Book Publicity – Joanne McCall Book Publicist

Your Publicity Campaign Ended. Your Pitch Didn’t.

Joanne McCall — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 16:00:10 +0000

Something happened recently that still makes me smile, even after all these years working with media. I heard back from someone I pitched approximately a year ago. A full year ago. Most authors and experts assume that when they send a pitch and hear nothing, the story is over, and sometimes it is. Sometimes the pitch landed badly, the timing was wrong, or the media contact simply was not…

Source

What a TV Producer Sees That You Don’t

Joanne McCall — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:00:40 +0000

This week, one of my clients sent me a video from one of her recent book events in Boston. It was lovely. It was professionally produced and beautifully edited. The team had great shots of her, her book, the event, and the people attending. It was exactly the kind of video you would be delighted to post on social media or on your website. There was only one problem. I was looking at it…

Source

Why A Great Pitch Can Get No Response

Joanne McCall — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:00:33 +0000

An author I know recently pitched a media outlet that made complete sense. It fit their “This outlet is perfect for me” test, which includes the following: The topic was right for them. The audience was right. The timing was good. The author had the expertise. It was the kind of match that makes you think, “Of course they are going to be interested.” And then… Crickets. Nothing. No response.

Source

It’s Already Holiday Gift Guide Season

Joanne McCall — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 16:00:33 +0000

Every year, authors make the same mistake with holiday gift guides. They wait until the holidays. On the surface that seems right, but when it comes to media, you often have to be thinking way ahead. By November, when the stores are decorated, holiday music is playing, and everyone is finally thinking about gifts, many authors decide it might be a good time to pitch their books for holiday…

Source

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…

Source

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…

Source

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…

Source

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.

Source

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.

Source

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?

Source