Let’s just pretend it’s my Monday morning mantra. Really, on any given day, you could call me Kim “show the book cover” Weiss. If I try to drum anything into an author’s head, it would be just those words. Ask Brad. Ask Laurie. Ask any HCI author.

Here’s today’s scenario…The authors of The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge will be seen across the country on Good Morning America. They’ll be accompanied by country music legend, Wynona Judd. They’ll be talking about the subject of their book, treating money disorders through principles of psychology and financial planning.

Sounds like a great ploy for book exposure, doesn’t it? 

It would if we knew for sure the the book will be mentioned. Or the BOOK COVER shown! Are you reading this GMA producers? Have a heart.

It might sound like a no brainer that these elements would grace the tv screen if the authors are on a tv news program. And, talking about the book’s subject.  Well, guess what? We still don’t know if it’s going to happen. (Let’s hope that we’re celebrating and this entire post is moot because viewers are wildly typing amazon.com on their keyboards to order the book they just saw on GMA).

If you sense a little cynicism in my tone, forgive me. After all these years, it’s still frustrating to grasp the lack of control we have over what a media person deems as important to their story. You can make the suggestion, subtly and not so subtly, and you still may not know what’s about to happen.

Still, insist we must. With your emails to the producer or print editor, attach a jpg of the book cover — just in case” or “to make it easier for them.” And, be sure to carry a book with you to the tv studio or whatever location your story is being done.  Always have some in your trunk.

Truthfully, when an author is called to give expert advice or testimony about a subject, it isn’t always enough to sway the public to buy their book. A little chyron on the lower screen identifying them as the author can flash for but a fleeting moment. But the book cover. Ah, the blessed book cover. Our minds just tend to absorb pictures more easily than just plain words. Why this is, I do not know.

Sometimes things happen differently. It just so happens that another HCI author, Dr. Ned Hallowell will be on Oprah today as the expert on forgiveness. I have confidence that the cover of his book, Dare to Forgive, will be shown. Why? Besides sending a requested electronic image of the book cover, the producer had us sign a legal document permitting them to show it. Sounds pretty promising to me. Still wouldn’t bet the farm on it.

The mantra remains the same. Keep it in your head, no matter how academic or non-commercial your media interview is. Somewhere in there is room for your cover. Go ahead, blurt it out.  What’s the worst that can happen?  You might hear someone say, “we’re not doing a commercial for your book.”  Here on the other side, we believe a journalist isn’t selling his/her soul when he mentions the book. Even if it’s not the center of the story.

Really. Give us a break. 

My parting words this morning are: whoever said “a picture is worth a thousand words” probably was a publicist.

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