Book Publicity News

September Update

2009-09-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

I’ve launched a book blog today, Confessions of a Book Publicist, which takes you behind the scenes of the publishing business from the perspective of a book publicist.

Look for informative and entertaining stories about the book publicity business…anecdotes about the typical day in the life of a book publicist…the occasional book review or a favorite recipe or two… ruminations on my current reading…news about the books I am promoting…what really happens behind the scenes. The blog will be entertaining, filled with anecdotes, and will also shed light on what it’s like to work with the media. And, of course, it will be about books. So please take a look at Confessions of a Book Publicist.

It’s been a busy summer launching campaigns for two scrumptious and timely cookbooks: SEAFOOD ALLA SICILIANA: Recipes & Stories From a Living Tradition by Toni Lydecker (Lake Isle Press; September) and SIMPLY IN SEASON: Recipes that Celebrate Fresh, Local Foods in the Spirit of More-with-Less by Mary Beth Lind and Cathleen Hockman-Wert (Herald Press; September).

SEAFOOD ALLA SICILIANA takes readers on a Sicilian odyssey. As much a travelogue as a cookbook, this gorgeous book is filled with wonderful, simple and healthy recipes that Toni collected from Sicilian home cooks and professional chefs, while some are her own creative riffs on classic Sicilian themes. And it is the first cookbook to explore in depth the rich culinary dimensions of Sicilian seafood.

SIMPLY IN SEASON, is, simply, about eating in harmony with the seasons. The authors advocate preparing your meals with fresh, locally-grown produce raised in or near your community, in sync with the seasons. SIMPLY IN SEASON features anecdotes and discussions as to why it does make a difference to eat locally grown food. Alice Waters, Michael Pollan and our First Lady have all been outspoken proponents about the importance of eating fresh, locally produced fruits and vegetables. Now there is a cookbook that provides cooks with simple-to-prepare delicious recipes using fresh, seasonal produce. SIMPLY IN SEASON, at the vanguard of the locally-grown and seasonal food movement, couldn’t be more timely.

Just in time for the long, winter days comes a great mystery to curl up with: OVERKILL by Eugenia Lovett West (St. Martin’s Nov/Dec). If Jessica Fletcher from the TV hit series “Murder She Wrote” were a real-life character, she would be Eugenia Lovett West, who successfully launched her career as a mystery writer at the age of 81.

“This is a great and productive time of life,” says the 86-year-young West. OVERKILL is the second book in the Emma Streat series, following on the heels of Without Warning, which featured a 40-something attractive widow whose husband is killed in a hit-and-run accident. Determined to find his killer, Emma plunges into an international high-tech world—and into a brief affair with a sexy British spy in a suspenseful plot that the late Dominick Dunne praised as a “fast-paced page-turner.”

Stay tuned for more on OVERKILL in future postings, recipes from SEAFOOD ALLA SICILIANA and SIMPLY IN SEASON, media updates and more.

To briefly catch up on spring and summer news: I handled campaigns for two excellent mysteries, both of which received rave reviews.

For fans of Kyra Davis, the author who launched a chick-lit mystery series with Sex, Murder and a Double Latte, comes her latest in the series featuring the bi-racial, sassy Sophie Katz: LUST, LOATHING A LITTLE LIP GLOSS (MIRA Books). Davis cleverly uses the housing crisis as the backdrop for this hilarious, entertaining mystery, which is a blend of Mary Higgins Clark meets Bridget Jones. LUST, LOATHING AND A LITTLE LIP GLOSS is the novel that Sophie Katz fans have been waiting for, and the perfect introduction for new readers as well. It has everything a mystery fan could ask for: sex, murder, romance, a haunted house, suspense, lots of humor and just a little lip gloss for her chick lit fans.

THE SECOND DEATH OF GOODLUCK TINUBU (Harper) by the writing team of Michael Stanley, follows on the heals of their successful debut novel, A Carrion Death, which the New York Times Book Review praised as “A first novel saturated with local color. . . . Happily, Kubu is also hugely appealing—big and solid and smart enough to grasp all angles of this mystery. Readers may be lured to Africa by the landscape, but it takes a great character like Kubu to win our loyalty.”

THE SECOND DEATH OF GOODLUCK TINUBU is a murder mystery that takes readers into the heart of contemporary Africa. Set in Botswana and tied to a back story about the current turmoil in Zimbabwe and how the Rhodesian Bush War has forged strange relationships, both good and nefarious, this novel is haunted by the dissolution of these relationships.

A must-read for fans of Jhumpa Lahiri and all novels about the conflicts among the different generations of immigrant families is THE TRICKING OF FREYA, is a mesmerizing debut novel by Christina Sunley (St. Martin’s) about a family of Icelandic immigrants who settle in North America that More Magazine hailed as “an instant classic.” Three weeks on The San Francisco Chronicle’s bestseller list, THE TRICKING OF FREYA received many rave reviews. Scroll down to see what the critics have said about THE TRICKING OF FREYA.

I think I’m all caught up. Sorry for the lapse in postings. I will be blogging on a more regular basis from now on, writing chatty, entertaining stories on Confessions, and discussing in more depth the great books I’m promoting on my webblog.

I want to end here that reading books, writing about them and promoting books is a dream-come-true job for a book lover like myself. Happy reading to everyone this fall!

PRAISE FOR THE TRICKING OF FREYA by Christina Sunley

“Some novels, in addition to all else they accomplish, simply make great company: Christina Sunley's first novel is one, packed with delectable relationships and family secrets….Sunley has created much more to delight readers en route: characters we anticipate with curiosity and fondness, a deep reverence for the magic of language… In the character of Birdie, Sunley's made a marvel… Sunley's writing often enchants… I wish I had more room to quote from this ambitious work, packed with juicy events, dialogue and settings…”
—The San Francisco Chronicle

“An impressive debut novel by San Francisco writer Christina Sunley… This novel works on several levels: as a drama of family dynamics; as an immigrant story; and as a showcase for the author's broad and deep knowledge of Iceland.”
—The Seattle Times
“If all you know about Iceland is failed banks and Björk, The Tricking of Freya is a highly readable introduction…” —The Christian Science Monitor
“An instant classic…[a] luminous first novel…the story sparkles with the author’s love of language and of her own Icelandic culture. The book’s masterfully told final mysteries reveal themselves as magically as darkroom images appearing under the light.”
—More Magazine

"The author draws on her Icelandic heritage for this alluring and mystical story of a ... girl who discovers that family tragedies can haunt and shape many generations." —Good Housekeeping
“THE TRICKING OF FREYA is a fantastic story, full of myth and legend, family drama, epic landscapes, the search for identity, a sense of belonging and unconditional love… Sunley deftly weaves in real Icelandic and Norse history, Icelandic literature, culture and language into her tale, giving it a seriousness and depth that is compelling, romantic and readable… an accomplished debt.” —BookReporter.com
“Sunley's debut novel is an intricate family travelogue, based in the present of Icelandic-Canadian life and the half-mythical world of her grandparents' Iceland… This grand coming-of-age-novel boasts a dynamic set of characters and a rich bank of cultural and personal lore, making this dark, cold family tale a surprisingly lush experience.”
—Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“An astonishingly accomplished debut…a bewitching tale of volcanic emotions, cultural inheritance, family sorrows, mental illness, and life-altering discoveries.”
—Booklist

“…Amazing debut… Sunley's writing is truly poetic. She brings here settings alive in a way that will make you believe that you have been there and experienced it all yourself.
—BookBitch.com

PUBLIC TELEVISION PRESENTS AN ALL NEW SEASON OF PRIMAL GRILL ® WITH STEVEN RAICHLEN

2009-05-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

It's new. It's hot. It's Primal Grill^®with Steven Raichlen.

He’s the man who gave barbecue a college education. His books, THE BARBECUE! BIBLE, and HOW TO GRILL (Workman Publishing) are award-winning international best-sellers, with more than a million copies in print in 15 languages. His popular TV shows, BARBECUE UNIVERSITY^® and the French language LE MAITRE DU GRILL, have revolutionized the art of the grill in North America and beyond.

And now Steven Raichlen brings you his biggest, baddest, most comprehensive grilling show yet, with easy-to-follow instructions, close-up step-by-step technique sequences and mouth-watering, in-your-face food shots: Primal Grill^® with Steven Raichlen.

Shot on location at the historic Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico, just south of Tucson, Arizona, Primal Grill features Steven’s trademark teaching style and insights into barbecue culture and history. This year's shows are themed place and occasion, such as “In the Wild,” in which Steven shows viewers how to grill game and other wild foods, and “From the Farm,” which focuses on the best way to grill the fruits and vegetables. Occasion-oriented shows, such as “At the Game,” focus on grilling for sports fans, and “In a Hurry,” for people with more taste than time.

After the sizzling launch of the first Primal Grill (which aired in 95 percent of the PBS markets), the new Primal Grill features all new recipes ranging from chocolate chipotle baby back ribs (Raichlen’s riff on Mexican mole) to a spectacular lomo al trapo, Colombia's singular beef tenderloin wrapped in salt and cloth and grilled right in the embers. Another first this year, Raichlen demonstrates how to spit-roast a whole hog in the style of the Greek Islands.

“When it comes to flavor, nothing can beat meat grilled and served on the bone,” Raichlen explains in “On The Bone,” a show featuring plate-burying, Catalan-style wood-grilled veal chops; Korean butterflied beef short ribs grilled over charcoal; and an olive and rosemary-studded, smoke-roasted Provencale leg of lamb. “If you’ve ever grilled a veal chop or smoked a rack of ribs, you know that meat on the bone has the best flavor,” says Raichlen. “It also takes us back to the time before knives and forks when people had the primal pleasure of eating with their hands and fingers. So connect with your inner caveman.”

Primal Grill^®also features Steven's legendary fireside "chats" about his personal grilling experiences and philosophy, but this year, the chats will focus on his travels around the world's barbecue trail.

Award-winning, best-selling author, founder of the celebrated Barbecue University grilling school at the Broadmoor resort in Colorado Springs, Steven Raichlen is known as the man who reinvented American barbecue. A former Thomas J. Watson Foundation Fellow, Raichlen has a degree in French literature.

Visit Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen's website for a sneak preview of episodes to come.

Episodes:

In the Wild

By the Sea

On the Range

From the Farm

On the Vine

Around the Fire

On the Rotisserie

In a Pickle

Up in Smoke

On the Wing

On the Bone

At the Game

In a Hurry

If you are an editor or journalist wishing to cover what is quickly emerging as the hottest cooking show of 2009, please contact me, Susan Schwartzmanat 914-776-1380 or sjschwa@aol.com

UPDATE: The Tricking of Freya

2009-03-17T06:53:00.000-07:00

Bestselling author Christina Sunley gave a reading from her acclaimed novel, The Tricking of Freya, to a sold-out crowd at Seattle's famous Nordic Heritage Museum.

A powerful debut novel that explores kinship, loss and redemption, The Tricking of Freya deftly weaves together Iceland's distinctive history, ancient mythology, reverence for language, and passion for genealogy.

Many of those in attendance at the reading learned of Christina's debut novel through a review in The Seattle Times Book Review, which we placed and which is an example of what a grass-roots publicity campaign targeted to appropriate audiences can do to spread the word about a book.

Christina is elated and so are we.

And don't forget to take a look at Christina's lovely website, www.christinasunley.com, to learn more about the book and its fascinating author.

If you are a media professional wishing to interview Christina Sunley or review her book, please feel free to contact me, Susan Schwartzman, at sjschwa@aol.com or call me at 1-877-833-4276.

The Tricking of Freya Receives Rave Reviews

2009-03-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

The Tricking of Freya, a haunting debut novel by Christina Sunley, has just received rave reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle and The Seattle Times.

The Seattle Times Book Editor, Mary Ann Gwinn, calls The Tricking of Freya "an impressive debut novel" in the tradition of novelists like Jhumpa Lahiri and Junot Diaz that "works on several levels: as a drama of family dynamics; as an immigrant story; and as a showcase for the author's broad and deep knowledge of Iceland" and that offers "an armchair tour of a country of unparalleled beauty and strangeness."

San Francisco Chronicle Book Reviewer Joan Frank writes:

"Some novels, in addition to all else they accomplish, simply make great company" Christina Sunley's first novel is one, packed with delectable relationships and family secrets. It is a travelogue and cultural guide to what strikes most of us as an obscure and mysterious place: Iceland."

Booklist hailed The Tricking of Freya as an "astonishingly accomplished debut." Publishers Weekly praised it as a "grand...lush experience," and More Magazine called it an "instant classic" and "luminous first novel."

The Tricking of Freya is published by St. Martin's Press and is available in bookstores as well as online at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

To interview Christina Sunley or review her novel, please contact Susan Schwartzman Public Relations.

President Obama and the War on Terrorism

2009-01-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

Terry Turchie and Kathleen Puckett, former FBI agents and co-authors of HOMELAND INSECURITY: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe (History Publishing), were guests on KGO's Ronn Owens Show, one of the top talk shows in the San Francisco area on Tuesday, January 6th.

Terry and Kathleen gave their assessment of the latest developments in the war on terror and President-elect Obama's decisions to date regarding national security issues, including the announcement of former Clinton administration bigwig Leon Pancetta's nomination as head of the Central Intelligence Agency.

How safe is America today? What does the future hold for our national security? What has the incoming President already done to keep America safe? What will he have to do when he assumes office this month?

To find the answers, listen to the podcast of Ronn Owen's probing interview with Terry and Kathleen by clicking here.

Rave Review for Nick Stone's King of Swords

2009-01-12T09:37:00.000-08:00

The King of Swords by bestselling thriller writer Nick Stone received a rave review in the Chicago Sun Times last Sunday, January 4, 2009.

"...Stone is so gifted at creating intriguing character and suspense that it's impossible to put down," wrote book critic David J. Montgomery.

To read the review in its entirety, click here.

How Safe Is The Food We Eat?

2008-12-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

Dr. Lisa Weasel’s FOOD FRAY: Inside the Controversy over Genetically Modified Food (AMACOM; December 2008; $23.00 Hardcover) is a controversial and fascinating look at the global food fight that is changing the way we think about what we eat.

Just how safe are genetically modified foods? More than ten years ago, the first genetically modified foods took their place on the shelves of American supermarkets. But while American consumers remained blissfully unconcerned with the new products that suddenly filled their kitchens, Europeans were much more wary of these “Frankenfoods.” Even when famine struck Africa in 2002, several nations refused shipments of genetically modified foods, fueling a controversy that put the issue on the world’s political agenda for good.

Some of the issues Dr. Weasel explores in FOOD FRAY include:

How politics instead of ethics and science have driven the controversy over genetically modified foods.

How the general public is too often being duped and manipulated by propaganda about such foods.

How a huge campaign by big business to stop labeling foods may ensure that consumers can’t see what is really in the foods they are eating.

Lying beneath the surface of the story of genetically modified food is a deeper and more persistent narrative of how science, ethics, and politics intersect, not just in the US and Europe but in the legions of developing nations where some of the strongest debates surrounding GM food are currently taking place.

For a growing segment of the Americans, issues of where their food comes from, who controls the food supply, and what choices they make at the supermarket loom larger than ever. Consumers have recently staged mass protests against genetically modified foods that are not thus labeled, suggesting that there is strong opposition to such foods. Paradoxically, at the same time, genetically modified food is touted as the way to solve the world’s hunger problem and feed the world’s ever expanding populous poor.

FOOD FRAY separates truth from propaganda, science from science fiction. Dr. Weasel lays bare the reality behind genetically modified food.

WHAT MUST PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA DO TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE?

2008-11-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

Now that we have just witnessed a historical Presidential election, one question still lingers:

Are we safer today than we were before 9/11?

In their new book, HOMELAND INSECURITY: HOW WASHINGTON POLITICIANS HAVE MADE AMERICA LESS SAFE, two top former FBI agents, Terry D. Turchie and Kathleen Puckett, explain the threats to our national security and to our civil liberties, and why the United States faces an uncertain future as a result of the very steps Republican and Democratic politicians have taken in responding to the 9/11 attacks and in politicizing the "war on terror." The result, the authors contend, is that the risk of international and domestic terrorism directed against the United States and her citizens has not lessened but instead increased.

Even worse, the next successful attack on America will move the country further from the rule of law and trigger a government response that will endanger civil liberties, handing the terrorists a major victory in their quest to instill fear and change in the way we live our lives.

President-elect Obama can change the course, but only if he acts decisively to reverse the tide of bad decisions made hitherto and does what it takes to make America safe again. Turchie and Puckett outline how the next president can defeat terrorism while still preserving and protecting the greatness of American law and liberty. Among the many topics they discuss include:

What Obama must do to reverse the war on terror
How the political agendas of both parties are primarily responsible for virtually inviting the 9/11 terrorist attacks, not the failure of American law-enforcement or intelligence agencies.
How the incoming President can make certain that America's Number One national security issue must be the elimination of the al-Qaeda terror network.
How Obama can build a more trusting relationship with the new government of Pakistan.
Why the next administration must be aware that building new alliances throughout the world to fight terror may ignite the old sparks of the Cold War with former adversaries.
Why it is urgent that we find a way to repair and rebuild the relationship between American and Russia if we are to find alternatives to a confrontation with Iran, the world's premiere sponsor of terrorism.

Publisher's Weekly says Homeland Insecurity offers "fascinating insights...full of intriguing sidelights from inside the bureau." As we begin a new chapter in American history, HOMELAND INSECURITY challenges us to rethink our understanding of national security and our civil liberties.

Terry Turchie and Kathleen Puckett, PhD, are acknowledged experts in the field of terrorism and counterterrorism. Turchie was the driving force behind the capture of the two most elusive and solitary domestic terrorists in US history, including domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph. He is a former Deputy Assistant Director of Counterterrorism Division of the FBI. As an author and a principal of TK Associates, LLC, he speaks to hundreds of corporate and law-enforcement groups regarding how to solve complex terrorism cases.

Dr. Kathleen Puckett spent 23 years as a FBI Special Agent, where she was primarily involved in the investigation and analysis of cases involving foreign counterintelligence as well as domestic and international terrorism. Together with Turchie, she was instrumental in the apprehension of Eric Rudolph. She provides behavioral threat assessment consultation to international corporations and governmental security agencies, and is a law enforcement consultant to the Program of Psychiatry and the Law at the University of California at San Francisco. She is a frequent presenter at law-enforcement and mental-health community forums on the psychology of terrorism.

You can learn more about Terry Turchie and Kathleen Puckett at their website, www.tkassociatesllc.com. Or read their recent article in the The Huffington Post.

HOMELAND INSECURITY is published by History Publishing Co, LLC.

Fox Morning Show features Angela Medearis' THE NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN

2008-10-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

The nationally syndicated Fox Morning Show with Mike and Juliet recently featured Angela Shelf Medearis, known to the viewers of her acclaimed PBS Cooking Show as "The Kitchen Diva," demonstrating recipes from her new book THE NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN (Lake Isle Press; September 25, 2008; hardcover). While she was there Angela also taped a Thanksgiving cooking segment viewers won't want to miss (stay tuned for the date).

THE NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN is filled with authentic and historic recipes from the American South, West Africa, the West Indies, and Central America, recipes that are a unique blend of African, Latino, West Indian, European, and American foods. In fact, African slave chefs created one of the first "fusion" cuisines in America.

THE NEW AFRICAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN is a splendid testament to the immense contributions African-Americans have made to American cuisine. Angela gives readers an opportunity to explore the multifaceted culinary history within the African-American community and showcases recipes that are at the heart and soul of African-American cuisine.

Visit Angela's website at www.divapro.com to learn more about one of the stars of American culinary art.

THE SMART WOMEN'S GUIDE TO MIDLIFE & BEYOND: A No-Nonsense Approach to Staying Healthy After 50

2008-10-27T07:14:00.000-07:00

Dr. Robin H. Miller, co-author of THE SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO MIDLIFE & BEYOND: A No-Nonsense Approach to Staying Healthy after 50 is on media tour this week and will be appearing on the following shows across the country:

Monday, October 27, 2008

Seattle Live, Kong TV, an NBC affiliate, Seattle, WA
Conversations with Lizz Sommers, KISW Radio, Seattle, WA

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

AM Northwest, KATU-TV, Portland, Oregon

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Fox Morning News, KSWB-TV, San Diego, CA
KUSI Good Morning Show, San Diego, CA
6 WC-TV Morning Show, San Diego, CA

Authors Janet Horn, MD, and Robin H. Miller, MD, examine in comprehensive detail the crucial health issues that women over 50 should be concerned about and provide a step-by-step guide to screening, early detection, early prevention and alternative treatments to many of the diseases and conditions that afflict women in mid-life and beyond.

Unlike other books on the market, THE SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO MIDLIFE & BEYOND is not about chasing some illusory fountain of eternal youth. Instead, this book shows readers how to work with your body instead of against it to stay healthy and happy. Readers will discover practical, easy-to-follow steps they can take in order to feel good and continue feeling good in the years ahead.

Dr. Miller and Dr. Horn are both board-certified internists who have known each other since they began their medical training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. They have watched their bodies mature over the years and intimately understand the health issues that affect older women. They include their own personal experiences, relate first-hand stories of their patients, and give you all the information you need to age with good health, grace, and humor.

Aging well is about enjoying excellent health and feeling well. THE SMART WOMAN'S GUIDE TO MIDLIFE & BEYOND is an invaluable resource that can help you achieve that goal.

If you're a woman over 50, this may be the only health book you'll ever need.

(Media wishing to interview Dr. Miller or Dr. Horn should contact Susan Schwartzman Public Relations at 877-833-4276.)

Bestselling Author Nick Stone returns with THE KING OF SWORDS

2008-10-24T06:38:00.000-07:00

This December, HarperCollins releases THE KING OF SWORDS, another chilling thriller by British bestselling author, Nick Stone.

The advance reviews are in and Stone has already garnered three starred reviews for his latest book.

"Brilliant,"--Booklist starred review

"Chilling second thriller...The violence is every bit as gruesome as in Clarinet, but Stone expertly harnesses it to propel his multilayered saga of good, evil, and everything in between."--Publisher's Weekly starred review

"The Miami setting and Haitian voodoo backdrop give Stone's interesting noir thriller added weight...This series entry builds on Stone's award-winning debut, with [the protagonist] Mingus more complex this time an resulting in an even better read."--Library Journal starred review

Stone received raves for his debut novel, MR. CLARINET, which won almost every major mystery award available, including the 2006 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award for Best Thriller, the 2007 winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, the 2007 winner of the Macavity Award for Best First Novel, and a nomination for the 2007 Barry Award and the 2008 Gumshoe Award.

Visit Nick Stone’s website, www. nickstone.co.uk, to learn more about him and his latest novel.

Chef-author Pierre Thiam on NBC's Today in New York, October 26, 6:50am, EST

2008-10-23T07:56:00.000-07:00

Chef and restaurateur Pierre Thiam, author of Yolele! Recipes from the Heart of Senegal, will appear on NBC's Today in New York this Sunday, October 26, at 6:50am EDT to showcase the deliciously bold flavors of Senegalese cuisine, a spectacular synthesis of native African, Portuguese, French, Creole, and Vietnamese culinary influences.

The New York Daily News recently featured Pierre and one of his recipes in its Food and Dining section, noting that "we'll all soon be fans of Senegalese cooking."

Traditionally passed down from mother to daughter, the secrets of the Senegalese kitchen are collected here in one volume for the first time in English. Yolele! is sure to lead the way as African cuisine continues to emerge and takes its rightful place among the world's celebrated culinary traditions.

Yolele! gives readers a host of new culinary sensations, exotic yet easy-to-prepare creations. In addition to new takes on fish, beef, lamb, rice and other familiar ingredients, Yolele! introduces readers to fonio, a tasty, tiny-seed whole grain that has been an ancient mainstay of Senegalese cuisine now finding its way on to the American table. Nutritious and simple to make, fonio may prove to be one of the hottest upcoming culinary trends.

Pierre was born in Dakar, Senegal. He came to the States in the late 80s and devoted himself to exploring the city's many ethnic cuisines. He subsequently went on to demonstrate his culinary genius in upscale restaurants such as Garvin's, Jean-Claude, Boom, Zanzibar and Two Rooms, to name a few. Today, he is the chef and owner of Le Grand Dakar in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, which specializes in West African cuisine.

Watch Pierre Thiam this Sunday morning and enjoy a unique culinary adventure.

Yolele! is published by Lake Isle Press (September 2008).

Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World

2008-10-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Matthew Bishop and Michael Green have just published Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World (Bloomsbury Press), the first detailed analysis of the current global boom in philanthropy that examines how today's leading philanthropists are revolutionizing the field, using new methods to have a vastly greater impact on the world.

It’s had a great launch. During an interview, President Bill Clinton recommended Philanthrocapitalism to the members of his Clinton Global Initiative, saying “it is about you.”

New York City’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, calls it“a terrific book about how private money can help solve even the most difficult public problems. Philanthrocapitalism is the definitive guide to a new generation of philanthropists who understand innovation and risk-taking, and who will play a crucial part in solving the biggest problems facing the world.”

Of course, it may seem strange that a book extolling capitalism is hitting the bookshelves just as capitalism seems to be falling apart. But, to the contrary, these times make Philanthrocapitalism’s message all the more timely.

Why? First of all, the wealthy will be able to fare far better than most during this crisis and thus have the greatest opportunity to do the most good for others less fortunate. Second, as government budgets become tighter, there will be a greater need to philanthropy. Finally, philanthropic dollars will need to be used ever more efficiently, making philanthrocapitalism that much more necessary.

Matthew Bishop is American Business Editor and New York Bureau Chief for The Economist. He is also the author of Essential Economics, the official Economist layperson's guide to economics. He is a graduate of Oxford University.

Michael Green is economist by training. He taught at Warsaw University in Poland in the early 1990s under a Soros-funded program and worked as a freelance journalist. He is a senior civil servant at the Department for International Development, where he has managed British aid to Russia and Ukraine and run the communication department. Like Matthew, he is a graduate of the University of Oxford.

Take a look at Matthew’s and Mike’s website at www.philanthrocapitalism.net to learn more about the book and its authors.

HOMER'S ILIAD: A NEW TRANSLATION

2008-06-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that we are publicizing Herbert Jordan’s new translation of HOMER’S ILIAD (University of Oklahoma Press; September 2008; hardcover), which promises to do what Seamus Heaney’s translation of Beowulf did for that classic saga.

Intended for American audiences, this blank verse, line-for line translation skillfully steers a course between excessive literalism and mere contemporary colloquialism. Jordan makes the ILIAD more accessible to audiences than ever before while still conveying its austere beauty.

E. Christian Kopff of the University of Colorado and author of The Devil Knows Latin: Why America Needs the Classical Tradition says, “Herbert Jordan conveys the action and movement of the Iliad in contemporary language and a supple verse that is loyal to the traditions of English poetry. Teachers, students and lovers of great literature will find this highly readable translation one of the most accessible translations of the Iliad ever done.”

Award-winning writer and critic Luc Sante calls it “a remarkably fresh and clear translation…at once true to its ancient original and inviting to readers today.”

Faithful to the text yet not sacrificing the spirit of the poem, Jordan’s ILIAD captures the force and vigor of the original poem. The result is, says Pulitzer-Prize winning poet Henry Taylor, “a splendid achievement."

Homer's Iliad is a pivotal work in the history of Western culture. If you've never had the chance to read it or want to read it again, you'll find Herbert Jordan's HOMER'S ILIAD an excellent translation.

HOMELAND INSECURITY

2008-06-11T05:37:00.000-07:00

Why is America’s national security more vulnerable than ever before? Why have politicians from both parties betrayed our national security for the sake of partisan politics and personal advantage? And who are they?

HOMELAND INSECURITY: How Washington Politicians Have Made America Less Safe (September 2008, History Publishing Company, Hardcover, $24.95) by former FBI agents Terry D. Turchie and Kathleen M. Puckett give readers a disturbing insider’s look into how politicians’ devastating partisan political attacks have crippled the only government agency with the authority and capability to conduct investigations in the interests of both national security and domestic security: The FBI.

Turchie and Puckett pull no punches. This is the first book of its kind to name names and connect all the dots. Readers will be shocked as they discover politicians and bureaucrats who have:

Fraternized with America’s enemies, more to enhance their own power than to protect the national security.

Leaked classified information to the media with impunity--at the risk of the America’s security!

Looked the other way in the face of massive political corruption and bad behavior only to the detriment of the American people.

Abused their oversight authority to dictate political direction to the Bureau and make it their own personal fiefdom.

The nearly invisible behind-the-scenes operator who virtually ensured that the 9/11 Commission would never get at the whole truth.

When it comes to national security few know better than Terry D. Turchie and Kathleen M. Puckett as to what it takes to keep America’s enemies at bay. As FBI agents, they were pivotal in tracking down home-grown terrorists such as Theodore Kaczynski (otherwise known as the infamous Unabomber) and the Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph, and each played crucial roles in disrupting Soviet intelligence during the Cold War.

After 9/11, argue the authors, neither political party could afford to be labeled as the one that allowed that tragedy to happen. For a brief time, politicians of all stripes united in what appeared to be in the best interests of America’s national security. In reality, however, the real reason the politicians rallied was to protect the exposure of the shortsightedness and complacency they had all exhibited for years regarding the growing danger of terrorism.

HOMELAND INSECURITY promises readers a first-hand look at how over thirty years of reckless actions by both Republicans and Democrats in the service of their own political ambitions and addiction to power have crippled the ability of the FBI to protect America’s national security under the laws of the land. From Watergate to the current War on Terror, Turchie and Puckett present a clear case that the alleged ineptitude politicians have continually ascribed to the FBI is instead the direct result of their own self-serving agendas to promote their careers and advance their own political power. As a result, these politicians have critically endangered the American way of life in the 21^st century.

HOMELAND INSECURITY shows that the FBI is the only government agency with the authority to conduct investigations in the interest of national security as well as violations of federal crimes. The FBI’s culture of independence from political pressures and interference is the only guarantee to all Americans that its work will be thorough and impartial, regardless of the party or individuals in power. It must never be allowed to be a political pawn for elected officials. Not if America is to remain the home of the free.

About the Authors:

Terry D. Turchie is a former Deputy Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division of the FBI. His leadership was the driving force behind the capture of the two most elusive and solitary domestic terrorists in U.S. history. Turchie is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Award as well as the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service. From 2001 to 2007 he was the Director for Counterintelligence and Counterterrorism for the University of California at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. In his capacity as an author and a principal of TK Associates, LLC, he speaks to hundreds of corporate and law enforcement groups based on his knowledge of how to solve complex terrorism cases.

Dr. Kathleen M. Puckett spent 23 years as an FBI Special Agent, where she was primarily involved in the investigation and analysis of cases involving foreign counterintelligence and domestic and international terrorism. Dr. Puckett provides behavioral threat assessment consultation to international corporations and governmental security agencies, and is a law enforcement consultant to the Program of Psychiatry and the Law at the University of California at San Francisco. She is a frequent presenter at law enforcement and mental health community forums on the psychology of terrorism, as well as her own unique findings on what makes America’s most complicated adversaries tick.

Really Dangerous Liaisions

2008-03-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like a major sex scandal to grab everyone’s attention as proved by ex-Governor Eliot Spitzer’s scandalous behavior, which continues to make headlines.

What makes men risk destroying their careers and families for the sake of sexual gratification? Why would a politician indulge his lust at the expense of the public welfare?

No one knows better than Tracy Quan, author of the bestselling Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl and Diary of a Married Call Girl.

She will be appearing on The O’Reilly Factor at 8pm and 11pm EST to discuss Governor Eliot Spitzer’s sexual indulgences and his subsequent demise.

And don’t forget to check out her op-ed piece, Really Dangerous Liaisons, about the scandal in The New York Times today. You can read all about it here

Tracy is always insightful and thought-provoking, and tonight she should be at her best.

Don’t miss it.

NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOSEPH FINDER INTERVIEW - Part 2

2008-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

If you liked the first part of Joseph Finder's interview at Writer Unboxed , you'll love the second part of the interview as Joe shares his formula for writing blockbuster thrillers that command the respect of his loyal fans. Not only is Joe an ace novelist (and a great guy, to boot), but he is also a leading expert in corporate espionage. Aspiring writers will find his comments insightful and thought-provoking. It's a must-read.

NY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR JOSEPH FINDER INTERVIEW

2008-01-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

One of the top thriller writers today, NY Times bestselling author Joseph Finder, gave the first of a two-part interview to Writer Unboxed that appeared just this past Friday. (The next part of the interview will appear next week.) Joe shares his colorful past as well as his insights into what it takes to write successful fiction.

Whether you're an aspiring reader or an avid fan of the thriller genre, you'll find Joe's comments insightful and entertaining.

The Kosher Rachel Ray

2007-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Miami Herald recently hailed Jamie Geller, author of QUICK & KOSHER: Recipes From The Bride Who Knew Nothing (Feldheim Publishers), as the "kosher Rachel Ray."

If you live in the New York or Philadelphia area, you can see Jamie live this weekend. She will be appearing on NBC Today in New York live on Sunday, December 2nd at 6:40am, and on Monday, December 3rd, on WCAU-TV, the NBC affiliate in Philly, live on their morning show in the 11:00am.

Jamie, a spunky young TV exec, came into marriage and kosher cooking without knowing a spatula from a saucepan. Determined to master cooking yet short on time, she was dismayed to find that most cookbooks consider an hour of preparation time “quick,” and presumed more culinary skill than many of us have. So Jamie set out to compile her own special collection of quick and easy recipes—recipes with step-by-step instructions requiring no more than 15 minutes to prepare—that would deliver scrumptious, eye-catching, satisfying meals to impress her family and friends.

She succeeded.

Today, Jamie is an accomplished cook who presents every dish with professional flair. And she never compromises her 15-minute time limit in the process. In fact, most recipes require less than 10 minutes before they are popped into the oven, set atop the stove or served directly to her guests!

QUICK & KOSHER is the result of her quest, a one-of-a-kind cookbook with more than 160 recipes and 120 full-color photos of recipes for everyday meals as well as traditional Chanukah favorites

If you're searching for the perfect holiday gift for Hanukkah or just want to discover how to make delicious kosher food quickly and easily, take a look at Quick & Kosher.

Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl Goes To Hollywood

2007-11-01T11:26:00.000-07:00

Darren Star, the producer and writer who adapted Sex and the City for HBO, has just announced that he is creating a new series based on Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, the novel written by Tracy Quan.

Like Candace Bushness, whose book, Sex and the City, was based on her sex column for the NY Observer, Tracy Quan's novel, Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl, was based on her sex column for salon.com. An editor who read her column made a book deal with Tracy, and now her book will become the basis of a new HBO series.

According to The Hollywood Star Reporter, “Diary," from Darren Star Prods. and Sony Pictures TV, is an ensemble show that takes a look at how power, sex and money collide through the eyes of a group of Manhattan's highest-paid escorts forced to juggle their johns, jobs and relationships.

"These women are not at all ashamed or stigmatized by what they do. In fact, there is something aspirational about it," Star said. "No one has quite looked at the world of high-end call girls, and this show intends to do that."

I consider Tracy to be more than just a client. She is also a friend and I wish her the best of luck with her latest success.

For more details about what is sure to be another new, exciting and award-winning series for HBO, go to The Hollywood Reporter article.

Joan Hamburg Show Interviews Reva Mann, Author of the Rabbi's Daughter

2007-11-01T10:38:00.000-07:00

Reva Mann, whose sensational memoir, The Rabbi's Daughter, is creating a stir on both sides of the Atlantic, was interviewed on the Joan Hamburg show for a full hour this past Tuesday, October 30th.

In this raw, riveting memoir, The Rabbi’s Daughter, Reva Mann, granddaughter of the head of the Rabbinic Council of Israel and daughter of a highly respected London rabbi, takes readers on an extraordinary journey from her wild-child years of debauchery and rebellion to marriage to a religious scholar in Israel and immersion in the world of the ultra-Orthodox. Ricocheting between these extremes as her heart and soul pull her first one way and then the other, she struggles for a life of balance and equilibrium, and ultimately finds her way.

Profiled on the cover of the London Sunday Times Magazine and in scores of newspapers when her book was published in the U.K. this past summer, Reva and her story struck a deep chord with readers and reviewers abroad. With its timeless themes of rebellion, redemption, and survival The Rabbi’s Daughter will speak just as eloquently to readers here. For those of any faith who have grappled with questions of spiritual identify, and for anyone fascinated by traditional religion and its attractions for those in modern society, Reva Mann’s memoir is an unforgettable read.

If you missed the live interview, you can still listen to it by going to The Joan Hamburg Radio Show website .

The Montel Williams Show Features Dr. Amy Zabin

2007-09-11T11:06:00.000-07:00

Dr. Amy Zabin, author of Conversations with a Pedophile, will appear on The Montel Williams Show on Thursday, September 13th, 2007. Please consult your cable or TV guide for local times and channels or go to www.montelshow.com

Dr. Zabin is a nationally recognized expert on sexual offenders and, at the request of Attorney General Lisa Madigan of Illinois, gave testimony in 2003 regarding the issue of lifetime supervision of sex offenders in Illinois in order to protect the women and children of Illinois from sexual predators and to reduce recidivism.

She has also appeared on television shows such as The O’Reilly Factor and The John Walsh Show as well as numerous radio shows, including The G. Gordon Liddy Show.

Dr. Zabin is currently a practicing music therapist. She is the founder and director of The Music Therapy Center of Greenwich and serves on the faculty for the Graduate Music Therapy program at New York University.

Anyone concerned for the welfare of their children and their community will not want to miss what Dr. Zabin has to say on this Thursday's episode of The Montel Williams Show.

Joseph Finder's Killer Instinct Wins Prestigious Thriller Award For Best Novel

2007-07-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that Joseph Finder's KILLER INSTINCT, won the International Thriller Writer's prestigious Thriller Award for Best Novel this past weekend in New York City. For more information about the award, visit the International Thriller Writer's website at www.thrillerwriters.org.

A New York Times bestseller, KILLER INSTINCT bristles with intrigue and treachery as its protagonist Jason Steadman learns the price of success the hard way. Just how far will a man go to make it to the top?

And now there's more...

POWER PLAY, Finder's latest thriller that explores the ultimate corporate nightmare just waiting to happen, is due out from St. Martin's on August 21st. As with all of Joe Finder's novels, You don't want to miss it.

Visit Joe's website at www.josephfinder.com to learn more.

Joe is a great guy, fun to work with, and a brilliant author.

Congratulations, Joe !

TARGETING THE RIGHT MEDIA MARKET FOR YOUR BOOK

2006-02-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

A colleague of mine gave me a gift this summer, and she didn't even know it was my birthday:

She recommended an author to me.

When the author, Professor Alan Nadel, called and told me the title of his book, TELEVISION IN BLACK-AND-WHITE AMERICA: Race and National Identity (University Press of Kansas; October 2005), I wondered why my colleague had passed on the book. She specializes in promoting literary and academic books, so this one should have been perfect for her.

In TELEVISION IN BLACK-AND-WHITE AMERICA, Professor Nadel traces how shows such as Bonanza, Disney Productions, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Gunsmoke, The Burns and Allen Show, Route 66, Wyatt Earp, Rawhide, I Love Lucy, Make Room for Daddy, The Virginian, Davy Crockett all helped to underscore racial discrimination and bigotry throughout the fifties and sixties.

To me, a campaign for this book was a no-brainer. And it was. I successfully booked Professor Nadel on a dozen or more NPR radio programs.

I kept the author busy with provocative interviews with intelligent talk show hosts on NPR programs that included The Tavis Smiley Show (a perfect venue for this book), Media Talk on Wisconsin Public Radio, and many other shows. (As of this writing, I'm still getting calls from radio stations wanting to schedule interviews with Professor Nadel--4 months after the campaign ended!)

It was a cut-and-dry campaign, and a pleasure to book.

The author did not have unrealistic expectations. He did not expect to get on Oprah or The Today Show. But he did think, quite correctly, that the media market for his book was NPR.

Authors often want to hire publicists for the big hits only: Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America. But as Socrates might have said, "Know thy book." And there are often golden opportunities for a book that might not be right for Oprah.

CAN YOU BELIEVE A PUBLICIST'S HYPE?

2005-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

When the author is as good as M.J. Rose you can.

M. J. Rose has written a series of psychological suspense novels that break all the rules. M. J. Rose goes beyond the genres of the traditional thriller and erotica into a territory she alone can claim. Her erotic thrillers, which explore intimacy and power, feature a protagonist that you won't find in any other crime novel: Dr. Morgan Snow -- a sex therapist.

M. J. Rose's career as an author is based on breaking the rules. She received wide acclaim when she became the first self-published e-book author to be picked up by the Literary Guild and a mainstream New York publishing company seven years ago.

Based on solid research, THE DELILAH COMPLEX (January 2006; MIRA Books), her second book in the Butterfield Institute Series, examines women’s sexuality, women’s power and powerful men who enjoy being sexually dominated by women. The place where these men seek sexually aggressive women is the Scarlet Society, a fictional secret sex club based on actual sex clubs that exist throughout the country. Fear pervades The Scarlet Society when male guests are suddenly turning up dead. Photos of their corpses are being sent to The New York Times with locks of the victim’s hair enclosed in sandwich bags.

Dr. Morgan Snow becomes involved in the murder investigation when members of the Scarlet Society come to her as patients.

In the first book in series, THE HALO EFFECT, M. J. Rose explores the world of sex workers, and why rich and powerful men visit call girls. A serial killer is on the loose, murdering prostitutes with ritualistic precision. His calling card: he clothes his victims in nun's habits before committing his brutal slayings.

When I finished THE HALO EFFECT -- in less than two days because I couldn't put it down -- I told M.J. that I couldn't imagine a better book. Not only is it a page-turner that has you on the edge of your seat, but it answers the questions many of us have about the world of prostitution -- and why rich and powerful men seek high-priced call girls. I found it as insightful and fascinating as it was enthralling.

M. J. replied that she felt THE DELILAH COMPLEX was even better. I found it hard to believe, but M.J. is at the top of her game in THE DELILAH COMPLEX. She again probes the demimonde -- secret sex societies that do exist -- and depicts a taboo subject with insights that reveal the humanity in her characters, while never skipping a beat in a thriller whose pace never lets up until the last page.

Publishers Weekly hailed THE HALO EFFECT as "Potentially Explosive." And it is presently in development as a feature film with Lou Pitt at the Pitt Group.

But if you don't believe my hype, then I urge you to read M. J. Rose. And I dare you to read her books in more than three days. They are just impossible to put them down. THE DELILAH COMPLEX will be in bookstores just as the holiday season winds down. The perfect time to chill out with a chilling read.

www.mjrose.com

FALL FRENZY

2005-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

As usual, September has been filled with author tours, author tours, and more author tours. For those of us in the book business, the cycle of the seasons is reminiscent of our childhood. After a sleepy summer, filled with lazy days by the pool, it's back to school, so to speak, when the wheels of the fall frenzy kick in.

This summer was not so sleepy for me, however. I was gearing up for a huge campaign for the MOM AND ME COOKBOOK: Have Fun in the Kitchen (DK Publishing; September 2005), by Annabel Karmel, an international bestselling author and guru to moms with young kids who refuse to eat. Her previous book, FIRST MEALS: Fast, Healthy and Fun Foods to Tempt Infants and Toddlers, has become the Bible for young mothers.

In her new book, Annabel says the best way to motivate finicky eaters is to get children involved in the kitchen. "Children will eagerly eat something they have prepared themselves and take great pride in watching someone else enjoy their food,” says Annabel.

Annabel, who was featured in the October 3rd edition of Newsweek, enjoyed a whirlwind cross country tour with plenty of media coverage.

Scheduled to be a guest on The Early Show on September 21st, however, Annabel was one of the many authors feeling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's coverage. I spoke too soon on August 29th, when I mentioned in my blog, that "I was grateful I didn't have any authors scheduled for a morning show today who would end up sitting in the green room as the hurricane coverage preempted their interviews."

As the coverage of Hurricane Katrina's devastation continued throughout September, Annabel was one of the many authors who got bumped from a national morning show. But the good news is, she will be appearing sometime before Christmas (stay tuned).

Jennifer O'Connell will be touring Philadelphia this October. Her new book, OFF THE RECORD (NAL; September 2005; $12.95), is a fictionalized look inside the music business. Loosely based on a popular recording artist, OFF THE RECORD traces the comeback of a former pop sensation and explores the public's fascination with the real identity of people in hit songs such as You're So Vain.

Jennifer will be discussing the parallels between her character, Teddy Rock and the rock star who inspired his character on WCAU-TV News 10 (NBC Affiliate and Philly's top morning show) in Philadelphia on October 17th. She will be signing books at Barnes & Noble in Rittenhouse Square the following evening.

Alan Nadel, Ph.D., explores the birth of television in his provocative new book, TELEVISION IN BLACK-AND-WHITE AMERICA: Race and National Identity (University Press of Kansas; October 25, 2005). Professor Nadel traces how popular TV programs such as Bonanza, Disney Productions, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Gunsmoke, The Burns and Allen Show, Route 66, Wyatt Earp, Rawhide, I Love Lucy, Make Room for Daddy, The Virginian, Davy Crockett all helped to underscore racial discrimination and bigotry throughout the fifties and sixties.

Nadel will be discussing his book on various NPR programs throughout the country this fall.

On a lighter note, Liz Maverick writes about the hottest craze among Americans everywhere in her new novel, CARD SHARKS (NAL; December 2005). Poker has become a national obsession, according to USA Today, which reports "they're doing it in Vegas, and in family rooms, dorm rooms and senior centers across the country. They're even doing it on TV."

In CARD SHARKS, "They're doing it in Vegas" as well, as one of the heroines finds herself competing in the high stakes World Series of Poker against some of poker's greats as she and her best friend discover that all the eligible boys are holed up in casinoes and backrooms playing poker.

Ally Carter, has also written a card-themed novel, CHEATING AT SOLITAIRE (December 2005). This debut novel pokes fun at self-help gurus and the media. The protagonist, a bestselling author and self-help guru, is about to embark on a book tour when the paparazzi capture her in a compromising photograph that threatens to sabotage her forthcoming book.

Set in the cut-throat Los Angeles fashion industry, Beth Kednrick’s FASHIONABLY LATE (Downtown Press; January 2006) offers a juicy glimpse into the treachery and lies churning beneath the glitz and glamour. Reminiscent of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, Kendrick’s protagonist finds that talent will only get her so far in the ruthless world of high fashion.

Stay Tuned:
Sue Carter, a former television anchor who interviewed authors on book tour for an NBC Affiliate in Detroit, finds herself on the other side of the fence. She has just published a book about an all-female expedition to the North Pole.

Kyra Davis, the author of SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE (Red Dress Ink; May 2005), has a sequel coming out this spring, PASSION, BETRAYAL AND KILLER HIGHLIGHTS (Red Dress Ink; 2006).

Angela Henry, the author of THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (BET Books; May 2005), also has a sequel coming out this spring.

I will be discussing all of the above, plus additional exciting news in a future blog, so stay tuned...

WHEN YOUR BUDGET IS LIMITED: TO HIRE OR NOT TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE BOOK PUBLICIST

2005-09-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Many authors wonder if it is worth it to hire an outside publicist, especially when your budget is limited. In my experience both as an in-house publicist and manager of a publicity department, as well as an outside publicist, I can tell you that most authors receive a very limited amount of publicity from their publishers.

Even bestselling authors and authors who receive large advances can benefit from the time, attention and creative efforts that an outside publicist will put into your campaign.

Publishers generally print advance reading copies (arcs or galleys) which are sent to monthly magazines and national media. But persistant follow-up is essential in this business, especially for a new or relatively unknown author. For such authors, a successful campaign will more often than not depend upon outstanding press materials and, more importantly, a focused concentrated effort to create the buzz about their book.

You will probably not receive the focused follow-up from an in-house publicist that you need to really get the word out. Think about this: Every editor out there receives hundreds of books a month. Some packages don't even get opened.

When I call editors the first go-around, it is to make sure they received the book. In many cases, either the package remains unopened, or the book is lying in a huge pile of books that an editor hasn't had the time to sort through. A head-ups call, followed by a creative pitch will put your book on the editor's radar.

In the 15+ years I've been handling publicity, I can tell you that I have garnered my authors review attention that they would not have otherwise received by making numerous follow-up calls and e-mail pitches until I hear definitively from the editor as to whether or not they will review a book.

In one case, after I made my first round of follow-up calls for a chick lit mystery, I e-mailed a teaser excerpt from the book. Even though Cosmopolitan Magazine had told me they received the galley, minutes after I e-mailed the teaser excerpt, I received a call from the book editor's office asking me to overnight a galley. The book was one of three titles reviewed several months later.

I have gotten review attention for debut novelists and first-time authors who would not have received coverage had they not hired an outside publicist. And I handle smaller campaigns for those who have limited budgets.

The author who received a review in Cosmopolitan hired me for a huge campaign, which included newspaper coverage, television, radio and a 3-city tour. But even if she spent a small portion on magazine coverage only, as many debut novelists do, that one placement in Cosmopolitan would have been worth it.

Consider this: one placement in a national magazine gets read by thousands, in some cases, millions of readers. Even if your advance is small, it is worth it to get your book noticed. You are writing your book for an audience. You want people to read what you have written. If you don't take charge of your book's campaign, you are relying on luck and chance. If you do take charge, your publicist can complement the efforts of your publisher, and do much, much more to ensure that your book gets media coverage.

Another example of how an outside publicist can work for you is getting coverage in creative ways, or through the back door. I was trying to get a debut novelist coverage in a particular magazine who passed on her book. I suggested to the author that she write an essay on the subject of her novel, and I managed to place her essay in the very same magazine. Her byline also mentioned her book, which is always great coverage, and media attention that she would not have received if she had not hired an outside publicist.

Nothing is a guarantee in this business. And, of course, there are the rare debut authors who get review coverage without the extra push of an outside publicist. More often than not, however, an outside publicist will get you more publicity than if you simply relied on your in-house publicist. Two heads are better than one.

I also strategize with authors on what type of publicity is best for their particular book. Some books, such as self-help books, are usually not review driven. In the case of self-help books, for example, you are more likely to get booked on television than a novelist would. If you are an expert on a subject, magazines will interview you when they are doing a story on your particular subject of expertise. Or you may get quoted in newspapers when they are doing a story on your subject of expertise. Magazines may even excerpt your book. In some cases, you will get profile coverage.

The bottom line: it's a win/win for an author to hire an outside publicist, even if you have a limited budget.

2005-09-01T05:32:00.000-07:00

LITERARY LEGENDS OF NEW ORLEANS

The images of a city's devastation whose old-world charm and artistic ambiance beckoned such writers as Faulker, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Tennessee Williams, is hard to comprehend. People being airlifted to safety, homes ruined, streets flooded with contaminated water, and people being evacuated from their homes, is the New Orleans that now exists.

Tennessee Williams, who found creative inspiration in New Orleans, said that he came to the city "as a migratory bird going in search of a more congenial climate."

Many other writers have been captivated by New Orleans, including Sherwood Anderson, Walker Percy, John Kennedy Toole, James Lee Burke. Lillian Hellman spent time in New Orleans, and wrote about a New Orleans family in Little Foxes. And other great literary legends have visited this seductive city, including Truman Capote.

New Orleans is also the birthplace and home of bestselling author Anne Rice.

Let's hope that someday soon, the city will flourish again, beckoning once more the creative spirit that thrived there for so many years.

And let's hope that all of the displaced people who have become homeless and have been forced to put their lives on hold will be able to call New Orleans and Mississippi home again.

For those interested in how they can help Katrina's victims, or donate money, please click on the following link:

Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

2005-08-31T08:33:00.000-07:00

LABOR DAY MUSINGS

One of the first campaigns I ever handled was a 20-city tour for BARBECUE! BIBLE (Workman) by Steven Raichlen, the country's leading barbecue and grilling guru (yes, there is a difference between barbecue and grilling).

Steven's recipes always receive fabulous reviews as he's a grillmeister like no other. He's been featured on Oprah, The Today Show and Good Morning America, demonstrating his spectacular sizzling steaks, beer can chicken, grilled dill tomatoes and corn on the cob (check out Steven's website at www.barbecuebible.com). Being an apartment dweller, I've always regretted that I haven't been able to sample Steven's fare (except on those occasions when I've vacationed at beach houses with a grill).

The good news for all you apartment dwellers out there, is that this Labor Day you can enjoy the most scrumptious barbecue recipes from Steven's latest book, INDOOR GRILLING (Workman). And I can personally attest that the recipes are delicious and easy. For you lazy cooks, try Steven's compound butter, a combination of a stick of butter blended in a food processor with 4 fresh sage leaves, 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper and salt to taste. Spoon over grilled swordfish, salmon or almost any other grilled fish, chicken or veal chops.

What could be easier?

Foodies who live near Connecticut and are looking for a quick weekend getaway, it's worth a trip to Simsbury, Connecticut (2 hours from NYC), to try Metro Bis. Chef and co-owner Chris Prosperi prepares memorable dishes that whet your appetite for more. His slow-roasted Neiman Ranch pork just melts off the bone and is the best I've ever had. Gilbert, my partner, and I, stayed at a wonderful B&B, and worked off the three spectacular meals we had hiking up Talcott Mountain, the highest point in Connecticut that has breathtaking views of three states.

Chris's wife, Courtney Febbroriello, who is co-owner of Metro Bis, wrote a charming memoir, WIFE OF THE CHEF (Three Rivers Press), that I promoted a year and a half ago. If you've ever fantasized about opening a restaurant, WIFE OF THE CHEF is a must read. It is also a great behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in the restaurant biz. As Anthony Bourdain, author of KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL says, “WIFE OF THE CHEF is the other side of the story. Anyone who thinks it would be ‘marvelous’ to be married to a chef…should read this nuts and bolts, stinkfoot–and–all account of love and biz in the restaurant business.”

Happy Labor Day, whatever you do.

September 6th is back to school, and the end of those luxurious lazy days of summer. Post Labor Day begins with a frenzied pace that has no let up until Thanksgiving for most book publicists, since fall is the busiest season of the year in the book biz. Stay tuned for a line-up of my ecclective fall list.

2005-08-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

Bad reviews, media mistakes and other media mishaps:

Dealing with the media can be very frustrating at times. Take today, for example, when I called various NPR producers of very high-brow, intellectual shows. "If you don't have anyone from New Orleans, I can't talk to you." Click.

The hurricane preempted all the news media today, and monopolized producers' time all over the country, but fortunately, I did get responses to my pitches from some producers, so the day wasn't a complete exercise in futility. I was grateful I didn't have any authors scheduled for a morning show today who would end up sitting in the green room as the hurricane coverage preempted their interviews. That happened to an author of mine many years ago when a blizzard was deemed more important than his book, and the morning show never did reschedule his interview.

Last week, my delight in seeing a google-alert in my in-box when I returned from a three-day getaway, was quickly soured after I read the trend story in The Washington Post that featured two of the books I was promoting.

One book received a glowing review, while the other was slammed. I felt like the parent of the twin Olympic star gymnasts when one twin won a medal and the other didn't.

But what was worse is that the reviewer didn't even get the setting right of the book she panned. It makes one wonder if she even read the book.

When you read newspapers or listen to the news, you'd like to think that the information you are receiving is accurate. But I can't tell you how many times the media gets it wrong. Like the time Angela Henry, author of the debut novel, The Company You Keep, was quoted in a newspaper trend story, only she was called Angela Harvey. And her book was not mentioned. So there was no way anyone would ever be able google her, find out about her book, and purchase it. The excitement of getting interviewed by a major national newspaper turned into disappointment, and worse -- lost sales --when the story ran.

Or the time I got Angela's local newspaper to run a profile story right before her August 13th booksigning. Only August 13th came and went and there was no story, even though Angela was interviewed. When I called the editor, he said the story was going to run in several weeks. I replied that I thought the story was running to tie-in with Angela's booksigning.

The editor said that he had no idea Angela was doing a booksigning. This, after I verbally pitched him, telling him the date, time and place of the signing, followed up with an e-mail pitch listing the event, followed up with an enclosed handwritten note attached to the press materials with the booksigning information. If this was not enough, Angela, of course, told the reporter of the upcoming event.

When the author whose book got panned in The Washington Post said she wished that I hadn't even told her about the review, I said, the good news is you were reviewed in The Washington Post. And when your next book comes out, we can tell everyone that you were reviewed in The Washington Post.

You can turn almost anything to your advantage with a positive spin. So even bad publicity is better than no publicity. I know some of you out there will disagree, but think about this. A cookbook I recently promoted was criticized by a major newspaper because the recipes were confusing, or contained omissions. The author was quite upset. But what he failed to grasp is that the critic also said he was passionate about his subject and that the book contained beautiful food photography -- which is not only a selling point for those interested in the subject matter of the book -- but more importantly, can be used as a cover quote if the book goes back to press, or on his next book's jacket.

The worst thing that ever happened to an author was getting a booking on Oprah. How could that be bad? you're thinking. When the producer sits you in the audience, and Oprah never once addresses you. And the camera never once veers your way. I don't know if the author ever said he was on Oprah. But he sure could have honestly said he was invited by Oprah to be a guest on her show.

Publicity, like anything else in life, has risks along with rewards. But if you don't take the risk, you'll never experience the high of seeing your picture in the paper alongside a fabulous profile, getting that good review from another critic, being in the spotlight for a 3-minute television segment, or being interviewed on the radio. And let's face it. Besides selling books, getting great media coverage is exciting. It's the icing on the cake. And as one of my authors recently said, "I want the icing."

2005-08-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

I recently read on a popular author’s blog an author’s comments on feeling helpless about getting media attention for her book. After being turned down by a major national radio program that she thought would be a perfect forum for her book, and not expecting major newspaper coverage, she asked what a midlist author should do in order to get media coverage?

I e-mailed her and suggested that she should consider hiring an outside publicist. She asked me what I would do for her. I outlined a detailed and very effective campaign strategy that I conducted for debut novelist, Kyra Davis. The campaign consisted of a mix of print, television and radio coverage over a course of six months.

The author replied that she had already been reviewed in several newspapers, including The San Francisco Chronicle and Boston Globe. She didn’t understand why she should hire me after getting several reviews in those two major newspapers.

Unfortunately, a handful of reviews usually isn’t enough to really get the word out about your book.

I am frequently asked by first-time authors why they should hire an outside publicist. In June, I participated on a panel sponsored by Backspace (www.bksp.org), a website devoted to help writers learn about the publishing industry and how to get published, and was asked the same question. (I held a detailed on-line chat about publicity that you can read on that website as well.)

The answer is simple: Good publicity is often the difference between getting your name out there to readers and remaining an unknown author, leaving it to chance to sell your book. It’s the difference between getting the media’s attention, which translates into better book sales, and your book becoming lost on the shelves, only to be returned to the oblivion of the publishers’ warehouse three months later.

What’s more, many bookstores may only order a single copy or none at all if the book doesn’t receive extensive media coverage.

Even established authors’ books don’t necessarily sell if they don’t receive media coverage which alerts the public that they have a new book out.

Let’s take a closer look at Kyra’s campaign…

The publicity campaign I handled for her debut novel, SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE, got her wide media coverage, including not just several newspaper and magazine reviews, but more than a dozen reviews, profiles and trend stories, including The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Houston Chronicle, The Denver Post, The Detroit Free Press, The Oregonian, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Boston Herald, Santa Cruz Sentinel, Cosmopolitan, and Ebony (for a complete listing of media coverage, please visit my website at www.susanschwartzman.com).

In addition, Kyra was also a guest on top television programs in Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, and was interviewed by top radio programs throughout the country as well.

The result?

Kyra’s book hit #8 on the B&N Hardcover Mystery Bestseller List as a result of the media coverage her book received. And her Amazon rankings experienced tremendous spikes after every review, television appearance and radio interview that Kyra did. Her book not only sold well during the campaign, but the media coverage she received laid the ground-work for her next book. Kyra Davis and SEX, MURDER AND A DOUBLE LATTE now has name recognition with readers, the media, and booksellers.

And it is all because she hired an outside publicist.

2005-08-11T07:23:00.000-07:00