Comments on: 7 things you need to know about working with a book publicist

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 14:57:09 +0000

In reply to Steve.

Thanks, Steve. Such a fascinating story! FYI, the people who need a publicist the most are people who AREN’T famous! I highly recommend researching what a publicist does before you think about whether you should hire one. This article will help, but it’s only a starting point: https://buildbookbuzz.com/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-working-with-a-book-publicist/

Also, before you invest in a publicist, find out what your publisher is going to do to promote your book if you don’t know yet. The in-house publicist might have big plans…or none at all.

Sandy

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:46:45 +0000

In reply to Sandra Beckwith.

Probably from just assuming the only people who need them are famous people. Haha My wife used a custom baseball card to tell me she was a match and saving my life donating her kidney to me. The book is the story of our journey meeting, dating, getting married, and her ultimately saving my life. When we were just dating, she told me she used to pray for her future husband and one evening she felt as if God was saying her future husband was dying. She prayed to take away the pain and she got this excruciating pain in her abdomen. She said it was around Christmas 2003. I then told her for the first time I had kidney failure and when I had a biopsy they nicked an artery and I had a severe internal bleed. Once I came to after an emergency operation the doctor told me I was a lucky man. He said it was a terrible bleed and before he could get to it, it just stopped. That was in my abdomen on December 19th, 2003. We have a ton of stories like that as we fell more in love, became foster parents, and ultimately my wife went on to save my life. This is a link to our story.

https://youtu.be/mTq5lH0W0Bo

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 21:02:11 +0000

In reply to Steve.

Steve, publicists love working with authors who understand the media process and have media experience. They also love working with authors who can afford them. I’m confused about why you think publicists are only for celebrities, though. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

What went viral and what’s your book about?

Sandy

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 20:46:37 +0000

My problem is knowing if a publicist would even want us as a client. My wife and I went viral in 2017 with our story and it has been seen close to 700M times worldwide across all platforms. We were approached by a book publisher and we signed a book deal and right after we signed a Hollywood movie deal. I have dealt with the media myself for every talk show, media appearance, speaking engagements, ect, for when we went viral. Our book will be released this year and with our connections to Good Morning America, CNN, Fox, CBS, and tons and tons others from relationships we built back in 2017, we have wondered if a publicist would laugh at us for wanting one since we are just two nobody’s who happened to go viral and they are only for celebrities.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 16:11:48 +0000

In reply to Mary Hill Wagner.

What have publicists offered as the reasons they won’t take you on as a client? Publicists love controversy because it’s a great publicity generator, so I’d be surprised if it’s because they think your topic is too hot to handle.

Sandy

By: Mary Hill Wagner

Mary Hill Wagner — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:33:36 +0000

I’ve had little luck hiring a publicist for my book “Girlz ‘N the Hood: A Memoir of Mama in South Central Los Angeles.” by Mary Hill Wagner. I have an idea for a campaign during black history month or even a tie in to Critical Race Theory but seems my topic is too hot to handle.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Mon, 03 May 2021 19:50:40 +0000

In reply to Stephanie Patrick.

I’m right there with you, Stephanie. You might appreciate this article on this site if you haven’t seen it yet: https://buildbookbuzz.com/should-you-hire-a-book-publicist/

A publicist is a career investment.

Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Sandy

By: Stephanie Patrick

Stephanie Patrick — Mon, 03 May 2021 11:36:57 +0000

I am a longtime book publicist and a former full-time journalist. The first thing I tell authors is that publicity does not sell books – it raises awareness of books. The second thing I share is that this is not a customer is always right venture; you are hiring a publicist because he or she has the expertise and contacts you don’t. You are begging for earned media placements and that comes with time, patience and, most important, giving the media what they want when they want it.
I also would never hand over my media list to a client. I don’t even share it with others in my field, and they know how to manage book campaigns.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 19:12:36 +0000

In reply to Tedera Williams.

Tedera, this article might help: https://buildbookbuzz.com/should-you-hire-a-book-publicist/

Sandy

By: Tedera Williams

Tedera Williams — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 16:38:01 +0000

What will a book publicist do for mt first book? If my first book is going to be a series should I have the book publicist help me with the other book(s) as well? And how do I know if I need one?