Publication - more Radio Interviews

1 January 2012, Publication - more Radio Interviews

Introduction: I realized that I need to introduce this blog a little. I wrote the novel Aksinya: Enchantment and the Daemon. The working title was Daemon, and this was my 21st novel. Over the last year, I gave you the entire novel in installments that included commentary on the writing. In the commentary, in addition to other general information on writing, I explained, how the novel was constructed, the metaphors and symbols in it, the writing techniques and tricks I used, and the way I built the scenes. You can look back through this blog and read the entire novel.

I'm using this novel as an example of how I produce, market, and eventually (we hope) get a novel published. I'll keep you informed along the way.

Today's Blog: To see the steps in the publication process, go to my writing website http://www.ldalford.com/ and select "production schedule," you will be sent to http://www.sisteroflight.com/.

Here is the list of ideas for advertising--there are more and I'll add to the list as we go along.  I'm certainly not an expert in all these, but I've dabbled in all of them.  I'll try to relate my experience and the degree of that experience to you.

1.  Have a website for your novel.
2.  Write a blog.
3.  Advertise.
4.  Literary awards.
5.  Book cards.
6.  Contests.
7.  Interviews.
8.  Blog tours.
9.  Press releases.
10.  Speaking and teaching.
11.  e-mailing.
12.  Gifts.
13.  ...

You can be interviewed for print media, for radio, for TV, on blogs, Internet general, character interviews, trailers just to name a few. 

To get a radio interview, call radio stations in your area (especially talk radio), tell them you are a local author, that you write about x, and offer to do interviews if they have need.  Many times it is best to contact local shows that might be interested in your book topic.  Remember, interviews are not as interested in your novel as they are your topic.  I can't stress this too much.  Just as with print interviews, unless you are a best seller and a celebrity, the focus is your subject, not your novel.

NPR might interview you, for example, because you wrote about fruit bats.  The topic is what interested them and not the fact that you wrote the book.  In terms of fiction, the fact you wrote a novel about a famous ghost is more important than the novel itself (that is in terms of interviews).

As I wrote, contact local radio stations and programs that might be interested in the topic of your novel.  There are two types of radio interviews you can do: in station and phone.

I give you more ideas on radio interviews tomorrow.

I'll repeat my published novel websites so you can see more examples: http://www.ldalford.com/, and the individual novel websites: http://www.aegyptnovel.com/, http://www.centurionnovel.com/, http://www.thesecondmission.com/, http://www.theendofhonor.com/, http://www.thefoxshonor.com/, and http://www.aseasonofhonor.com/.