Featured Book of the Fortnight:

Five Fast Steps to Low-Cost Publicity by Barbara Florio Graham ...

... Called the best p.r. primer we've ever seen by Writing for Money, and acclaimed as not only informative but practically indispensable by Canadian Fund Raiser, this book has been excerpted in Canadian Living, P.R. World, Canadian Writer's Guide, SOURCES HotLinks, and many Canadian and U.S. newsletters. This manual is straight text, with no graphics or lengthy case-studies. It guides the reader through the steps necessary to identify your audience, understand the media, prepare for radio and TV, handle confrontational interviews, design brochures and other promotional materials, write effective letters to the editor, prepare for speeches and panel discussions, and much more.

Learn more about it and buy this book at: www.SimonTeakettle.com/publbk.htm

Our conversation with the author:

Writers-Editors Network: What inspired you to write this book?

Bobbi Graham: I was hired by a national organization to teach media training workshops and prepare a manual for them to give their members. I drew up a contract giving me the right to adapt the materials for a book of my own.

Writers-Editors Network: Do you plan on writing more books on this topic?

Bobbi Graham: I have revised the book several times, and may very well update it again.

Writers-Editors Network: Where is your favorite place to write books?

Bobbi Graham:   I tend to take extensive notes whenever ideas come to me, including in the car, in the shower, and especially in my den recliner.

Writers-Editors Network: Did you outline this book first? Or just start putting it together?

Bobbi Graham: I already had the outline of the workshop, but I added a few additional chapters to suit the audience I anticipated for the book: non-profit organizations and small businesses.

Writers-Editors Network: What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

Bobbi Graham: I had spent several years writing an entertainment column and listings for a local magazine, so I had seen every possible mistake inexperienced publicity people made. I had fun with these in a chapter called Media Horror Stories. It has appeared in many magazines and newsletters, including the journal of the Public Relations Society.

Writers-Editors Network: What was the biggest challenge in bringing this book to publication?

Bobbi Graham: Since this was originally developed as a teaching manual, I produced it with a spiral binding, intending to eventually turn it into a 6x9 book. But the format was very popular and it sold so well I kept reprinting it as is. The advantage was that it's easy to update, adding new pages to any chapter, or at the end.  It's not intended to be shelved at bookstores, so the lack of a spine isn't significant.

Writers-Editors Network: Do you have any writing rituals?

Bobbi Graham: Not really. I write all the time, in my head, and keep pens and paper everywhere, so I can capture any random thought as it occurs.

Writers-Editors Network: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Bobbi Graham: I was first published at the age of nine, but discovered school notebooks from even earlier that had the beginnings of stories in the back pages. I don't think I ever considered another occupation.

Writers-Editors Network: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Bobbi Graham: I love to read, to go to the theatre, to listen to music (and attend concerts), and to spend time with friends. I live alone, but belong to two groups who meet for dinner once a month, and several others who meet every couple of months. I also love working on my website.

Writers-Editors Network: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Bobbi Graham: Write something every day, and if you encounter a block (whether that's a bit of missing information or not being able to write the next sentence), put that piece aside and work on something else. Always have several projects on the go at once, so you can work on the one you're most excited about.

Writers-Editors Network: Who should buy this book?

Bobbi Graham: Everybody who handles publicity for a non-profit organization, any size group, or a small business. Authors with their own books to promote also find it invaluable.

Learn more about this book and buy it at: www.SimonTeakettle.com/publbk.htm