So what should you be
doing to make the most of your Radio, TV and Print interviews?
- Stop
being embarrassed at saying the title of your book! My latest release
( I try to avoid the word ‘book’) is You
can call me Ellie, ‘One Australian family’s story of love and
determination.’
- Take
every opportunity, large and small, to market your book.
How? Let me tell you what works for me…
The
most important words you need to say On Air are: - the
title of your book.
The second most important words you will say are: – the
title of your book.
Practice
saying the title of your book! You
can call me Ellie is one Australian family’s story of love and
determination. There I’ve said it three times already.
A few more and you may remember it. Every time you say ‘my
book’ or ‘the book’ instead of the title - You
can call me Ellie- angry, jarring noises should ring in your head!
Say the title! – You can call me Ellie - and then sneak in your own name – Anne
McCullagh Rennie.
I’m
not joking! Radio and TV audiences want to know who is being
interviewed and the title of the book you are discussing, and they
need to hear both at least three times before they will remember
either. If you are lucky your host will mention the title once, probably
at the end of the interview. Expect them not to have read your book
and to know almost nothing about it!
Yes that’s the bald truth. What
they will say is ‘… in your new
book...’ It is vital you pepper your talks with the title.
Answer:. ‘I always knew I would write our family story You
can call me Ellie… Let me put it
into context for you…’(go on to answer the question). Am I starting to repeat myself? Good!
Prepare
beforehand.
- What
are the questions you don’t want to be asked? Have answers for them.
- List
the ten most interesting points about you and your subject.
- You
are now the expert on your subject. Make sure you know the answers.
Remember –. Radio is minutes, TV is seconds. Give
journalists catchy phrases and brief stories… ‘Two years after my
husband nearly died of cancer...’
Have
your notes with you even on TV. You
WILL forget your own name and book title when you are Live-to-Air!
Always take extra copies of your book/s and business cards
(featuring the front cover of your book). Books get lost between Publicist
and Presenter so yours may be the only available copy for that 30-second
TV grab or for a Radio host to quote the back blurb!
Why
should anyone be interested?
Tell your most potent story at the
beginning of your interview. ‘…
When
two-year-old Ellie made a joke, it was a turning point in our lives.
I almost missed it…’
Keep
telling stories.
People remember stories. Use the
same story for different interviews. It is unlikely you’ll get the same
audience. If the story is memorable it will bear repeating. My two
favourites are ‘Tommy Turtle’s tea and toast’ and ‘I only once
ever gave up on Ellie.’
It
is never too late to get it right. Accept
that you are going to blow a few interviews. Learn from the experience and
move on. You will quickly
discover which stories work best and are easiest to tell. You can keep
using the same promotional material for years.
Be enthusiastic every time.
Entertain!
The interviewer wants to keep their audience.
Much as we’d all love to be ‘the Star’, we are filler for
their show. That’s OK because we get to tap into their network
absolutely FREE. Have fun.
If you create a good experience for your host, chances are they may
invite you back!
Good
luck and Happy promoting! Oh!
and next time you are passing a bookstore check out an Australian
family’s story of love and determination entitled You
can call me Ellie’ Yvonne Collier of RADIO 99.3 described it as: ‘inspirational, educational and a great read’
Anne
McCullagh Rennie.
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