You're 3 Months from Publication! |
Now is the time to start pitching to podcasts and radio for interviews!
For local NPR or community radio stations in your area, or any radio station/podcasts you yourself regularly listen to and would like to appear on, find out who the program director is. Most program directors will have an arts and culture radio personality who may be interested in hosting an author, and to whom you should send an advance review copy. Similarly, events in other cities should be paired whenever possible with a radio appearance to promote the reading and the book in general. We recommend a three-months-minimum lead time when pitching to radio stations.
You can find a sample pitch letter in the Additional Resources Section below!
Here is a handy checklist of questions to run through to help you prepare for interviews:
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Who is conducting the interview? It helps to know who will be interviewing you so you can study the host's prior interviews to find his/her favorite questions and approaches so you'll know what to expect and can prepare how to respond.
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What topics will be discussed in the interview? Why was this particular topic chosen? You should be aware of the topics that will be covered and the context in which the interview will be taking place. This will help you tie your message to the events, trends, or developments that prompted the interview, making you sound informed and helping you to avoid speaking in more general or hypothetical terms.
- Who else will be present at the interview? You should always know the names of other people who will join you in the interview. While it is normal for a reporter to interview others for a story, it’s best to know beforehand whether the interview will be one-on-one or a panel of interviewees discussing a given subject.
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When will the interview take place? Try to be flexible and take into account the reporter’s availability and deadlines, but keep in mind the subject matter to be discussed, and don’t be afraid to ask for sufficient time to prepare for the interview.
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Will it be live or taped? If you are expected to be in the studio, will you be conducting the interview via satellite or in person? You should ask if the interview will be live, taped, or “live to tape,” which means that while the interview is not live, you will be speaking as if you’re live and the interview will not be edited. If you’re asked to appear at a studio, it’s helpful to know if the interviewer will be there with you, or if you’ll be conducting the interview via satellite (TV) or ISDN line (radio).
- How much time is needed for the interview? Is the reporter asking for 15 minutes of your time? Or several hours?
- When will the story run?
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The most important part of your preparation is to know what you want to say before the interview begins and what points you want to make.
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At this stage in the timeline, things are ramping up! Pitches are continuing, ARCs are being sent to anyone that may request one, and Kate and Mark are likely visiting indie bookstores on their travels to drop galleys off directly to book buyers.
Production-wise, the book has likely already been sent to print following your as-is approval.
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Try to pitch to 8-10 podcast or radio shows a month from now until pub date (you can continue past pub date if you like!). Try to secure 1-3 podcast/radio interviews a month.
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Have a specific question or need individualized guidance?
Reach out to me anytime to schedule a 1:1 meeting!
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