Joanne McCall Book Publicist

Prepared is Not the Same as Scripted

Joanne McCall — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:00:48 +0000

Once you have a clear point of view, the next question is: Can you say it clearly when it counts? (I wrote about developing a clear point of view last week right here.) This is where many very smart authors and experts get into trouble. They know their material and they definitely care about their message. In fact, they can talk about the subject for hours. But an interview is not hours…

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How to Find Your Point of View

Joanne McCall — Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:00:09 +0000

If you’re in the United States, I hope you’re enjoying a wonderful, celebratory Fourth of July weekend. Last week, I wrote about the fact that thought leadership is earned, not claimed. It is not a label you give yourself because it sounds good in your bio. It is something other people begin to call you when your ideas are clear, strong, and consistent enough that they associate your name with…

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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 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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