Talk Radio
My book has been out for over a year now and I was feeling that I needed some fresh ideas in terms of marketing. I began considering using a publicist. I had a meeting at BEA with a marketing group. “How would you feel about being face to face with Bill O’Reilly?” she asked me. Make it happen I said and I will be able to handle it. After much thought and some discussions I decided to use them. I wanted them to focus on TV and radio spots because these were two areas I had limited success. We agreed to work together. They had many author clients and that was important to me. They advised me to be ready because I may not have much notice.
I was on vacation and got a phone call from the publicist. He told me I would be on the radio doing a live broadcast in an hour and a half. “What will they be focusing on?” ” Infertility, how people handle it” he responded. That is pretty much my whole book I thought. Not much time to think or prepare I thought. “You’ll do great he said.” I said I would be ready and hung up and my mind began to race trying to think about talk points and what questions I would be fielding. I didn’t have a copy of my book with me to reference it. The phone rang again, it was my publicist. “Great news. You will have another live broadcast a half hour after this one.” I couldn’t believe it. “You’ll do great he said.”
It is strange to call a number and talk with somebody you don’t know who doesn’t know me, knowing it is being broadcast live to many people in many places. I kept reminding myself to relax, sound thoughtful, insightful, interesting, and focus on what the interviewer was asking me. I found myself thinking about when I was at home or driving in my car listening to talk shows and imagining things about how the person being interviewed looks or acts or intellectually/emotionally responding to what they are saying. It was challenging at times. It got my heart pumping. It was great to have an opportunity to reach more people in new places in a new way. I got my wish.
I have done 3 radio interviews so far. Two were live and one was taped. I felt each was better than then last. I am not sure if that was my comfort level or the people interviewing me or both. My publicist called to tell me I have two more interviews scheduled and they are working on more media opportunities for me. “You’ll do great I keep hearing him say.” I am doing my best to believe it.
