Publication - Radio Interview Questions

3 January 2012, Publication - Radio Interview Questions

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. 

I forgot to mention yesterday that you need to prepare answers just like I showed you to write teasers.  At the most, an answer to an interview question should be no more than a paragraph.  When I say a paragraph, I mean a short paragraph.  For example, in answer to the question "What is your novel about?" for Aksinya, I would answer:  Aksinya is about a young woman who conjours a demon to protect her family from the Russian Bolsheviks during the Revolution.  That's it.  That's all.  This answer is short, sweet, and begs to have other questions asked.  So, the main point is to have answers that are short and packed full.  You can actually use the teasers you wrote before (that is if you followed my advice).  Carry them with you--they can really help you focus your interview.

That's the point--to focus your answers during the interview.  I promised I would tell you the questions you should never prepare to answer during an interview.  Or to be more precise, questions you don't want to answer during an interview.  I'll wait until 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/.