Monday morning’s mantra gone awry
Monday, Monday. Such a sad day. Where are the Mamas and the Papas when you need them?
If yesterday’s cliff hanger left you in suspense and your dying to know whether the book cover got shown on Good Morning America, then the title of my post should give you a clue. After witnessing the morning show that didn’t come through with a cover graphic, I had to call Jose at work and have him talk me down from the ledge of my 15th story terrace.
Well, almost.
Such is the life of a book publicist. What I did get from this frustrating experience were several apologetic emails from the segment producers, which is rare. A sudden posting of the book cover and an excerpt on the GMA website, nice. But, what was most surprising was the l call that came from the broadcaster on the piece, ABC’s Ju Ju Chang.
Never in my 25 years of doing publicity have I had this happen. Ju Ju was gracious, regretful, and personal. She was sorry to have let us down and especially so because of how much she respected Ted Klontz and his work. She would make it up to us. She assured me. In a subsequent piece she was planning for ABC’s 20/20, she’d feature the book. I responded, did that mean she’d do a commercial for us? She said, of course.
We laughed. A good way to end this very disappointing event. It cost us book sales but we know the piece will attract other media. Another motto: media begets media. You’ll see. I’ll be announcing something equally great in the near future for The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge. Or the authors’ 09 book, Wired for Wealth.
Good news. Oprah did show Ned Hallowell’s book TWICE (thank you) and the author had a good bit on her show today. And, super-vet and super guy, Dr. Marty Becker is appearing on Good Morning America this Wednesday showing off his new “Ultimate” series of books with HCI. You can be sure that his book covers will be shown with accompanying excerpts on their website.
Another bonus was the birth of an idea for a consumer promotion of the financial books. It’s too green to share, but I’ll be sure to mention it when it’s fully baked.
All the the advice I suggested yesterday still applies and as dramatic as it might get while promoting your book, it’s necessary to keep looking forward. (Otherwise, I would have jumped from some terrace long ago) I’m no Pollyanna, believe me, but other opportunities will open up. And, their may be some bargaining about whether an author will be permitted to do a media appearance unless their book cover is shown next time. I’m not excited about playing that game, but a book sale is a book sale.
I’m signing off for now slightly bruised but not broken. It’s either going to be a good sweat at the gym or a glass of wine. Probably both.
Check with you later.
As always, I welcome your stories be they about media rejection, media victories, or just what’s going on for you that’s worth sharing.
May your mantras be effective and your book covers be shown.
Om shanti. Shalom Peace out.
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Kim,
I have run into the same problem with the media over and over again the past four years and that is the debate over reporting on my book because of my pen name. Do you know of others that use a pen name that have this same problem with the media? For example for 4 years now I have tried getting an interview with Daily Herald newspaper which is a paper hundreds of thousands get throughout Chicagoland area. For 4 years they would never share my story because they feel it is false information they are reporting on by using Erin Merryn and not my legal name. I finally got there attention and they discussed it and saw all the other media exposure I have had with Erin Merryn. A photographer was here last week taking photos of me holding up my book and awards I have received at speaking engagements. Then I sat down for two hours with a reporter. A story that was suppose to go in the paper this week and I just received contact from the reporter that the higher ups in the Daily Herald want to sit down with the reporter because they are questioning again using my pen name. Have you had others experience this before. The reporter shared she feels once she shares everything with them everything will work out. I told her otherwise we will have a new article about how woman legally changes name so Daily Herald would report on her mission.