The PR Conundrum

 

Well, it's that time of year again. Time for me to start the PR work for my latest book, "Everyone's Gone to the Moon." You would think by now that I would be an old hand at this after 13 books. Plus all of my media connections. Turns out, the PR game is constantly changing and using media connections is getting more and more difficult.

I'm working on a new 10-part (maybe more) podcast series for the book, book trailers, TRYING to learn the ins-and-outs of social media promotion, the usual, but when it comes to good old fashioned media - radio, tv, newspapers (online, too), magazines - I am finding that more and more I'm getting the response, "There are too many books out there", even from the media contacts I have made over the years.

What I'm seeing is that media outlets are getting bombarded by book review and interview requests. According to my sources, it's not only the sheer number of requests they receive each month, but also because many books they receive have not been vetted or edited and the media outlets do not want to take the chance of getting burned, so their response is to refuse considering spotlighting any new releases.

Was it the pandemic that caused this sudden burst of authors hitting the scene or have I been too self absorbed in my own writing and PR work to notice the dramatic rise? Whatever the reason, the market is really tight out there and conventional media attention is waning, falling by the wayside like AM radio when FM caught on.

Public relations work for a book is, to me, like climbing Mount Everest - uphill all the way. This old dog is still trying to learn the ropes of PR work online and through social media (it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.) The publishing companies do help some, but it all boils down to the author doing the grunt work and breaking that PR bubble.

I'd love to hear what all of my author friends out there have to say about the PR conundrum and how it's going for you.

Until next time...

G.I. Jive Proposal Continues

 

Seems like I'm always working on a book proposal and every time I say it's ready to go, it's not. I find more great stories to add to the mix. The same is happening with my latest proposal, another non-fiction history book, GI Jive: World War II and the Music That Helped Win the War.

I keep coming up with more and more wonderful songs from the era to include in the book that will tie together the history of World War II, life on the home front and battlefield with interviews and oral histories from those who lived through it, and the music that helped keep the world motivated to stop enemy aggression and conquest.

I was flipping around the TV the other night and came across a movie I haven't seen for a while - Hollywood Canteen with the Andrews Sisters, Betty Davis, Joan Leslie, and more and this song came on. It is the story of the "canteen" where soldiers, sailors, and airmen could go to dance, eat, and have a good time. There were many such canteens across the country, but this one, put together by Betty Davis, had to have been the best. All of the big Hollywood stars would volunteer to work and perform in the canteen.

I completely forgot about this great song by the Golden Gate Quartet, The General Jumped at Dawn.

As I said, the book will focus on the music that helped buoy the spirits of those at home and on the front lines during World War II. The title came from one of my favorite songs by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. Ok, I like ALL Louis Jordan songs but this one sticks in my head for days after I hear it. The G.I. Jive. Enjoy!

There will be more updates on the status of the proposal coming soon.

New Articles Have Posted

 

Been tied up wrapping up too many projects...again...and haven't been keeping up with my latest TravelAwaits posts. So, here I am with three new pieces.

The first one is about a great visit I recently had to the town of Monroeville, Alabama. Dubbed the "Literary Capital of Alabama" it is home to one Nelle Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. A great quaint little town to visit. (READ THE ARTICLE).

Next, I was asked to write something about Florida. The state has so many great natural and historic sites to visit. that TravelAwaits asked me to pick a few of my favorites. (READ THE ARTICLE).

Finally, I had the opportunity to write about one of my favorite National Recreational Trails - the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Orange Beach / Gulf Shores, AL. I've been walking / biking these trails for many years and it just gets better and better. You never know what to expect in terms of fauna and fauna. Recently, the trail was named USA Today's #1 Recreational Trail in America. (READ THE ARTICLE).

That's all for now. Plenty more to come!

Online Presentation This Sunday

 

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be doing an online presentation on my latest Falcon hiking guide, Best Easy Day Hikes Birmingham, THIS SUNDAY, April 2nd at 6pm and you are all invited!

The presentation will be a Google Meet meeting of the Women's Outdoors Club based in Alabama. I'll be discussing the book, take you to a few of my favorite easy hiking destinations in the Birmingham area, and will be giving away 2 autographed copies of the book and Hiking Alabama 5th Edition.

I hope you can join us. Here are the links you will need:

Meeting Place: Online, Google meet link: 1st hour: meet.google.com/jjk-frye-qex

2nd hour: meet.google.com/djx-reri-xkp

This Was a Tough One

 

My latest article on TravelAwaits was a tough one to write. It wasn't the topic that was difficult to write about. It was having to open up about myself a little. 

The piece presents tips on how to travel and still have fun when you are on a restricted diet. I wrote it as a nice, generic piece where I sympathized with those who are on restrictive diets and how traveling anywhere, in the country or abroad, can ruin a vacation if not prevent a person from travelling at all.

All was well until the editor asked for me to make it more personal, bring the story home by relating my own personal situation. Unless you are a close friend or family, I don't like talking about my health only tossing out a casual mention when someone asks me to go with them somewhere like on a hike (something I dearly love, as you know) and I can't due to having a bad day health wise. 

But, the editor was right. Opening up a bit personalized the article letting the readers know that I'm there with them and can sympathize. And while my situation isn't as bad as it could be or as severe as many of my readers are facing, it did help me realize that dietary restrictions can be handled properly and traveling is not out of the question. Oh, I still have a lot of pain that restricts my traveling, but food isn't going to stop me.

Here is a link to my latest article, "There's Nothing Here To Eat" on TravelAwaits.

New Online Shop

I know, it took long enough, but I finally have an online book shop where you can purchase a few of my books and I will personally autograph them for you. Simply place your order and I will be in touch with you to find out who I should personalize the book for. But hurry! Supplies are limited. They make great gifts for the outdoor recreationist and history lover in your life.

Available titles include:

• Space Oddities
• Hidden History of Mobile
• A History Lover's Guide to Mobile & the Alabama Gulf Coast
• Hiking Through History Alabama
• Hiking Alabama 5th Edition
• Best Dog Hikes Alabama
• Hiking Waterfalls Alabama
• Paddling Alabama 2nd Edition

Best Easy Day Hikes Birmingham

 

Reviews are starting to come in for my latest Falcon hiking guide, Best Easy Day Hikes Birmingham (AL) and they have been very positive.

Best Easy Day Hikes Birmingham (BEDHB) covers about 20 of the best hikes within 60 miles of downtown Birmingham ranging in difficulty from short, 30 minute to one hour jaunts to ADA accessible trails to longer half-day hikes that may be a little more challenging.

This was a fun guide to write with easy travel to all of the trails, several that I have never been on before, and a return to some old favorites including many of the waterfalls in the Birmingham area. Who doesn't love a waterfall?

As always, the book is loaded with all of the information you need to have an enjoyable hike - difficulty ratings, mileages, trail contacts, mile-by-mile description, maps, photos, you name it. The best part about BEDHB is that it is pocket size, small enough to carry with you in your back pocket, jacket pocket, or day pack.

The book is available now at most local brick and mortar book stores in the state as well as online at B&N, Books-a-Million, Amazon, and other online retailers.