Book Publicity – Joanne McCall Book Publicist

That Flattering Email May Not Be What It Seems

Joanne McCall — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:00:18 +0000

During my webinar earlier this week, an author asked a question that immediately got Stephanie and me talking. Stephanie Chandler is the founder of the Nonfiction Authors Association and was hosting the webinar. During the Q&A, one participant asked about emails she had been receiving about her book. They were very complimentary. Some sounded as though the sender had actually taken the time to…

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When Trust Is Already in Short Supply

Joanne McCall — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:08 +0000

Last week, I wrote about how AI can waste enormous amounts of your time. It can produce too many ideas, too many versions, too many directions, and too much material to sort through. Something that should have taken fifteen minutes can suddenly consume hours. Perhaps you have already discovered this. If you missed it, you can read it right here. But there is another consequence of AI that has…

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AI is Not an Oracle

Joanne McCall — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:00:27 +0000

AI is supposed to save us time according to all the talk online. And sometimes it does. It can help brainstorm ideas, organize information, suggest titles, tighten a paragraph, or point us toward an angle we had not considered. But there is another side to it that receives far less attention. AI can also happily waste hours of your precious time. I experienced this recently while…

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Are You Capturing the Moment or Missing It?

Joanne McCall — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 16:00:36 +0000

AI is helping us move forward in remarkable ways. It can generate ideas, organize information, refine a message, brainstorm titles, and suggest new ways to promote a book or business. But every so often, I notice something interesting. The more technology becomes part of our lives, the more obvious it becomes when it is not serving us. And sometimes, what works best is decidedly old school.

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Thought Leadership is Earned. Not Claimed.

Joanne McCall — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:00:08 +0000

Not long ago, an author came to me for a consultation and, early in the conversation, described themselves as a thought leader. I hear that phrase a lot now. It has become one of those polished terms people reach for because it sounds impressive, strategic, and established. So I asked a simple follow-up question. What do you want to be known for? Then there was a pause. I waited.

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When AI Looks for an Expert, Will It Find You?

Joanne McCall — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:00:04 +0000

I had a conversation with someone today who asked me a question I hear all the time from authors and experts. “What kind of media can I get, and what will it do for me?” It’s the first question people ask when they start thinking seriously about publicity for their book. Will I get on TV? Will I become a New York Times bestselling author? Will podcasts want me?

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They Wanted Oprah Because Oprah Was Oprah

Joanne McCall — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:00:06 +0000

Back in the day, when Oprah was still huge on network television, I used to do a little private experiment on discovery calls. I would silently time how long it took a potential client to ask about getting on Oprah. And honestly, I understood. Oprah had enormous power. There was nothing quite like her. She could move books, shape conversations, introduce authors to millions of people…

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Why Readiness Creates Visibility

Joanne McCall — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:00:53 +0000

Years ago, I worked with an author who had a wonderful message. She was smart, thoughtful, credentialed, and full of heart. The kind of person who truly had something meaningful to contribute to public conversations. And we were getting interest. An interview here, a feature there, a quote here, a request for tips there. Many were a chance to weigh in on a timely topic.

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The Red Sheep Gets Remembered

Joanne McCall — Mon, 18 May 2026 16:00:31 +0000

Sometimes you do not know which part of a presentation is going to stick. You prepare your slides. You shape your teaching points. You think carefully about what your audience needs to hear, and you hope the right ideas land in the right hearts at the right time. And then, a few days later, someone posts on LinkedIn. That is what happened after last week’s Nonfiction Writers Conference…

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Your Book Is Not Your Hook

Joanne McCall — Mon, 11 May 2026 16:00:03 +0000

There is something powerful that happens when a room full of nonfiction writers gathers together. Even if the room is virtual, you can feel it. The ideas, and the questions, and the quiet determination. The “I know I have something important to say, but how do I help people find it?” energy. Love it. There is nothing like it. That was the feeling at this week’s Nonfiction Writers Conference…

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