TV sometimes it just all happens at once

Trying to get authors on television is the biggest challenge for anyone marketing books. Individual press releases sometimes work but with producers being very busy people I doubt they read them all. You're heading has to jump out at them and be extremely topical. Timing is everthing.

I've come across authors with special books that I was sure should get a spot on a program but none of the pitches worked no matter how enticing I thought they were. Other times the ones you don't think will succeed do.

So it was rather pleasant to arrive at work (on what we call Mad Monday) to receive a phone call from one current affairs program. Ten minutes later another rival program called about the same author. What a nice dilemma!

This was sparked by one story we pitched to a major newspaper. I'll have to admit that the book has a very topical subject. Now everyone wants a piece of this author and I'm really happy for him.

The best thing is, the book and where it could be bought, was featured and that seems to be the hardest thing to get the authors to think about when they are being interviewed. An interview will not result in book sales unless people can readily find the book and buy it.