doubt, think conservative. You want viewers to focus on your message.

2.  Ladies should apply makeup with a slightly heavier hand than normal. Remember the lights can wash out your skin, so add just a touch more to your lips, eyes, and cheeks than normal.

3. Sit up straight. Hunching over, leaning forward, or fidgeting are distracting. Some speakers I know bring a small travel pillow to place in the small of their backs while seated.

4.  Speak when spoken to. Listen to the question. Consider the answer for a moment. Only then should you speak. And answer only the question you’ve been asked. Resist the temptation to fill empty air time by continuing to talk. Avoid repeatedly mentioning your book. Indeed, publicity is why you’re there, but allow the interviewer to be the one who does the bragging. And whatever you do, do not interrupt.

5. Relax. As I type this, I’m smiling. Unless you’re a seasoned pro, all the lights, cameras, and technical gear may seem intimidating. Take a deep breath. Say a prayer. Be confident. You can do this!

These are just a few of the tips I’ve learned. Now tell me about your on-camera successes and, for grins, a few oops moments as well.

Location: The Woodlands, TX

Last week we talked about public speaking as a way to reach potential readers. I hope some of you who were reluctant have decided to take the plunge. For you and for those who already are logging hours behind the podium, I want to offer these ten tips for taking the stage:

1.  Be prepared. Read your notes and know your material. Be comfortable enough with the points of your topic that should the pages blow off the lectern, you could go on without them.

2.  Part of this preparation is to pray. Ask the Lord to open hearts and ears, including your own, and to prepare you for delivering the message the listeners need to hear. Many speakers begin their talk with a prayer, and that’s wonderful. But before you step on the stage, speak privately to the Director.

3. If possible, take a look at the room where you’ll be speaking beforehand. Knowledge of the space will help to make you comfortable at the podium and can alert you to any potential issues such as lack of microphone or insufficient lighting.

4.  Know how to work the equipment. By this I mean be sure you can use the microphone and anything else pertinent to the talk before you attempt the feat in front of the audience. There’s nothing that puts an author off track faster than trying to make adjustments while the whole room is watching.

5.  Start with an ice breaker. I like to begin my writing workshops with a quick exercise that will lead into the topic. Other speakers might be more comfortable telling a joke or sharing a story. Choose something that will catch your audience’s attention, and give them a hint of what’s to come. Think of the hook you use as an intro to your book’s chapters and apply that technique to your talk.

6.  Keep your cool. Your knees might be knocking, but your lips ought to be smiling. Don’t let on that you’re nervous. Likely you’re the only one who knows. Perhaps a few designated pray-ers are a good idea for you. Sometimes knowing people are praying for you will be enough to ease your mind and let you get on with the business of imparting your message.

7.  Choose your wardrobe to fit the event. Always dress at the same level of formality or, if possible, slightly more formal than those to whom you will be speaking. Avoid bracelets that clank and earrings that blind the audience when struck by the spotlight. You want those in attendance to hear what you’re saying, which might be impossible if your attire is screaming for attention.

8. Make eye contact with your audience frequently. Read from your notes only if you must quote something. Remember this is a chat, a talk, and not a lecture.

9.   Acknowledge your mistakes. We all flub a line or mispronounce a word on occasion. Don’t pretend you didn’t mispronounce a word or stumble over a sentence. A smile, a shrug, and a short but sweet statement of apology before moving on is the best way to handle this inevitable situation.

10.  Turn off your cell phone. All right, this may seem like a silly thing to include in a top ten list, but how many of you can remember sitting in on an event during which the speaker’s purse began to sing the Hallelujah Chorus? Sometimes this small thing can be a big thing, so do a last minute purse check and turn off that phone. Even vibrate is probably the wrong setting, especially if your phone is vigorous in its vibration as mine is.

There are so many speaking tips. What can you add to my list?

Location:  The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather:  Sunny, high in the low 60s

Anyone who has been a writer for long has been confronted with this question: Do you do speaking engagements? For some, this question is met with an enthusiastic yes. Others, however, are not so thrilled with the chance to stand up and be heard. It is for this reluctant group–of which I was once a member–= that I write today’s post. Ladies and gentlemen, I submit the secret to a successful speaking career is to begin, be good, and be brave.

1.  Begin among friends. Start locally by offering to speak to your writers group, your Bible study group, or perhaps a friend’s book club. Small gatherings are a great place to test out your skills, especially when you’re among friends. From there, you can branch out to offer workshops at bookstores, conferences, and other larger gatherings. As with any endeavor, practice makes perfect so start with those who will forgive the occasional flub of a word or mental lapse.

2. Be good. Notice I do not say be perfect. Know your material. Craft your talks around topics that are of interest to you. Writers almost always make fabulous speakers on the subject of writing.

Nonfiction books always generate at least one excellent speaking topic, but what about fiction? Novels, too, have subject matter that can be used for talks, be it in the actual topics covered or in the take-away the author has included. Case in point: author Janice Thompson’s book Hurricane, which is set during the Galveston hurricane of 1900. Janice turned her novel’s topic into speaking engagements to not only writers but also to historical societies, museum groups, and more.

3. Be brave. I considered putting this first. However, many of us would then offer up the excuse that until the fear of public speaking–often listed as the #1 fear among adults–left. Do not wait for the butterflies in your gut to flee. Trust me on this. As my friend Drenda Thomas, author of Saints and Scoundrels of the Bible, says, “Do it scared.” For some, the fear goes away after a few events. For others, the knocking knees only stop when the speech is over. However, all who have taken the microphone in hand despite the trembling will attest that conquering this universal phobia is supremely satisfying.

Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts on public speaking? Is the terror you feel at standing behind the podium worth the sales it will generate? I’d love to hear your thoughts, opinions, and experiences.

Location:  The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Soggy and 60s

For the past few weeks, I’ve enjoyed the spirited discussion on branding, and I hope you have as well. While there will probably never be a consensus on the issue, I think all would agree that at the heart of branding is the relationship between author and reader. So the question of the day is: Do traditional publicity methods such as radio and television interviews reach readers?

Almost every time I meet with a prospective PR client, the conversation turns toward interviews. Which radio and television stations will I be targeting? How many on-air interviews can the author expect? And the one every publicist dreads (and has heard over and over): Can you guarantee I’ll be interviewed?

I’ll take that last question first. Publicity is, by its nature, dependent on the whims of media and the timing of events. So, no, I can’t guarantee results from PR attempts. No publicist can. Nor can we guarantee that publicity will generate sales.

Given that there are no guarantees, where are the efforts paying off the most? Early research into social media shows that the greatest bang for the buck, so to speak, comes in using the Internet to connect authors with readers. Why? Readers are seeking out other readers online in greater numbers. They are also seeking out authors.

But what of those tried-and-true media interviews? Do they reach readers? I recently sat in on a discussion of this with in-the-know marketing folks. The consensus was that while a spot on Oprah or Good Morning America will likely cause a spike in sales, a radio interview isn’t going to do much for sales.

Truthfully, how many of you have run out and purchased a book, especially a novel, because you heard an interview with an author on the radio? A radio listener is not, by virtue of definition, a shopper. However, a person on the Internet is a mouse click away from a myriad of purchasing opportunities, especially if an author has made his or her website shopper friendly. Thus, while interviews have their place, I believe authors need to understand that they shouldn’t be the mainstay of book marketing.

What is an author to do to reach readers? Blog tours, Facebook launch parties, and other innovative publicity moves are just the beginning of the publicity being done by media-savvy writers.

What are you doing to reach your readers?

Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Another Blue Norther due this afternoon

I’ve enjoyed reading all the responses to my question about branding. As I wrote last week, the consensus is there’s really no consensus. Still, you had great comments and gave me much to think about. This week, I would like to share some of those thoughts:

Tamara Cooper, a reader, writes about what brand means to her: “On branding, I ONLY buy authors that I know their works. I want no surprises as to genre or content direction. (Author’s name deleted) blew it with me because for years, I felt confident picking up any of her books (and buying every one of them!), knowing I would get a good romance with a tiny bit of mystery… I knew I would get a good story with her. But then she changed her branding. She started writing “occult” and “witches” stories. I didn’t trust her. I stopped buying her. . . So branding, to me, means EVERYTHING when I purchase a book. That’s branding: identifying yourself as an author with your reader.”

Ane Mulligan had this comment on knowing when a brand fits: “For me, it tells readers what to expect from your books. My Southern-fried fiction lets them know Southern people, places, and issues fill my stories, and a bit of humor.”

From Jennifer Degler, a great comment about the search to find brand: “I’ve struggled with as I work on my own “voice” and just what story I want to try sending out. I think it is important to ME in how I approach my own writing. I’m moving forward, but I’ve written reams of stuff, tossed aside, and tried again as I find my own sweet spot in writing. It’s like hitting that perfect shot in golf–-you know it when it comes off the club head.”

Kathleen Maher, a pre-published author, had this to say: Marketing is obviously something we all have to immerse ourselves in, and branding for me as an unpublished writer still challenges me.  I know I write in the Civil War era, and that my characters are Southern transplants up north, but I have not yet found the right sound byte/slogan to capture the essence of what I’m about.”

I love what Crystal Layne Miller says: “Many people don’t always know what they don’t know-– branding and tags helps them to begin to know. Follow it up with a great book.”

And finally this from author Andrea Boeshaar: “My agent, Steve Laube, says branding is only for cows. ROFL!”

On a personal note, I think a brand is most often something an author grows into. A career that begins with an I’ll-sell-anything attitude is shaped into a more purposeful direction with time. So a brand is not only what you write, but also what readers expect you will continue to write.

So tell me, what have you learned that will give you insight into your own brand?

Location: The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Blue Norther coming! Translation: 90s to 50s in one afternoon

Last week I asked for you to send me your thoughts, rants, raves, and ponderings on the topic of author branding. Next week I will be sharing those with you; so there’s still time to weigh in with your opinion on the subject.

After reading the comments and tallying the votes, however, I reached this conclusion: branding does/doesn’t matter to an author’s career and is/isn’t important to consider.

DOES: It matters, how? A brand matters because when your book is sitting on a crowded shelf with other worthy tomes, which one is a reader going to choose? Title, cover, and a myriad of other factors are certainly working to cause Suzy Shopper to reach for a certain book. But, what if Suzy Shopper has read your books and is familiar with your type of writing, say cozy mysteries? And what if tonight’s the perfect night for Suzy to curl up by the fire and read a sweet who-done-it like your brand suggests your book will be? Here’s where brand DOES matter. She’ll coming looking for you if she knows your brand is what she’s seeking. To Suzy, her mood determines the brand she seeks.

DOESN’T: Rhonda Reader loves books. Lots of books. In lots of genres. Depending on the day, she will read just about anything. When she walks into the bookstore, she’s going to be picking up whatever strikes her fancy. Does she care that you’re the best edgy historical writer ever? Likely not if she’s just browsing. Thus, to Rhonda Reader, brand has no bearing on her purchase. Some days she’ll be reading Bill Giovannetti and others DiAnn Mills. To her, mood trumps brand.

IS: Let’s look at the publisher’s point of view on whether brand is important. If you’re not yet published, your brand may be what catches the eye of an editor or agent. If you write medical thrillers starring an Army medic and based on experience gleaned in your three decades of experience in that job, your brand IS essential to cultivate. Imagine the cross-pollination of publicity between those who read thrillers, those who are in the medical field, and those who are in the military. And all of them will find you through your brand. Wendy Lawton has a great theory proving branding IS important. She says, and I agree, that the best career path for most writers is narrow and deep, meaning that an author should find what he or she writes well and continue to deliver that to readers consistently and regularly.

ISN’T: Anyone who has picked up three Angela Hunt books would state that brand is not important. Though I would say that Angie has a broader brand–that of a satisfying read as opposed to being limited to a genre or type–I would agree that it is hard to know what you will get between those covers. As Janet Grant said in a recent Books & Such blog, sometimes brand is NOT in your favor, meaning that sometimes the best thing to do to shake a writing career out of the doldrums is to go against brand and write something completely different.

So there you have it. Next week I will be sharing your comments and talking more about this topic. What do you think? I want to know.

Location:  The Woodlands, Texas PR Office

Weather: Low 80s and sunny

Creating an online presence is essential for today’s author. Few would argue with this statement. Most have jumped on the Internet bandwagon with websites. Many others have created Facebook, MySpace, or ShoutLife pages and an increasing number have committed to regular Twitter posts. With all of these ways to reach your readers, one of the most popular, however, has become the blog. Consider these statistics:

• According to Blogosphere, 77% of Internet users are active readers of at least one blog.
• A whopping 133,000,000 blogs have been indexed by Technorati since 2002.
• An average of 900,000 blog posts go up in a 24-hour period.

So, given the sheer numbers, what’s an author/blogger to do to stand out in a crowded field?

Blog your brand! Or, more simply, stick with what is already working. If you write westerns, for example, create or participate in a blog that celebrates this. Petticoats and Pistols and Bustles and Spurs are great examples.

The best thing about the concept of blogging your brand is that it works whether you write fiction or nonfiction. Think of Dawn Meehan whose parenting book Because I Said So was spawned from a blog of the same name.

Don’t have a book out yet? Blogs are the best way to build readership while waiting for the editor’s call.

Find your sales are lagging? Take to the blogosphere with your thoughts, ideas, or anything else that relates to your brand and, by default, your books. Building a readership on your blog can translate to increasing interest in your other writings–namely the ones sold in stores!

Finally, a word about brand and blogs. Decide carefully and only after seeking wise counsel as to what your brand is. Volumes can and have been written on the topic of branding authors, but for the sake of this post, I’m assuming you already know what yours is. As simple as this sounds, check everything that goes out onto the Internet against  your brand. Does your website fit your brand, or is it a generic representation of an author?

When Kelli Standish, designer extraordinaire and owner of PulsePoint Designs, created the Books & Such website, she put in place a look that has carried through on every page and has even reached the Twitter pages of each member of the firm. Even if you aren’t at a place in your career where you can afford to hire a web genius, there are a few things to keep in mind as you blog your brand:

1.  Be consistent. Figure out what best represents your brand and use that on everything. It could be color, it could be texture, key phrases…whatever it is, be generous with it.

2.  Discard anything that doesn’t work with your brand. Editing is key. You may like a page or a blog topic, but if it doesn’t fit with the web presence you’re looking to present, it has to go.

3.  Give your readers a reason to return. Be it to your blog, your Facebook page, or your Twitter posts…if you’re not saying anything, there’s nothing to read and thus, no reason to stick around. With easy ways to link blog to social media, Twitter to Facebook, and all of the above to websites, there is no excuse for stale content. If you are going to have a presence, make a commitment to producing fresh material.

There are so many other ways to blog your brand…to offer up a presence on the Internet that translates to new readers. What are you doing?