Blog - Claire McKinney Public Relations, LLC

Heads of two people with colorful shapes of an abstract brain. Psychology of color in branding and marketing.

Color Psychology and Branding

Why is it Important to Choose the Best Colors for Your Branding? Color psychology and branding is one of the ...
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Content Marketing and Artificial Intelligence

AI Threatens What Makes You Unique

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like a new shiny penny in a world where we expect technology will make our lives ...
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Press Releases Still Matter

I have heard directly from book review editors that they toss the materials that come with review copies. I have ...
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The Genius of Home by Catherine Read, Ph.D.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of parents choosing to teach their children at ...
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Uncontrollable by Sara Staggs

Epilepsy, seizures, brain surgery—these are not the everyday problems of everyday people. For Casey Scott, a high-powered civil rights attorney ...
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The Shakespeare Killer by Douglas J. Wood

“Dick the Butcher wanted to get rid of the only people who could stop him from committing the crimes he ...
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Do You Know What a Book Publicist Does?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A BOOK PUBLICIST DOES? A Guide for Creating Your Own Campaigns By Claire McKinney For more ...
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Can We Play Baseball, Mr. DeMille? by Mark Angelo

“An uplifting true story of a determined young boy, his love of a game, and the belief that every child ...
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Include POEM in all Digital Marketing Plans

A successful strategy for your business needs to include POEM in all digital marketing plans. What is POEM? It is ...
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small businesses need to figure out what makes them special to compete

Small Business Marketing: What Makes You Special?

How do small businesses survive these days in a crowded market where being discovered online is more than half the ...
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The Apprentice of Buchenwald by Oren Schneider

In 1943, when Alex Rosenberg was a teenager, he left his life of privilege and his identity behind when his ...
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The Girl Who Counted Numbers by Roslyn Bernstein

“‘I’ve found the perfect solution,’ he said, reading the headline aloud: ‘How American Jews Claim Their Jewish Heritage in Israel.’ ...
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ReInception by Sarena Straus

“[T]ranscranial magnetic stimulation beams targeted magnetic pulses deep inside patients’ brains — an approach that has been likened to rewiring ...
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Find Me in the Time Before by Robin Stevens Payes

How does your normal, average teenager who has visited the Renaissance and met Leonardo da Vinci in person, go back ...
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Amazon’s Order Policy Will Affect Indie Authors and Publishers

A recent article in Publishers Weekly (Amazon Stands by Books) came and went without a lot of fanfare, but independent ...
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Hamlet’s Mirror by Elma Linz Kanefield with Dianne Conjeaud

At her audition, a young woman walked on stage and prepared herself to sing, but when she opened her mouth ...
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Made for More by Lindsay Sealey

Relinquish the pressures of who you “should be” to who you can be—and rise to become even more than you ...
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The Best Good Horse by J. Reeder Archuleta

“Moody, memorable tales powered by human struggle, tenacity, and an unshakable sense of survival.” – Kirkus Reviews In his latest ...
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Hurricamp! by Steph Katzovi

“The sign was supposed to say, ‘Camp Hillside, a place for girls and young women adventurers,’ but I had noticed ...
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Remember Whose Little Girl You Are by Ellen Nichols

“I was born in 1944, the second of four daughters. Our father was a Methodist preacher and our mother was ...
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Lettuce Get in Trouble by Linda Kuo

Introducing Children to the Basics of Design Lettuce Get in Trouble is the first volume in the Sara Little Trouble ...
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Canary in the Coal Mine by Charles Salzberg

Canary in a Coal Mine: An allusion to caged canaries (birds) that mining workers would carry down into the mine ...
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Angel of Ambition by Glenn Kaplan

New Thriller by NYT Bestselling Author About a Woman Who Dares To Break The Rules Glenn Kaplan, author of the ...
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Blood on the Bayou by Douglas J. Wood

“Another body was found in the French Quarter, throat slit. The report was void of much detail except for one ...
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An illustration of several business people sitting on a giant red hashtag.

Tailoring Your Hashtag Strategy

If you work with social media in any capacity, there’s no doubt that you’ve seen and used hashtags across multiple ...
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"Sleepwalkers: Round One" book cover. The cover features an illustration in a graphic style with hard black outlines. Three kids stand in front of the shadow of a mansion surrounded by dead trees. On the left, there is a shorter boy in shorts, a sweater, and a blue baseball cap. In the middle is a tall girl with brown hair in pigtails wearing a yellow t-shirt and jean shorts. On the right is a short boy with shaggy brown hair, a long t-shirt and pink shorts. Their image is reflected beneath them in black and white like a mirror image. They are surrounded by werewolf-like creatures in the reflection.

Sleepwalkers: Round One by Izzi Breigh

“No one goes to the Old Sleep. Not willingly,” said the attendant. And there it was: the Old Sleep. Ellie ...
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A colorful book cover in watercolors. The titles reads "Kayla: A Modern-day Princess A Little Magic". A young black woman in a pink and purple ball gown sits on a crescent moon over a blue background with spotlights and stars behind her.

Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess A Little Magic by Deedee Cummings

"Kayla always had a plan. The problem was a lot of other people had a plan for Kayla too. But ...
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Design 101: Resizing an Image for Social Media Graphics and More

If you are on social media you know that you need images, lots of them, preferably not stock photos. If ...
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How to find bookstagrammers for your work

How to Find the Right Bookstagrammer for Your Work

Instagram (IG), like all social platforms, evolves with time. We have talked a lot about the benefits of Instagram for ...
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Indie Authors Alert: Crowded Book Market Fall 2021

Fall is always a crowded book market because it leads into the holiday shopping season. However, this year could be ...
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Digital Pitching Tactics for Different Media

As a PR and marketing company one of our most important jobs is writing. Just because we are good writers ...
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How Bookstores Work

All new authors want to see their books in bookstores. Although you do need to have books available for orders, ...
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Design 101: Typesetting

There’s a lot of thought that goes into self-publishing. If you’re an author, you’ve probably given a lot of thought ...
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3 Ways To Use Reels To Promote Your Book

Instagram Reels are one of the best ways to grow on the platform. However, they can be very overwhelming for ...
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Digital Marketing: Where PR and Marketing Meet

In many organizations PR and Marketing are not created equal. Oftentimes PR reports to Marketing. Why? If you are a ...
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Accessible Design: UI Choices

Accessibility in design, when presented online, extends far beyond the visuals. My last two blog posts in this series focused ...
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High Quality Reels: A Beginner’s Guide

The head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, recently announced that Instagram is no longer just a photo-sharing platform. This announcement created ...
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Writer’s Block: Simple Solutions

Writer's block can happen at any time. It is not a commentary on your ability to write. All kinds of ...
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Accessible Design: Fonts

Most of our daily activities involve reading text in some way, but we usually don’t stop to think about it ...
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Instagram Insights: A Beginner’s Guide

You need a brand strategy to optimize your presence on social media, but how do you know what is working? ...
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Accessibility in Design: Color Choice

Previously, I held a job for a large tech company working in quality assurance. I tested software from an end-user ...
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A book cover with a red background that fades to black around the corners. In the center is a ruby colored amulet on a dark grey chain. The author name C.K. Donnelly is at the top and the book title Trine Fallacy: Book 2: The Kinderra Saga is at the bottom.

Trine Fallacy by C.K. Donnelly

“The Power from Without wasn’t a surrender but a domination. The emptiness created as she bled the life from the ...
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Get Ready to Promote Your Fall 2021 Book

The glory of working in retail is that you always need to think six months ahead of when your product ...
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Captain Cake: Meet The Candy Crew by Chris Skinner

Captain Cake by Chris Skinner

New to fatherhood, Chris Skinner takes a leap from FinTech to fiction in a new series of children's books for ...
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Are You Still On-brand?

Branding is a vital part of developing loyalty and trust around your products and services. But straying away from your ...
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Book Review: The Prince and the Dressmaker

If you’re in need of something cozy and indulgent of your childhood sense of wonder, I cannot recommend reading The ...
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How to Work with a Publicist

I was scrolling through some searches today, looking for different topics I might cover in this week's blog. I decided ...
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3 Social Media Metrics That Do Not Matter

Often we find ourselves judging people based on the number of followers an account has or the size of their ...
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Design 101: Fonts

Design is a critical element in most aspects of marketing, PR, and social media. It’s the thing that catches people’s ...
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Marketing Fiction: Beyond Book Reviews

At the recent Pikes Peak Writers Conference (PPWC) I gave a presentation on identifying major and minor themes that can ...
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increase your organic reach with video content

Expanding Your Organic Reach on Instagram: Video Content

Instagram, like all other social media platforms, changes constantly. However, it has never been easier to build an audience organically ...
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Book Review: On a Sunbeam

I picked up On A Sunbeam on a whim. The back of the book promised an LGBTQ+ sci-fi love story ...
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5 Resources to Kickstart Your Promotional Efforts

If you’re gearing up to publish your first book or simply want to know some of the best sources to ...
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Book Publicity on Social Media: Bookstagrammers

Using Instagram to publicize your book is one of the most cost-effective ways to share your book with avid readers ...
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In Hindsight by Sharon Bonanno and Lisa Scott

“This is our story.” On the outside, Sharon and Lisa appear to be two normal sisters living life in a ...
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The Adventures of Veggieman: Food Fight by Karla Farach

It is the first day at his new school, and Niko can already sense trouble in the air. Kids are ...
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Book Covers: Hiring a Designer

You have your book written, edited, and you’re now prepping to publish it. Previously, we spent some time discussing how ...
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Book Review: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

At first, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett was not a book I thought I would pick up as I ...
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5 Female Authors You Probably Know By a Different Name

Pen names have many benefits like anonymity or crafting a public person or alter ego. But women have used pen ...
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Movie Review: The Social Dilemma

After watching The Social Dilemma, I was inspired a few months back to write a blog post What is Your ...
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Book Cover Design: DIY

Previously we discussed two possible options when it comes to book cover design for your self-published book. The first option ...
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How to Organize a Virtual Event

Thanks to the pandemic, we as a society have figured out ways to make nearly everything virtual: school, doctor’s appointments, ...
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Designing a Book Cover: DIY vs Hiring for Self-publishing Authors

If you’re familiar with the concept of self-publishing, you’re also probably familiar with some of its criticisms. It’s not uncommon ...
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Personal Branding on Social Media: 5 Twitter Features Explained

As of May 2020, Twitter had 340 million users. As a microblogging platform, Twitter is particularly beneficial for showcasing your ...
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Finding the Best Way to Sell Your Book: Non-Fiction

Academics, experts, spokespeople, business owners--many of them publish non-fiction books. To look at these books as one giant group of ...
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Anarchy And Other Lies by Jesse Mckinnell

“Sam takes her book out from her pack and begins flipping through the pages. ‘It is better to live on ...
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Minor Characters by Jaime Clarke

The Brothers Silver by Marc Jampole

“Childhood trauma never goes away. It’s like a disability or injury that partially—and sometimes totally—controls you, awake and asleep.” Jules ...
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Our 6-Step Guide to Earning Local Media Coverage

If you recently launched a new product or service and do not have the slightest idea where to begin with ...
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Personal branding Instagram tips for beginners

Personal Branding on Social Media: 3 Tips for Instagram

Personal branding is important. Whether you are looking to sell a product online, get a job, or become recognized in ...
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Why is Your Digital Personal Brand Important in 2021?

Why should you care about your digital personal brand? It's not just your reputation, it is also the 21st century ...
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Stephanie O’Hara

Stephanie O'Hara is the author of Angel Wings ...
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COVID by Richard Van Anderson

CoVid19 was not an accident. Its successor, the highly lethal CoVid23, is not a mutation of CoVid19. China would like ...
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What is your social dilemma? Symptoms and insights for an internet culture

Do you want to watch a scary movie this Halloween season? Watch The Social Dilemma on Netflix. I'm out there ...
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How to Market Your Book in a Pandemic, Election Season

What does book marketing in the 2020s pandemic, election season look like? Many authors and publishers, big and small, are ...
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How to Rebrand Your Business in the Digital Age

Rebranding your business is an exciting time to flex your design muscles while also breathing new life into your business ...
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Social Media 101: 8 Things I learned This Summer

I have written many blogs over the years on branding, personal brand, messaging, and best practices for social media. However, ...
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Heroes and Jerks: The Best and Worst Who Ever Lived by Ed Daly

“In comparing our society’s humble beginnings a few million years ago with what it has evolved into today, it’s impossible ...
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What Does it Cost to Hire a Publicist or Digital Marketing Consultant?

If you are an individual or a small business, the question of what does it cost to hire a publicist ...
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Marketing is Not Public Relations

Right away I am going to lay it out there to say that these two practices are not the same ...
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Improve the effectiveness of your social media efforts

3 Simple Ways to Improve Your Social Media Efforts

Well-established companies with bigger budgets are investing a significant amount of money in digital branding and social media. With so ...
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Getting from Goals to Tactics in Social Media Marketing

Working with a marketing group recently I realized that many people have a difficult time getting from goals to tactics ...
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Dragon on the Far Side of the Moon by Douglas J. Wood

“Commander, you needn’t worry. We’ll be fine. While the Diébào can learn more and get smarter with every byte it ...
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CoVid 19 Lingo: Spin or Substance?

As a communications expert in the midst of the CoVid 19 pandemic and the news, I have noticed and sometimes ...
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DARK DATA: Control, Alt Delete by Douglas J. Wood – Independent Press Award Winner in Political Thriller

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Douglas J. Wood receives national recognition through the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD®! (NEW YORK, NEW YORK) -- The INDEPENDENT PRESS ...
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Taking Advantage of a More Equal Selling Landscape for Indie Authors

What do all independent authors and publishers want most? (Okay, other than an Oprah recommendation or a New York Times ...
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Publicity 101: Publicity and Book Promotion During a Crisis

Unfortunately, "publicity and book promotion during a crisis" has been a recurring theme throughout my career in publishing. I was ...
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Effective Social Media Marketing: Are we in denial?

Love it or hate it if you are promoting something you are waist-deep or at least dipping a toe into ...
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San Francisco Writers Conference: Digital platform a major concern for emerging writers

The omnipresent questions at the San Francisco Writers Conference (SFWC) were about digital marketing, social media for writers, and platform building. ...
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Social Media 101: How to Use Hashtags to Grow Your Audience

We’ve all heard of them. Many of us have even used them. But the real question is, how can we ...
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Offerings by Michael B. Kim

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: "Offerings is a beautifully wrought coming-of-age story of a young man torn between art and commerce, conscience ...
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The Insurrection by Chris Babu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THE INSURRECTION By Chris Babu “There is power in numbers. There is power in the will ...
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James A. Jennings

James A. Jennings is the author of Mirador and The Light Most Favorable. ...
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Social Media 101: Content Strategizing the 2019 Way

If you read our recent blog post Social Media 101: Branding the 2019 Way, you’ll know just how critical it ...
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Ruthi Postow Birch

Ruthi Postow Birch started life in deep-south Alabama in a town that straddled the poverty line. She rose to be ...
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Publicity 101: The Importance of Tracking Your Pitching

While tracking the outlets you’ve pitched in hopes of procuring reviews, features or interviews for you and your book isn’t ...
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Leonardo’s Science Workshop by Heidi Olinger

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LEONARDO'S SCIENCE WORKSHOP Invent, Create, and Make STEAM Projects Like a Genius Leonardo da Vinci was a ...
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Small Businesses: Yes, You Need Social Media

Small business owners are jacks of all trades. You’re not only focusing on business development and big-picture items, but day-to-day ...
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The Influencer Series: Targeting People in Your Niche

When reaching out to influencers in the hopes of getting them to promote your product, it’s essential to target the ...
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Social Media 101: TikTok and Book Promotion

If you aren’t using it, you’ve heard of it. However, you might not know how to use it -or, you ...
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Book Awards for Indie Authors

There are limitless strategies devised to drive book publicity and generate sales. Whether it’s maintaining social media, mining micro-influencers, or ...
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Social Media 101: Snapchat and Author Branding

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn have dominated the world of branding since Facebook’s JP Morgan and Chase ads in ...
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The Influencer Series: Micro-Influencers

While it’s true that some consider influencers “celebrities of social media,” it’s important to highlight the subcategory of influencers who ...
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Average Time Spent Daily on Social Media (with 2019 Data)

Our friends at BroadbandSearch wanted to share their extensive #SocialMedia101 research. Learn all about the daily social media habits of ...
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Social Media 101: What’s New with LinkedIn?

What’s New with LinkedIn? Back in 2016, we wrote a blog post about LinkedIn as an invaluable author tool. The ...
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The Contract by Sheila Grinell

“How do you encourage curiosity in a place where thoughts are policed?” Joanna Dunhill knows just how difficult it can ...
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Meet the Bobs and Tweets: Scout Camp by Pepper Springfield

BOBS AND TWEETS Book #4: Scout Camp! by Pepper Springfield Illustrated by Kristy Caldwell The Bobs and Tweets are back ...
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The Not-so-Sexy Side of Book Publishing

People think what I do is glamorous and super cool - publishing. When I was a recruiter we used to ...
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Mirador by James Jennings

Epic New Novel Set to Release with 25th Anniversary of Zapatista Revolt in Mexico NAFTA, the North American Free ...
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Claire McKinney Launches Plum Bay Publishing, LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PUBLICIST AND NOW A PUBLISHER Veteran New York Book Publicist and Entrepreneur Launches Indie Press May 21st, ...
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Social Media 101: Reddit

Entrepreneurs and authors alike are encouraged to use social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to promote their product ...
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Dark Data: Control, Alt, Delete by Douglas J. Wood

“If you can identify a person’s desires, then you can also exploit their weaknesses, both physical and mental, through algorithms ...
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Social Media 101: What’s New with Twitter?

Since its debut in 2007, the application a brainchild of Evan Williams and Jack Dorsey, you might be wondering--what’s new ...
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Publicity 101: 5 Steps to Curating the Perfect Media List

Although it may seem like a daunting task, generating the perfect media list is an essential part of the publicity ...
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How Private Is Going “Private” on Your Facebook Account?

Outlets everywhere buzzed when Mark Zuckerberg revealed his plan to make Facebook a more direct-message focused platform, emphasizing encryption and ...
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Social Media 101: Editorial Calendars

If you’re anything like me, you know how important staying organized is- not only for your records, but for your ...
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Social Media 101: Instagram Updates

What's New? With over 800 million monthly active users (users returning to the application each month), Instagram is one of ...
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Great Dates With Some Late Greats by David Finkle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “In presenting the following, I’m asking you the reader to recognize as true a series of (almost ...
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Social Media 101: What’s New with Facebook?

What began as a social networking application for students at Harvard in 2003 has blossomed. Today it's the social media ...
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The Don Con by Richard Armstrong

The Mafia comes to Comic-Con — and criminal hilarity ensues — in the new comic crime thriller The Don Con ...
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The Expedition by Chris Babu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “They say you don’t shoot to kill; you shoot to stay alive.” THE EXPEDITION By CHRIS ...
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Where the Angels Lived by Margaret McMullan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Someone should write a book,” my mother says, sipping iced coffee. “Not about the drama of that ...
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The Exile by Gregory Erich Phillips

“Everything was dark. Though her eyes could see little, her other senses became acute, telling her she wasn’t dreaming. Terror ...
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Alice and Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story by Ron Franscell

"Alice & Gerald: A Homicidal Love Story" is going to be the best true crime book you’ll read this year, or ...
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My Guide to Influencer Outreach

With the prevalence of social media continuing to grow, influencers are becoming incredibly powerful tools in content marketing. In fact, ...
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Questions from Indie Authors

I was asked to speak this past Saturday, at an Indie Author Day at my local library. It's interesting to ...
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Book Publishing 101: 1 Million Self-Published Books Means Quality is Key

Guess what? Last week Publishers Weekly reported that, according to Bowker, over 1 million books were self-published in 2017. You ...
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Bobs and Tweets: Trick or Tweet by Pepper Springfield

Book Review: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover is a book I initially didn’t want to pick up when it released earlier ...
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Author Brand? How Do I Get One?

Last year I published my own book based on an article I wrote for Publisher's Weekly many years ago, Do ...
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Book Review: The Man Who Caught the Storm by Brantley Hargrove

Videos of tornadoes ripping through homes is one thing, but translating that power into the written word is a feat ...
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Traveling High and Tripping Hard by Joseph Davida

“Many authors have told meandering tales of looking for drugs, but more personal material, such as memories from an infamous ...
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Book Expo 2018: What’s Trending for Independent Publishers

A few weeks ago, I attended Book Expo 2018 in New York City. It was my first visit in two years, ...
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Social Media 101: Tumblr for Authors

Tumblr is a combination of social media and blogging—users actively post content to their Tumblr blog, but they can also ...
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Rooted in Deceit by Wendy Tyson

"Worth a read among the traditional cozies." —Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review on Seeds of Revenge “Cunning crimes, ...
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The Heart of War by Kathleen McInnis

“Strap on your helmet and buckle your seat belt. Your wild ride at the Pentagon officially begins now.” –From THE ...
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A Surgeon’s Odyssey by Richard Moss

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “[A SURGEON’S ODYSSEY] belongs on the bookshelf as a modern tale next to the Iliad, the Odyssey, ...
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Humpty Trumpty Hit a Brick Wall by David Finkle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20th, 2017 Twitter, twitter, twitter, twitter— Donald Trump’s a heavy hitter. When he’s feeling crossed and ...
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Asshole Attorney by Douglas J. Wood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: ASSHOLE ATTORNEY Musings, Memories, and Missteps in a 40 Year Career By Douglas J. Wood “Doug, I ...
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Social Media 101: What to do if you are concerned about privacy

Social media can be a useful tool for authors and personal brands. It can help with exposure, lead to new ...
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Social Media 101: Snapchat and Instagram Stories for Authors

Instagram and Snapchat are popular social media platforms for influencers, especially those who are celebrities or are in the fashion ...
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Book Marketing 101: Create Visibility for Your Book with These 5 Tips

You’ve written a book and published it -- but the sales just aren’t happening. The biggest likely reason for this ...
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Social Media 101: 4 Reasons Why Buying Followers is a Bad Idea

A recent article (February 1st) on BuzzFeed said that the Newsweek Media Group has been buying followers and manipulating traffic on ...
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Book Giveaways!

We are now doing book giveaways through Rafflecopter! This post will be updated with ongoing Rafflecopter book giveaways. Check periodically ...
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Amazon Books? Four reasons why booksellers can remain calm

It is ironic, and for some it may seem odd, that in the midst of decades of brick-and-mortar bookstores closing ...
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Publicity 101: Who are the Media?

Written by Arianna Parks We become what we behold. We shape our tools and then our tools shape use. -Marshall ...
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CMPR’s Best Books of 2017

At the end of every year, major outlets compile a list of their favorite books of 2017 by editors and ...
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The Slave by Anand Dilvar

Already a publishing phenomenon, having had rights sold in 28 countries and selling 1.8 million copies so far, THE SLAVE: ...
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Second Story Man by Charles Salzberg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Salzberg has perfected the existential crime novel.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Anthony, Agatha, and Mary Higgins Clark Award-Winning ...
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The Skin Above My Knee by Marcia Butler

Classical oboist and debut author Marcia Butler recalls her earliest memory of music at just four years old. At that ...
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Publicity 101: The Niche Audience

niche. niCH,nēSH/ adjective. denoting or relating to products, services, or interests that appeal to a small, specialized section of the population ...
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My Adventures with Amazon: Part 1

A couple of months ago I published a blog called "3 Things I’ve Learned about Book Production". In it, I ...
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Publicity 101: Your Publicity Calendar

When it comes to your public relations campaign and your publicity calendar, what is important to remember is that the ...
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Seeds of Revenge by Wendy Tyson

“Tyson’s first-rate second Greenhouse mystery (after 2016’s A Muddied Murder) stars big-city lawyer turned small-town organic farmer Megan Sawyer, a ...
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4 Publicity Lessons We Can Learn from Chris Christie

It’s been two weeks since Chris Christie was seen chilling on Island Beach State Park with his family, setting off ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 7/10

We are halfway through summer! Hopefully those summer reads have come to the beach, on vacation, or cozied up with ...
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Publishing 101: 3 Things I’ve Learned About Book Production

On the heels of my post about selling and the little guy, here is some information about things I’ve learned ...
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Publishing 101: When the “Little Guy” Struggles to Sell a Book

It’s hard for a person to figure out how to publish, market, and publicize her work on her own, and ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 6/19

Happy First Week of Summer! The 21st was the summer solstice, and now it's official! What publishing compromises are you ...
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Nothing but a Circus by Daniel Levin

“Brilliant observations on the anthropology of power. You will laugh aloud and won't put it down.” —Daniel Kahneman, Winner of the ...
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How to Build a Piano Bench by Ruthi Postow Birch

“Thirteen East Petain Street, Prichard, Alabama—that’s an important address for me. It’s where I learned everything I needed to know ...
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Publication Day

I wrote a book, it is releasing today, and I can hardly believe it. It's called Do You Know What ...
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Social Media 101: What is a hashtag?

The other night, while delivering a presentation on social media, a familiar question was raised: "Excuse me, but I'm not ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 5/8

We're publishing a book! Keep your eye out for it, or preorder it now! Do you feel like your always ...
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Perfecto Pet Show by Pepper Springfield

Last spring, debut author and illustrator team Pepper Springfield and Kristy Caldwell introduced readers to two rather distinctive families, the ...
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Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer

8 Tips to Keep in Your Mind When Seeking Book Reviews

When I worked for publishing houses in New York City there was a debate about book review coverage. Does seeking ...
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Learning 4 Purpose International Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Purpose is a way for individuals to link their present and their future. First, purpose helps them ...
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Kym Gold Online Branding

Kym Gold Raised in Malibu, California, Kym Gold was influenced by the endless golden sunsets and natural beauty of her ...
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Chanticleer Book Reviews Hosts 3-Day Event for Writers and Readers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bellingham Welcomes World Renown Authors at Awards Banquet and Writers Conference Chanticleer Book Reviews Hosts Writers and Readers ...
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How To Create Headlines That Get More Clicks and Conversions

This week, we invite Sarah Smith from How To Start A Blog Online for a guest post on how to create ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 3/20

This week brought the first day of spring and we can't wait for warmer weather ahead! PR 101: 4 Things ...
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Publicity 101: 4 Things to Consider for Your Author Photo

To have a decent author photo, you don’t need to look like a model or a movie star, but spending ...
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Links Roundup Week of 3/6

Do you want to sell more books in 2017? [BookWorks] If you ever met Jane Austen... [Manhattan Book Review] How ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 2/27

Amazon opened its first East Coast brick and mortar store. [PW] How much should you pay for a book editor? [The ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 2/6

Winter Storm Niko was nuts - but we survived! 4 steps to create a blog or podcast that will enhance ...
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Presidential Conclusions by Douglas J. Wood

"A sharp tale of government and terrorism, fortified by an exceptional POTUS protagonist." –Kirkus Reviews on Presidential Conclusions "This in-depth story of ...
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The Primal Key by C.A. Hartley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THE PRIMAL KEY Volume 1 of The Plight of the Plexus by C.A. Hartley Anne Clarke didn’t ...
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Publishing 101: Creating Your Author Bio

When I was young and naïve, I thought the bios you read in theater programs and on the backs of ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 1/23

The New York Times is cutting a range of bestsellers lists. [PW] Roxane Gay, by the book. [NYT] Star Wars ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 1/16

American treasure Betty White's birthday was this week! [EW] Publishing needs a blockbuster of a book in 2017. [LA Times] ...
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Why We Support Self-Published Authors

Every so often, the argument comes up that self-published books shouldn’t be considered authentic, or that self-published authors aren’t serious ...
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Links Roundup, Week of 1/9

Happy Friday the 13th to all you superstitious folks out there! (Just to be safe, we're not walking under any ...
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Double Up by Gretchen Archer

“Outlandish, outrageous, and impossible to put down.” —Janet Evanovich on Double Up DOUBLE UP A Davis Way Crime Caper by ...
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Links Roundup Week of 1/2

Already off to a shaky start for your New Year's Resolution? Tips to stay on track. [HuffPost] Some broad New ...
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Social Media 101: Pinterest Infographic

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the three most popular social media platforms out there. We're so focused on these three ...
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Links Roundup Week of 12/5

Already miss WestWorld? Here's 10 books to read until season 2's 2018 premiere. [Paste] What skills will marketers demand in ...
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Social Media 101: Twitter Infographic

Twitter: the online platform that authors, when asking us about social media, always seem to be the most hesitant about. While ...
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Social Media 101: Social Media Terms – An Introduction

As brands big and small have discovered, social media is its own animal, especially when it comes to building an ...
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Links Round Up Week of 11/21

Mark Zuckerberg has new plans on fighting fake news on Facebook. [The Wrap] Indie booksellers are getting in on the ...
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Social Media 101: Instagram Infographic

Did you know that Instagram has surpassed Twitter in mobile phone use, at over 200 million users? Imagine the audience ...
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Links Round Up Week of 11/14

Only a few more days left in our countdowns to the end of NaNoWriMo and Thanksgiving! Which one are you ...
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Links Round Up Week of 11/7

In lieu of Election Day, Leonard Cohen's death, and Veteran's Day, may we leave you with this. An interview with ...
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Now I Know It’s Not My Fault by Laurie B. Levine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Amazon: Now I Know It's Not My Fault: A Novel “Now I Know It’s Not My Fault is ...
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Links Round Up Week of 10/31

November is National Novel Writing Month! You have until Nov. 30th to pen a 50,000 word novel you've always dreamed ...
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Social Media 101: Facebook Infographic

Sometimes, starting a new social media venture can be overwhelming. With our Social Media 101 blog post series we provide ...
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Links Round Up Week of 10/24

The temperatures have dropped this week (some places in the Northeast got snow!), so enjoy Halloween and get prepared to ...
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Infographic: Measuring Online Public Relations Effectiveness

This week, we welcome George Washington University's Strategic Public Relations program, and their guest post on measuring online public relations! Check ...
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Links Round Up Week of 10/17

Rainy weather and election season had us like... TGIF! 5 Marketing Lessons You Can Learn From The Presidential Election. [Forbes] ...
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Book Publishing 101: 5 Ideas for Getting Your Book Sold on Shelves

Getting your indie or self-published book sold in stores isn't easy. Even if you have an account with a well-known distributor like ...
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Links Round Up Week of 10/3

This week is links galore! Grab a snack and read some of the best news found this week. 3 Ways ...
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Links Round Up Week of 9/26

Hopefully you celebrated National Coffee Day this week by curling up with your favorite book at your local coffee shop! ...
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Distribution Slang You Didn’t Know (But Were Too Afraid to Ask)

Distribution. Point-of-Sale. Sell in. These are all examples of distribution slang that is used in publishing. But what do these ...
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Links Round Up Week of 9/19

Fall officially began this week - we're already dreaming of cozy nights reading by the fire, apple cider donuts, and ...
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Achieving the Dream by Dr. Carol A. Leary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Amazon: Achieving the Dream: A How-To Guide for Adult Women Seeking a College Degree “As an educator ...
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Meet the Bobs and Tweets by Pepper Springfield

Amazon: Meet the Bobs and Tweets (Bobs and Tweets 1) ...
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Book Publishing 101: Why Your Distribution Is Disappointing

This is for all of the authors or presses that wonder why their books aren't appearing in stores; aren't being ...
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Links Round Up Week of 9/12

As the air gets crisp and the temperatures drop, we're learning new ways to write and build brands all the ...
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Infographic: 5 PR Skills You Won’t Learn in Class

You're going to learn a lot in college, but some things just can't be taught by professors. Check out our ...
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Links Round Up Week of 9/5

Summer is officially over, but that doesn't mean the fun has to end. Autumn is one of our favorite seasons-changing colors, ...
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Links Round Up Week of 8/29

RIP Gene Wilder, who played so many iconic roles and was beloved by so many. The Hollywood Reporter remembers Gene Wilder ...
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Clowns in Greenville: Is it a publicity stunt, or the real thing?

This week, news outlets started writing articles about clowns that have been hanging around an apartment complex in Greenville, SC, trying ...
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Video: Local Counts in Public Relations!

Local counts! We're excited to show you our new video using Animaker on why you shouldn't brush off the word "local" when it ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 8/22

For those that love the last hints of summer, but can't wait until the fall season rolls around: this one's ...
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Social Media 101: 8 Key Hacks For Writing Perfect Instagram Captions

When it's time to post a fantastic photo on Instagram, you hit a roadblock. You get stumped when you have ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 8/15

With the Olympics in full swing, our athletes are inspiring this week's links about how to improve your brand and ...
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Publicity 101: 5 PR Skills You Won’t Learn in Class

College: an experience like no other! The end of summer is nigh, which means students are heading back to their ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 8/8

August is already almost halfway over and the weather is only just starting to ramp up... If you're in the ...
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Infographic: 5 Things You Need to Do For Your Publicist

There have been times we are hired for a book publicity/brand campaign, and the author or client checks out after ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 8/1

The first week of August started out rainy and humid, but on this Friday we couldn't ask for sunnier skies ...
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Infographic: Is It Time to Be Your Own Boss?

Do you work a full time office job, but feel like the hours you signed up for are for are ...
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The Intersect by Brad Graber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THE INTERSECT by Brad Graber Amazon: The Intersect: When life veers off course, strangers find comfort and lasting ...
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Nanjing Never Cries by Hong Zheng

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Amazon: Nanjing Never Cries: A Novel The Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War in 1937 ...
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Infographic: Bestsellers Lists

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, New York Times, USA Today: all these outlets have bestsellers lists that most authors would love to ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 7/18

It's going to be a hot one this weekend--they're calling for a heat wave!--so stay cool, hydrated, and curled up ...
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Infographic: What to Consider When Hiring a Publishing Consultant

If you are planning to independently publish a book, there is much work to be done, including: obtaining ISBNs, having ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 7/4

Now that the holiday has passed, it's time to get back on the grind! Go into next week looking to ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 6/27

This week has been full of excitement as we celebrate the release of two new books and the upcoming 4th ...
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Book Publicity 101: 5 Reasons Press Releases Still Matter

I have heard directly from book review editors that they toss the materials that come with review copies. I have ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 6/20

The summer solstice was on June 20th - use all of that new-found summer time to work on and promote ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 6/13

Our hearts and thoughts are with all of those affected by the events in Orlando this week. What should writers ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 6/6

School's almost out for the summer, but we're staying in to bring you the publishing, marketing, and pr news we found interesting ...
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Book Marketing101: 10 Things You Need To Know About Bestsellers Lists

I've been doing book publicity and marketing for a long time. I keep doing it because I haven't lost that ...
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Lowcountry Book Club by Susan M. Boyer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Boyer delivers a beach read filled with quirky, endearing characters and a masterfully layered mystery, all set ...
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The Baby Decision by Merle Bombardieri

Case Summary: Reissue of a book originally published in 1987 by an MSW with a private practice. Goal: Brand Merle ...
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Publicity 101: 5 Things You Need to Do to do for Your Publicist

In an article I read years ago on a PR site, one of the things that stood out and I still ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 5/23

The weather is warming up as we head into Memorial Day weekend - the perfect time to relax by the ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 5/9

Happy (or unhappy) Friday the 13th! Don't walk under any ladders. Neal Rabin reads his new book during a game ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 5/2

This week may have been cloudy and rainy, but we've got hope that there will be some springtime sunshine next ...
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Do you need a publishing consultant?

When I started my own business, the world of self-publishing was just getting off the ground. At the time there ...
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5 Reasons Tennessee is on Our Radar for Summer 2016

Summer is just around the corner, which means that it is almost time to book our trips! Although the Jersey ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 3/28

APRIL FOOLS! Laura Hart McKinny speaks on the Fuhrman tapes [Vanity Fair] Amazing. A horror story composed of Weather Channel ...
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Links Roundup: Week of 3/21

Happy Easter Weekend! 120 helpful websites for writers [GE Editing] Cute-21 uses for old books [PopSugar] Here we are in ...
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“Buying Local”: It Counts in Public Relations, Too

When indie or self-published authors are releasing their new novels they always shoot for the brass ring: a review or ...
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Goats vs. Cats: 5 Reasons why and how goats are gaining popularity among pet owners

My daughter tells me that goats are super popular among the gamer set online—she would even go so far as ...
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Links Round-Up: Week of 3/7

Warmer weather fans rejoice! It looks like Punxsutawney Phil was right and spring is coming early this year... Make sure ...
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I want to start blogging, but I don’t know where to begin!

The other day, I was discussing social media with my Dad, and he brought up the topic of blogging. “I ...
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Links Round-Up: Week of 2/29

Adding another day to the year makes for an exciting 366 days of 2016! Hopefully Leap Day was a useful ...
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12 Signs You May Need to be Your Own Boss

If you are like a lot of people, you work in a full time job, but the hours you signed ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 2/22

The Oscars is on Sunday: A Brutally Honest Oscar Ballot has some snarky thoughts on the Revenant. [THR] Is publishing ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 2/15

This week was full of ups and downs, as we look forward to warmer weather this weekend while mourning the ...
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Double Knot by Gretchen Archer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Powerfully heartfelt and knock-your-socks-off hilarious. I’m a fan!” —Janet Evanovich on Double Knot “Archer’s bright and silly humor ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 2/8

This weekend is Valentine's Day and it's going to be a freezing one, so snuggle up with your loved ones (including any ...
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Case Studies #4: Is Publishing Abroad the Solution to Rejection in the U.S.?

Feel like you can't get arrested in the U.S. when it comes to publishing your literary novel? Fewer publishers, especially ...
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Links Round Up: Week of 2/1

Accepting the audience that wants your book [Where Writers Win] What's the most overused word in public speaking? [PR Daily] ...
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Social Media 101: Facebook as an Author Tool

Facebook can arguably be considered the first real social media platform. While Facebook has seen its fair changes and overhauls, ...
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Case Studies 3: Accepting the Audience that Wants Your Book and Reaping the Benefits

You have an MFA in Creative Writing from a respected program/university. You have been carefully crafting your story and verbiage ...
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Social Media 101: Using LinkedIn as an Author Tool

LinkedIn was once just a medium for making connections, and it was utilized most heavily by recruiters and people looking ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 1/18

This week, most of the news surrounded the impending #Blizzard2016 or, if you go by Weather Channel, #WinterStormJonas. But we ...
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Social Media 101: Using Pinterest as an Author Tool

It’s hard not to immediately think about recipes, hair tutorials, or DIY projects when someone mentions the word "Pinterest," and ...
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Links Round Up, Week 1/11

David Bowie dies of cancer two days after final album [reuters] What are David Bowie's favorite books? [electriclit] Alan Rickman, Harry Potter ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 1/4

Happy New Year! It's our first week back since the holiday break and our team at Claire McKinneyPR hopes everyone had a wonderful ...
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Broken Ground by Karen Schreck

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Engaging, lyrical, and inspirational, this is a novel for anyone interested in American history, immigration, gender studies, ...
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Eating Bull by Carrie Rubin

“Carrie Rubin tackles obesity, fat-shaming, and bullying in this unique and original psychological thriller certain to keep you thinking long ...
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The Light of Grace by Kasey Claytor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “All of the greatest spiritual teachings are taught through story. Here is a story carefully crafted to entertain while raising ...
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Not As Prescribed by Harry Haroutunian

Not As Prescribed Recognizing and Facing Alcohol and Drug Misuse in Older Adults by Harry Haroutunian, M.D. “Not As Prescribed ...
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Social Media 101: Instagram as an author tool

Is your New Year's Resolution to use a different form of social media other than Facebook or Twitter? Instagram is ...
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Social Media 101: Using Goodreads as an Author Tool

The Goodreads Author Program is a fantastic author marketing tool that, from my experience, writers do not utilize enough. The ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 11/16

Thanksgiving is next week! What does 200 calories of a Thanksgiving meal look like? [Mental Floss] How the 'Peace for Paris' ...
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Marketing Slang You Didn’t Know (But Were Too Afraid To Ask)

Digital marketing is becoming more important than ever for brands and entrepreneurs. We broke down some marketing slang for you to help ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 11/9

Happy Friday the 13th! Don't forget to throw salt over your shoulder and avoid walking under ladders...Or whatever your personal ...
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Writer’s Circle Speaker Series Recap: What Is a Brand & Where Can I Get One?

Thanks to the Writers Circle for having me come in and talk about branding, publicity, and marketing with them! From ...
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Links Round Up, Week of 11/2

Happy Friday and National Novel Writing Month! Don't forget to check out our latest blog post on Twitter tips. Check ...
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Social Media 101: Tips for Efficiently Using Twitter

Twitter is a social media website that can be used for more than just chatting with friend—it can be a ...
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Public Relations 101: Why are bloggers important for PR outreach?

If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that there are a lot of bloggers. Google the term “book ...
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Fashion Week Brooklyn: S/S 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “DESTINATION BROOKLYN” Fashion Week Brooklyn Features Emerging Designers  for Spring 2016 Season in Select Brooklyn Locales Brooklyn, ...
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When the News Cycle Won’t Stop, Can’t Stop

Sometimes the news cycle catches a wave and rides it out all the way to shore, only to hop onto ...
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Writers Circle Speaker Series: Literary Publicist Claire McKinney

TWC's 2015-16 Speaker Series What Is a Brand and Where Can I Get One? Contemporary publicity and marketing strategies for ...
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Are services like Bookbub worth the price?

Every morning, I receive an email from Bookbub with a slew of 99 cent deals that I may be interested ...
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Cult of Celebrity Series 101: Do You Need to Write a Book?

I’ve said it before: American culture is all about celebrity, and how famous you are in any group on any ...
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Language is important: Don’t call me “stupid”!

As a PR person I am trained to manipulate the English language to express what I need to, at any ...
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My Fat Dad by Dawn Lerman

“Dawn Lerman grew up Jewish in the 70’s. I grew up Italian. Might sound different, but for the most part, ...
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Where can I get service around here?

In the words of a frustrated business and homeowner, where have all of the conscientious service people gone? Granted, they ...
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To Publish or Not to Publish: Go Set a Watchman

Many years ago, I had the occasion to work with one of Harper Lee’s unauthorized biographers, Charles Shields. As the ...
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Self-Publishing 101: Front Matter and Back Matter—More Competitive Editorial Strategies for Making your Book Stand Out

In a previous post I talked about how to make sure your book isn’t discarded by a review or media ...
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Happy Summer Vacation! 5 Things PR People Can Do To Keep Sane While Away

You made it. The big day is finally here and you are headed out of town for a little bit of ...
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PR Slang You Didn’t Know (But Were Too Afraid to Ask)

Public Relations can have some confusing vocabulary if you aren't familiar with the industry. Chyron? Wire? We explain in the ...
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Gold Standard by Kym Gold

Case Summary: Kym was known as the co-founder of True Religion Jeans and the owner of a multi-million dollar estate. Her ...
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Infographic: Marketing, advertising & public relations

Self-Publishing: How to Produce a Good Looking Book

Having been raised by an academic who learned everything from a book, when I decided to return to New York ...
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Men Against Women by Laura Hart McKinny

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Los Angeles Police Department in the 1980s was notorious for misconduct, corruption, and overall bad behavior ...
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I Always Cry at Weddings by Sara Goff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “I read I ALWAYS CRY AT WEDDINGS in one big gulp. It’s engaging and funny but also ...
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Double Mint by Gretchen Archer

“Seriously funny, wickedly entertaining. Davis gets me every time.” – Janet Evanovich on Double Mint “Fans of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie ...
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Navigating Grace by Jeff Jay

“I had a growing allergy to everything commonplace, and I was determined to do something marvelous, something men only talk ...
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If You Leave Me, Can I Come With You? by Misti B

Recovery from alcoholism, addiction, or codependency takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The struggle to stay mindful is a profound ...
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A Sober Mom’s Guide to Recovery by Rosemary O’Connor

Motherhood is difficult enough, but the struggle to remain sober while dealing with life’s daily grind can seem impossible. Rosemary ...
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Do You Really Get Me? by Joseph Shrand, MD

We all need communication and have the desire to be respected by others. What if there was a way to ...
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Conquer Chronic Pain by Peter Przekop, DO, PHD

“Chronic pain affects as many as 30 percent of Americans . . . there are about 320 million people living ...
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Are long-overdue books worth the wait?

In October 2013, ten years after publishing her last novel, Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch took the publishing world by storm ...
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Baby Care Anywhere by Ben Spitalnick, MD, MBA, FAAP & Keith Seibert, MD, MBA, FAAP

The portable pocket guide to the baby basics that fits perfectly in a diaper bag or stroller pocket CHICAGO: “Welcome ...
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Publicizing a book? What to expect & when

What happens next? — A question I am asked all the time when it comes to a publicity campaign for a book, ...
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The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts by K.C. Tansley

“Ghosts don’t exist. They can’t touch me. They can’t hurt me. They aren’t real.” This simple mantra has saved 17-year-old ...
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Explore Your World Outside of the Office (Preferably in a Different State)

My mother used to say that taking a vacation or a break from your regular routine was especially good for ...
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Publishing Slang You Didn’t Know (But Were Too Afraid To Ask)

Sometimes words in the publishing industry don't mean what you think they mean. Isn't a book release the same thing ...
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Unwelcome Inheritance by By Lisa Sue Woititz and Dr. Janet G. Woititz, Ed.D.

In 1983, Dr. Janet G. Woititz published a groundbreaking book, Adult Children of Alcoholics, which became the premiere work on ...
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Are readers more likely to be cat or dog people?

A client of ours writes a mystery series that is funny, engaging, and every book so far has gotten an ...
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More on blogging: You want to start a blog, but where do you begin?

A couple of weeks ago we discussed how to maximize your efforts if you have a blog. But if you ...
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Marketing, Advertising, & Public Relations: Can you have one & not the others?

Although we are a consumer-driven economy and the competition for customers is fierce, most of us probably don't know what is ...
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Marijuana by Kevin P. Hill, M.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The debate over marijuana legalization has never been more heated as the issue continues to divide policy ...
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High by Jodie Gould

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Some of us are predisposed to seek pleasure and tranquility by having a drink after work, taking ...
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The Power of Ideals by William Damon and Anne Colby

Case Summary: Stanford Professor publishing via Oxford University Press. Goal: Promote Bill Damon, his ideas, and the book to communities ...
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Claire McKinney Returns to PubSense Summit

PubSense Summit 1 King St., Suite 507 Charleston, SC 29401 www.PubSenseSummit.com Contact: Shari Stauch Ph: 843.834.1872 Email: shari@pubsensesummit.com MCKINNEY PR ...
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Tips and Strategies to Maximize Your Blogging Efforts

You started a blog, but who's going to read it? Do you have to write another one? How do you ...
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When should you publish your book? An Infographic

A while back, we wrote a blog post, "Publish, Release, Launch: Some of the What and When of Book Publishing." We ...
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Rock the Boat by Resmaa Manakem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: A new book by Oprah and Dr. Phil guest Resmaa Menakem challenges the relationship status quo and ...
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Those Who Remain by Ruth W. Crocker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “With thoughtfulness and grace, she reconstructs…the experience of grief. A moving exploration of widowhood.” —Kirkus Reviews on ...
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Calling All Authors, Spokespeople, and Brands: Twitter is for Tweets and Other Ideas for 2015

Firstly, I’ll fess up to taking a break from writing over the holidays. Pretty much dead air, I know. As ...
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The Man With the Overcoat by David Finkle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Why would anyone—he was soon to ask himself innumerable times—take a coat from a complete stranger only ...
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Book Review: Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Yes Please is a great collection of personal anecdotes that not only gave me a glimpse of Amy Poehler’s personal life, ...
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Publicity and Reviews: Some (More) of The What and When of Book Publishing

I recently wrote a blog about when and how to publish your book. A gentleman who had self-published wrote a ...
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Who writes better: men or women?

My husband has accused me of not answering questions directly, but rather giving a roundabout answer full of explanation first ...
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The Next Happy by Tracey Cleantis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “A bold, brave and incredibly relevant book.” —Lee Woodruff, New York Times best-selling author of Perfectly Imperfect—A Life ...
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The Organ Takers by Richard Van Anderson

"Robin Cook fans will relish this taut and powerful medical thriller set in Manhattan…Van Anderson makes good use of his ...
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Publish, Release, Launch: Some of The What and When of Book Publishing

I will let you in on a secret: no one, not even the big publishers, know exactly when to publish ...
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If You Work It, It Works! by Joseph Nowinski, Ph.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a long-standing and trusted method of drug ...
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Amazon dispute shows the separate and not always equal sides of publishing

I have had the pleasure of growing up in the publishing industry before and during the digital age. When I ...
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What is a book publicist?

Many years ago, I was working as a “temp” while I made time to pursue a career in acting and ...
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What can you expect from your publicist?

An author contacted me this week to find out if I had written anything about what you can expect from ...
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Linton Bergsen, author of Purposeful Vision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”—Albert Einstein We all have a vision ...
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Will publicists work with your book if you self-publish?

Someone recently sent me an article by Philippa Rees that comes up on the ALLi site as "the failure of a publicist" ...
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Self Publishing Case Study #2: How many books should you be selling?

I've been thinking about a client of mine who came to me with a lovely novel that he decided to ...
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Book Review: Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch

“A look says more than words alone. That's a cliche, of course. But a cliche, also says more than words ...
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Art Suriano and The Ultimate Customer Experience

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: There is a difference between providing good customer service and creating the ultimate customer experience for consumers. ...
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American Conspiracy Theories by Joseph Uscinski and Joseph Parent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Conspiracy theories have been deeply entwined in revolutions, social movements, and public policy, and they have fueled ...
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Being on TV

Last week I had a unique opportunity, especially for a publicist. I was asked to step out from behind the ...
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Dictionary Series - Politics: independent

Self-Publishing Series Case Study: Will bookstores sell your indie books?

Short answer is yes, it is possible to get brick and mortar bookstores to take your self-published books, but it ...
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Branding: Why is it important?

What is it about branding these days? I will argue that before radio, tv, and now the Internet, what you ...
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Double Strike by Gretchen Archer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Double Strike is special—funny, unique, and I love Davis.” – Janet Evanovich One year after the crazy ...
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Weirdo by Cathi Unsworth

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “An absorbing mystery, an extraordinarily powerful evocation of time and place and a cast of characters whose ...
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Where Do Camels Belong: Why Invasive Species Aren’t All Bad by Ken Thompson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "Ken Thompson’s fascinating and highly readable book takes us on a tour of the way that ecologists ...
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In Doubt by Drusilla Campbell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: IN DOUBT By: Drusilla Campbell The author of Little Girl Gone and When She Came Home is ...
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My Thinning Years by Jon Derek Croteau

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “I knew now that I wouldn’t be able to hide it from anyone anymore, least of all, ...
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Choosing a Good Life by Ali Berman

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “I wanted to find people who had purpose, who were grateful, and who had handled conflict rationally ...
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The Fear Reflex by Joseph Shrand, M.D. with Leigh Devine, M.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Fear is a controlling and debilitating emotion that humans feel every day, from worrying about the health ...
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It Takes a Family by Debra Jay

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nationally recognized addiction counselor and interventionist Debra Jay is taking a bold step with a new approach ...
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Sobriety: A Graphic Novel by Daniel D. Maurer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Hazelden Publishing, the leader of informative books about conquering addiction, is releasing for the first time, a recovery ...
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You are going to be on TV! Now what?

You just booked your first live TV media appearance for your publicity campaign! This is exciting! But you're also starting ...
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What is a platform?

The definition of platform from Merriam Webster describes it as a raised surface; akin to a stage; and "as a ...
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Lucky Dog: How Being a Veterinarian Saved My Life by Sarah Boston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: When veterinarian Sarah Boston was repeatedly told by doctors that the mass in her neck was probably ...
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Dangerous Rhythm: Why Movie Musicals Matter by Richard Barrios

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Just as America went to war in Iraq, Rob Marshall’s Chicago razzle-dazzled audiences and took home six Academy ...
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The Olive Odyssey by Julie Angus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “A well-researched paean to the magical olive, a scrumptious romp through history, agronomy, DNA science, cuisine, business, ...
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Jennifer Sky: Queen of the Tokyo Ballroom

As someone who was abused as a child model, I am calling for the creation of an action committee to ...
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Feeding Frenzy by Paul McMahon

Barle’s Story by Else Poulsen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Her fur was a mess. The long guard hairs were broken or missing, the undercoat was wooly ...
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There is No End to This Slope by Richard Fulco

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Richard Fulco’s THERE IS NO END TO THIS SLOPE is a brave novel. Fulco’s first-person protagonist, John Lenza, born ...
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Painkillers, Heroin, and the Road to Sanity by Joani Gammill

PAINKILLERS, HEROIN, AND THE ROAD TO SANITY Real Solutions for Long-Term Recovery from Opiate Addiction By Joani Gammill Author of ...
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Rein in Your Brain by Cynthia Moreno Tuohy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Cynthia Moreno Tuohy, BSW, NCAC II, became a ward of the state when she was only eight ...
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Publicizing a book? What to expect and when.

What happens next? —A question I am asked all the time when it comes to a publicity campaign for a ...
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Conquering Shame and Codependency by Darlene Lancer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Shame is an emotion that can be buried in a person’s psyche so deep that one does ...
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My Family, My Self by the Comunidades Latinos Unidos En Servicio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The importance of family and the sense of well-being that comes from family connectedness is a core ...
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Girlfriend of Bill by Karen Nagy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “I was mystified about what went on in these meetings. I also was, I hate to say, ...
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How much does it cost to hire a publicist?

I'm going to answer the many requests I've received to try to shed some light on how much it costs ...
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Review: Coming Clean by Kimberly Rae Miller

The dark side of living with hoarders and the damage it does to a child is what makes Kimberly Rae ...
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Review: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

“I've made a fortune off it, and I would really like for you to have it all to your own ...
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Review: Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

“He had never been able to understand the assumption of intimacy fans felt with those they had never met.” —The ...
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Shadows in the Sun by Gayathri Ramprasad

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Dear Mother Earth,” I plead, “please take me back into your womb.” I clear the ground around ...
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Review: Holding Still for as Long as Possible by Zoe Whittall

“But we were both shaken by what we’d seen. It was as though someone had peeled the mask off certainty ...
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We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For by Peter Levine

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

“The sign says Hall of Mirrors, but when you enter you find it is more than a simple hall. You ...
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Double Dip: A Davis Way Crime Caper by Gretchen Archer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “A smart, snappy writer who hits your funny bone!” —Janet Evanovich Having solved the mystery of how ...
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We were “slammed”…

If you subscribe to a utility company, for home or business, beware because "slamming" does exist and it is incredibly ...
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Scott Hafetz, Hafetz and Associates

Learn more at www.hafetzandassociates.com. Find Hafetz & Associates on Facebook and Twitter @ehafetz_! ...
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Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

“I just think some women aren't made to be mothers. And some women aren't made to be daughters.” -Sharp Objects ...
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Review: A Happy Death by Albert Camus

At Claire McKinneyPR, we love books. Many of our daily conversations revolve around not just the books we work with, ...
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The Burning Question by Mike Berners-Lee & Duncan Clark

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: There have been many books on this issue but THE BURNING QUESTION lives up to the urgency ...
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Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now by Ben Kaplan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: An expensive pair of running sneakers, bright running apparel and a flashy sports watch will not prepare ...
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And Then There Were Nuns by Jane Christmas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “A lovely, heartfelt tale. Get thee to a bookstore and buy it.” —A.J. Jacobs, author of The ...
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The Endangered Species Road Trip by Cameron MacDonald

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Spotted owls in Oregon; desert tortoise in the Mojave; panthers in Florida; and piping plover’s on Cape ...
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Almost Anxious by Luana Marques, PhD & Eric Metcalf, MPH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: In our modern, fast-paced world, we can easily feel overwhelmed and anxious by the unending demands life ...
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Almost Depressed by Jefferson Prince, MD & Shelley Carson, PhD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Everyone feels sad or down from time to time, but ongoing unhappiness could mean there's something more ...
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When Dating Becomes Dangerous by Patti Occhiuzzo Giggans, MA & Barrie Levy, MSW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: The parents of teenagers suffering in violent or abusive relationships often feel worried, isolated, and confused about ...
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Becoming a Genuine Leader by Marilyn Mason

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Dr. Mason’s psychological insights are stunning. She illuminates the passage to authentic leadership.” —Gail Sheehy, author of ...
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Is it J.K. Rowling or isn’t it?

Today's story about J.K. Rowling and her book The Cuckoo's Calling, written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, is an interesting example of ...
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Donald Gross, author of The China Fallacy

“Understanding the complexity, risk and opportunity of China's rise will drive American opinions and policy making well into the 21st ...
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Book Expo: How to make deja-vu new again

I have been attending Book Expo America for a long time, never in the capacity of a show-goer, but always ...
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Mind Without a Home by Kristina Morgan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE “I think I have stopped being afraid of the men and women in suits that have hung ...
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Found Objects by Peter Gelfan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Sexy, slyly funny, and highly readable” —Fran Dorf, author of Flight and Saving Elijah The ménage a ...
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When is the right time to hire a book publicist…

I am a fan of the old saying "the early bird gets the worm." Corny, yes, but still very true ...
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Love’s Attraction by David Cleveland

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Michael Collins, the protagonist in David Adams Cleveland’s latest novel, LOVE’S ATTRACTION (Winsted Press: July 2013; $24.95), has ...
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The Good Nurse by Charles Graeber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Graeber doesn’t pull punches… A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre.” —Publishers Weekly “[Graeber] imbues ...
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Immortal Bird by Doron Weber

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “A powerful and lyric portrait of a son and a vibrant family.” —Toni Morrison, author of Beloved “The story ...
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Do You Know What a Book Publicist Does?

Do you know what a book publicist does? At lunch with publicist friends, there's one question that we always seem ...
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The Recovering Heart: Emotional Sobriety for Women

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Beyond the physical and biological effects that have taken a toll on those in recovery from addiction, a ...
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Almost Anorexic: Is My or My Loves Ones Relationship with Food a Problem?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “ALMOST ANOREXIC makes clear that serious widespread eating problems are often ignored by assessment tests, health care professionals, ...
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Craving by Omar Manejwala, M.D.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chocolate, sex, travel, a glass of wine, a new pair of shoes, french fries—these are all things ...
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White Out by Michael W. Clune

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “It’s not the feeling of doing the drug that stays new. The drug high starts to suck ...
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When promoting a book is also about selling a new idea…

Is it an idea, a book or both? I have this conversation with authors and publishers all the time. It ...
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yesterday's meals on wheels - Chilliwack & Abby Septic Service truck

What’s in a tagline?

I apologize for being remiss in not posting these past couple of weeks. To be honest it's been a bit ...
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Mother Nature and the Media

I love the weather. It is truly a humbling experience when major natural events occur...a time when I realize how ...
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The Cult of Personality: It’s not just a song.

Over a decade ago I recall having a somewhat heated debate at a dinner with authors, booksellers, and a publisher ...
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Why won’t presidential candidates answer direct questions?

Hello, and welcome to my first official blog post on our firm's brand new website. So the topic of the ...
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Swann Dives In by Charles Salzberg

Publisher:Cengage October 2012 ...
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Contracting a contractor

My company is one of many businesses one might call an outside “contractor”, meaning that some people hire me and ...
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Blind Devotion by Shariene Prinsen

Publisher: Hazelden Publishing October 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: To what lengths should a woman go to keep her family together? ...
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Becoming Wellstone by Paul David Wellstone Jr.

Publisher: Hazelden Publishing October 2012 ...
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Ballerina by Deirdre Kelly

Publisher: Greystone Books October 2012 ...
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America, but Better by Chris Cannon & Brian Calvert

PRI's "The World" interview New York Times Magazine ...
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You Need Help! by Mark S. Komrad. MD

Publisher: Hazelden Publishing September 2012 ...
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Waiting for the Barbarians by Daniel Mendelsohn

Publisher: New York Review of Books October 2012 ...
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Recovering my Kid by Joseph Lee M.D

Publisher: Hazelden Publishing December 2012 ...
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Now What?! by William Cope Moyers

Recent Media Hits: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/11/picking-addiction-help/ http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2013/feb/08/william-moyers-and-his-parents-on-addiction/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: In a society that seems entirely open about addiction, it is surprising ...
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