Finally understand what publicists know (and what your publisher isn’t telling you)
So you’ve written a book—congratulations! Now comes the fun part: convincing the world to actually read it. Our special guest, professional publicist Shanetta McDonald, will demystify the often-overwhelming world of book publicity, starting with why press coverage still matters in our digital age and how it translates into actual readers and sales.
We’ll break down the difference between what your publisher’s in-house team handles versus what external PR agencies do, plus help you figure out what you can tackle yourself versus when it’s worth hiring help. You’ll learn how to build your own roadmap through the publicity maze, with practical strategies that won’t break your budget.
Today’s media landscape is brutal. Journalists are drowning in pitches (they only open about 45% of what hits their inbox), newsrooms are shrinking, and news cycles move faster than a caffeinated hummingbird. But don’t panic—we’ll dive into the art of media pitching. Learn how to work with news cycles, understand lead times, and most importantly, how to develop compelling media angles that transform your book from just another title into a newsworthy story that editors and producers want to cover.
Whether you’re a debut author feeling lost or a seasoned writer looking to up your publicity game, you’ll leave with a FREE book media launch timeline and checklist–so you’ll know exactly what to do and when to do it–and the confidence to give your book the launch it deserves.
FREE - visit the link, drop your email, and you'll get the Zoom link the day before and a reminder one hour before. Or catch the replays on our YouTube channel @thewritersbridge