Joanne McCall Book Publicist

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 You? Why Now?

Joanne McCall — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:00:04 +0000

There is a question running in the back of every producer’s, reporter’s, freelancer’s, editor’s, and podcast host’s mind when they receive a pitch from you. Rarely is it spoken. Most of the time, it’s not. But it is always there. And the question is… Why you? Why now? Those two little questions sit quietly behind so many media decisions, and it is up to you to answer them almost…

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What Not to Do When You Want Earned Media

Joanne McCall — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:43 +0000

There is a line between being visible and looking desperate. And it’s a line that an author and expert needs to know. I once worked with a woman who was going to be in New York City. She had written a book and wanted national media attention, especially from the Today show. Her big idea? She planned to go down to the outdoor plaza at NBC, hold up her book on camera, yell and holler when…

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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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Your Book Publicity Plan Starts While You’re Still Writing

Joanne McCall — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:00:58 +0000

I recently spoke with an author who had finally finished her book. And I mean finally. After years of thinking about it, two years of writing it, rounds of editing, cover design, and formatting, she finally reached the end of the whole glorious, exhausting, emotional journey of bringing a book into the world. She was proud and rightly so. It is a very big deal. Then she said, “Okay…

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Big Media is Impressive. Fit is What Works

Joanne McCall — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:00:47 +0000

There was a time when top-tier media was not just the shiny prize. It was the thing that truly worked. A big national TV segment on Oprah, a major newspaper feature in the New York Times, a splashy magazine placement in People, was big. These could bring broad visibility, real credibility, and meaningful momentum in a way that was hard to match. This isn’t empty prestige. There’s a reason people…

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Why Earned Media Matters More in the AI Era

Joanne McCall — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:00:58 +0000

The other day, I was thinking about an author and expert who should have been easy to find. She is smart, credible, experienced, and deeply helpful. She has a good website, clear messaging, strong content, and a real body of work. The kind of person who has done everything people say to do and should be showing up all over the place. But when I looked at how AI tools were surfacing answers in…

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