Maggie Walsh, the heroine of the Talk Radio Mysteries, hosts a talk show on
WYME, a south Florida radio station. My agent pitched and sold the series as a
cross between ”Frasier” and “Murder She Wrote.” Like Fraiser, Maggie is a
licensed psychologist who gives up her private practice for the fun and
excitement of live radio. And like Jessica Fletcher in “Murder She Wrote,” she
solves a murder in every book. Sometimes two!
When I was promoting REEL
MURDER, book two in the series, Kate White, editor of COSMO and a New
York Times best-selling novelist, asked me if I’d like to be a guest on
COSMO Radio. Naturally I jumped at the chance.
I was invited on the Wake up With Taylor Show, a morning talk show on Sirius
Radio hosted by the irrepressible Taylor Strecker and co-host and producer,
Kenny Z, Both Taylor and Kenny, a stand-up Manhattan comic are smart, witty,
high energy people. And above all, they are entertaining. The show is fun,
fast-paced and careens from pop culture to politics to arts and entertainment in
a nanosecond.
If you’re an author and lucky enough to be invited on their show, (or any live
radio show!) here are some tips to get you through it.
Tip # 1. Say yes! Don’t procrastinate, don’t ponder the pros and cons. It
is free publicity, it is “all good” as the kids say.
Tip # 2. This is the time to perfect your “elevator speech,” you know,
that snappy one or two line description that makes listeners want to run out and
buy your book.
Tip# 3. Send the host a copy of your book and some publicity material
before the show. Don’t count on the publisher to do it. Cover all bases and do
it yourself.
Tip # 4. Unless you’re a major player, it’s unlikely that the producer
will bother doing a “pre-interview” with you. So no one will sit down and go
over possible “funny” stories from your repertoire. You’ll have to come up with
them on your own.
Tip # 5. Expect the unexpected. Be prepared to go wherever the host takes
you. On the Taylor show, it seems that the host, Taylor Strecker once dreamed of
being a forensic psychologist. Although I now practice as a clinical
psychologist, I did two years of forensic work, and Taylor wanted to hear all
about my experiences. Naturally, I winnowed out the boring, grueling parts of
the job and concentrated on funny vignettes. Which leads up to the final tip.
Tip # 7. Be entertaining! No one wants “dead air” (which coincidentally
is the title of the first book in the Talk Radio Mystery series. My five minute
interview went into fifteen minutes, and I know it was because the conversation
flowed and the jokes rolled in like a tsunami.
Practice your patter until you have it down perfectly. And one last suggestion,
don’t forget to mention the title of your book! I was so caught up in the
excitement of the moment, I nearly forgot to mention REEL MURDER, but Kenny Z,
pro that he is, rescued me and repeated not only the name of the book, but the
name of the series, THE TALK RADIO MYSTERIES.. Thank you, Kate White, Taylor and
Kenny Z for a wonderful opportunity!
10 comments posted.
Thanks, Krista! It really was a hoot, and Taylor and Kenny Z (who happens to be a stand-up comedian) were hilarious. They invited me back to promote STAY TUNED for MURDER, and asked me to come into Manhattan to the studio. The weather has been horrendous and I haven't gotten in there yet.
(Mary Kennedy 1:18pm January 16, 2011)
well, I am all set now if anyone wants me for their show---oh, wait, I don't write or do anything to talk about:) there's always my grandkids---someone surely would want to list to me talk about them!!!
(Barbara Studer 9:49pm January 16, 2011)
It sounds like you had a great time doing your interview on the radio. I wish I could have heard it. I guess I'll just have to wait for the book!! lol I love the storyline, and think the cover is well done. I like the retro microphone in the corner. Good luck with the book, but after your interview, I'm sure it will do well!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:16pm January 16, 2011)
I couldn't get on line last night,but I want to thank everyone for their comments! Barbara, I bet your grandkids are adorable and I know I would love to hear about them. Peggy, a few people have asked me about the retro microphone...I guess it was just an artistic touch, not sure. Molly, (waving madly), I would love to hear you on the radio anytime, I think you need your own show!
(Mary Kennedy 8:08am January 17, 2011)
What a fun way to promote your book! The book sounds great, Sure hope you sell a million ;0)
(Vickie Hightower 9:01am January 18, 2011)
Thanks for the tips. I thought preparation for being interviewed means having a cheat sheet composed of points you want to make similiar to a politician only more gracious.
(Alyson Widen 1:37pm January 18, 2011)