Out on a breaking limb

This post is outside the norm.

J. Kaye and Arlee Bird gave me the Versatile Blogger award last week and I still need to share seven things about myself.

I’m going out on a limb with this one.

Everyone’s so positive when blogging, presenting themselves in the best possible light. After reading so many posts lately on writing, publishing, promoting, etc., everyone appears to be an expert, too! Everyone’s got great aspirations or just landed a big contract or they’ve a thousand followers…

So Spunky’s just gonna be real.

Seven things:

1. I can’t keep up with the online stuff. It feels as if my life revolves around access to the internet, and I still can’t keep up. I feel bad I can’t visit all the bloggers who follow me…

2. I’ve lost the drive to write, which is not good, as I’ve a deadline looming. But my current project, while a good career move, doesn’t excite me and the research is overwhelming. I feel as if I’ve taken on something that is way over my head.

3. My speaking gigs are steady but not growing. I’ve not done what I need to do in that area.

4. Despite a fantastic day at Quarter Moon Books last Friday, I’m bummed about book sales. Book V was the best reviewed and the best thing I’ve ever written, and yet… Meh. Probably won’t write another fiction piece again.

5. I hardly take photos anymore and I’ve turned down several wedding and portrait gigs this year. Not inspired there, either. My Deviant Art friends probably think I’ve died.

6. And just so you don’t think Spunky’s totally in the dumps, everything else in life is going well - still happily married, finances great, we’re healthy, etc.

7. I just need to find time to energize and reinvent myself. But what to let go… and would anyone even notice?

The Sunday SIllies

More fun than a barrel of monkeys? You bet!

And I am visiting At Home With Books on Monday!!!

And Now For Something Completely Different...

"The BBC would like to apologize for the poor quality of the writing in that sketch. It is not BBC policy to get easy laughs with words like bum, knickers, botty or wee-wees."

 * BOOK NEWS *

So how does a first-time author get a book deal and become an Amazon best seller? Talli Roland features tips from author John Williams

Nicole is in France and posting beautiful photos from her trip - and she has a contest involving an item from France! Visit One Significant Moment at a Time for details

Seven tips for the introverted author at Marketing Tips For Authors

Clarissa gives us some tips on character development at Listen to the Voices

Jane’s Ride wants to know - what is it with writers and cats?

New study shows teens and young adults are turning away from blogging - L’Aussie Writing

Help DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude complete his mission to find a blogger from every country and every state!

Need some new movies to watch this summer? Alex J. Cavanaugh’s Movie Dirty Dozen Blogfest inspired sixty fantastic lists!

Saw this on a ListServ - 80% of the traditional offset book business will be dead in the next decade. Unfortunately, 80% of publisher’s revenue still comes from print.

And on Monday, I am visiting At Home With Books with some of my book signing experiences. Come smile at the joys, cry at the failures, and share in the wackiness!

PS - and if anyone's at the NC beach today, I'm visiting Quarter Moon Books on Topsail Island!

* AWARD TIME! *

First, some wonderful blogger gave me an award last weekend and I don't remember who!!! If you gave me an award and I did not comment or thank or anything, please let me know!! Spunky has lost her mind...

However, I do know that J. Kaye and Arlee Bird gave me the Versatile Blogger award!

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share seven things about yourself. (I'll tackle that next Tuesday, okay?)

3. Pass this award along to bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic for whatever reason!

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

I am passing this on to:
The Alliterative Allomorph
Alissa at Slightly More than Dirt
Snippy Snuffulapakins at My Thoughts Exactly


* BOOK BLOGGER EXTRAORDINAIRE! *

Touring for a YA series and one non-fiction book brought me in contact with some amazing book bloggers. Over the next few months, I’d like to feature some of these awesome people who dedicate their lives to reading and blogging, leading others to discover and enjoy new books.

Let me introduce you to Michelle, the Red Headed Book Child Don’t let that fiery red hair scare you - Michelle has the sweetest spirit!

A little about Michelle, in her own words:

As my blog header states, I am indeed a full-time mom, a part-time bookseller, passionate reviewer and real red head!

I spent the last ten years working as a very busy bookstore manager which further enabled my addiction to books!

I have since made the transition to be a full-time SAHM with my own little red head and now work a few days a week as a part-time bookseller. I also work at a non profit with children, another passion of mine.

I'm also addicted to cookies and have two incredibly high maintenance cats and a husband who reads faster than I do.

I started this blog to continue recommending wonderful books to those in my life and to new people as well.

Visit Michelle at her blog Red Headed Book Child and follow her on Twitter @RedHeadedBook







* CAPTION WINNER *

Another difficult week!!! We have two runner-ups:

“Quick! Pop the screen, I got the window!” Meg Meg - Writer For Life
"Hold on I almost got it." Donna at Write What Inspires You

But the grand prize (of a warm fuzzy feeling) goes to Helen at Straight From Hel (And she keeps winning - I think she missed her calling of comedian!)

“I asked for two inches, but, no, Catzenegger has to open it all the way.”

* PHOTO OF THE DAY *

For those of us swealtering in the heat right now... Hobbes, enjoying her Albuquerque snow!

Authors and the Media

Today I welcome Jonathan Bernstein, author of Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training.

When breaking news relates to the topic of a book, can authors take advantage of that without coming across as exploitive?

The answer is a resounding “yes” – I’ve done it myself, frequently – but it’s critical to remember these guidelines.

1. Don’t “stretch” the connection. Make sure that what you have to say is truly relevant. For example, as I’m writing this, General Stanley McChrystal has resigned as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. If you are an author with expertise in crisis management, the military, the wars in the Gulf, politics and any number of other topics, the media would like to know you’re available as an expert source.

2. Make sure that, when you give an interview, you give your book credentials as well as other relevant professional credentials. For example, I always tell reporters that I’m “Jonathan Bernstein, president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc. and author of Keeping the Wolves at Bay – Media Training.” Recently, that got my book mentioned repeatedly – and flashed on the TV screen – during a five minute Bloomberg News interview.

3. Use publicity tools such as the many available free press release services, and blog tours such as those provided by Promo 101, to seed the Internet with mentions of you and your book. Then when the media uses Google to find an expert source, they’ll find you.

Here, from my book, are some tips for dealing with reporters after you’ve “hooked” them.

1. Be helpful to reporters. They have come for a story. Define it for them. Be as open, frank and engaging as possible without revealing any sensitive issues your organization might have. Reporters know you have boundaries, but they will ask anything.

2. Be honest. If you aren’t, you’re likely to (a) get caught, sooner or later, and (b) suffer far more damage than you would have otherwise.

3. Be concise with your answers. Talk in headlines; state your conclusions first, e.g., “There has been an accident at our plant, everyone is safe, emergency responders are on the scene and we are assisting them as requested.” Then, if time permits, give more background information.

4. Use anecdotes, when possible, to support and/or illustrate your message points, particularly anecdotes that involve real people, versus hypothetical situations. When a major restaurant chain endured a food contamination situation that sickened dozens of people at some of its restaurants, the CEO went to the states where this occurred after it was clear that the problem was contained and in the past. When he spoke, one of his strong message points was “We’re not just company spokespersons, we’re also our own best customers, we eat at (name of restaurant) all the time, and we’re going to have lunch at the local (name of restaurant) today.” The media loved it and it was well-received by the public.

5. Don’t use jargon. Jargon and arcane acronyms confuse your stakeholders – a surefire way to make a crisis worse. Let's check out a few taken-from-real-life gems:

a. The rate went up 10 basis points.
b. We're considering development of a SNFF or a CCRC.
c. We ask that you submit exculpatory evidence to the grand jury.
d. The material has less than 0.65 ppm benzene as measured by the TCLP.

6. To the average member of the public, and to most of the media who serve them other than specialists in a particular subject, the general reaction to such statements is, “Huh?”

7. Take your time before answering questions. Pauses are effective. Even on TV, unless it’s live, all the pauses will be edited out and only your answers used.

8. When awaiting questions, maintain a neutral or, if appropriate, pleasant expression. Do not look guarded or defensive. A good reporter, or cameraman, watches your face all the time.

9. Do not repeat, or nod your head affirmatively, to a false premise or misleading question. Immediately correct the questioner politely and firmly.

Remember – you’re the expert, unless proven otherwise!

[Keeping the Wolves at Bay – Media Training is available in hard copy and PDF formats at The Crisis Manager Bookstore and in hard copy and Kindle versions at Amazon.com.]

About Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training

Anyone who has achieved some degree of success in business, government work, helping run a non-profit organization, or any other field may be interviewed by the news media. This is a rich opportunity to gain positive publicity, but you can also find yourself in a position where you look bad. Jonathan L. Bernstein, president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., has varied professional experiences, including public relations, crisis management, journalism, and covert military intelligence operations. Bernstein is a regular guest commentator and expert source for national media outlets and PR Week described him as one of 22 individuals nationwide "who should be on the speed dial in a crisis."

About Jonathan Bernstein

Jonathan Bernstein is author of Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training. He is a former journalist and a veteran of five years in U.S. Army Military Intelligence covert operations. He is also publisher and editor of Crisis Manager, a first-of-its-kind email newsletter written for “those who are crisis managers whether they want to be or not,” currently read in 75 countries. Bernstein is a regular guest commentator and expert source for national media outlets and PR Week described him as one of 22 individuals nationwide “who should be on the speed dial in a crisis.”

We invite you to join us for the Keeping the Wolves at Bay virtual tour. The schedule and more details can be found atBook Promotion Services. For more information and to get your copy, visit The Crisis Manager or Amazon