As a publicist, much of what I do is storytelling. To obtain media coverage, my job is to illustrate to the editor or producer what the story is and why they should care. In the beginning, the story usually centers around the book, whether it’s a “poignant debut” or “the latest from critically acclaimed author.” Other times it’s the author that is the highlight of the story, whether it’s something about their background or an anecdote on how they came to write the book.
But after the new book shine wears off, it’s more difficult to garner media attention. This is where the storytelling comes in to play. Media coverage has to be timely, and it’s your job to make a book that came out months ago, a timely story.
Obviously, it’s going to vary depending on your book, but here are a few examples to get your wheels turning:
BAD MOON by Todd Ritter – a mystery about a boy who disappeared on the eve of the moon landing in 1969:
- Op-Ed by the author about the close of the space launch
- Feature on the anniversary of the moon landing
ALL I WANT IS YOU by Sherrill Bodine – a romance novel featuring a vintage jewelry expert, written by a fashionista and Sherrill Bodine:
- Guest article covering New York or Milan fashion week
- Commentary for articles on the latest jewelry trends
Take a look at your book and your background, and consider every angle. What about your book and your background has a timely angle? Is there a national event that fit within your expertise? Do you have an appearance or speaking engagement that’s unique?
As an author, you’re also a storyteller, and in order to obtain media coverage after the book is out, you’ll need to come up with a timely story.
