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July 31st, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Hi all,

Today there will be no blog posting. Enjoy your day!

 

Sharknado 2 Attacks

July 29th, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

During the next few weeks Americans will be inundated with shark coverage.  Discovery Channel’s Shark Week is next week and tomorrow night Sharknado 2 premieres on SyFy channel.  We are obsessed with all things shark related.

Although most of it is for fun, many false facts are spread based on these programs.

Here is a recent article from Huffington Post by ocean scientist and The Shark Whisperer author Dr. Ellen Prager about sharks.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-ellen-prager/enjoy-the-show-learn-more_b_5623420.html

So enjoy the shows but remember it’s fiction and for fun!

In non-shark-related news,  Starz is premiering Outlander on August 9.  The wildly successful books are like candy but the series sounds like it will be equally good.  Although I do not have Starz, they are releasing the first episode online on August 2.

Enjoy your day!

Using Twitter/ Muck Rack

July 24th, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Good afternoon!

I hope everyone is enjoying this summer day.  Recently I have been using a great site to connect with journalists: Muck Rack.  This web site tracks journalists on social media.

I use the site to find journalists associated with a topic of a client.  For example, I work with a children’s book author who is from the Boston area.  I found a journalist who covers arts & entertainment from The Boston Herald and pitched her email.

One can also use Twitter to pitch.  I spend about a half-hour a day on Twitter retweeting and replying to certain postings.

Try it! One never knows who you will meet!

Here is The Boston Herald article.

http://bostonherald.com/entertainment/books/2014/07/monster_trend_market_s_hot_so_local_children_s_book_authors_turn_to

 

Ventura/ American Sniper Case

July 22nd, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

In St. Paul there is a very interesting court case taking place that affects the publishing industry.  Jesse Ventura is suing the widow of Navy SEAL and author of American Sniper Chris Kyle.  Venture asserts that Kyle fabricated a passage in his 2012 best-seller about punching him in a California bar in 2006.   Ventura has the burden to prove Kyle made up the store.  A very high bar.  He also must prove he suffered financially because of the book.

The case went to the jury today.

This case is interesting on many levels but as a book publicist it has many negatives and positives.

1. Negative:  Make sure to check, check and re-check your facts.  Once something is published it is out there forever.

2. Positive: Yes, it does sell books.  For a book published 2 years ago, a rejuvenation in sales is a big deal.

3. Negative: It calls into question the credibility of everyone involved with the book, including the publisher.

4. Positive: It sheds light on publishing and how much research needs to be completed before a book is published.

5.  Overall:  I keep thinking what is the result?  If the jury sides with Ventura it will continue to set a precedent that one can’t just make up stories.  However, look at the money and time spent to argue a seemingly small issue.

Your thoughts?

A Client on Huffington Post!

July 17th, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Here is a great read for you!

My client, Major Miguel Reece met many interesting people while working with the VA. Check out this article.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/major-miguel-reece-retired/my-visit-with-an-extraord_b_5589321.html

Enjoy the beautiful summer weather!

All-Star Mania

July 15th, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Good afternoon!

It is All-Star mania here in Minneapolis.  Right now there is a red-carpet parade on Nicollet Mall and the game starts today at 7.   Here is a great interview about an even greater book and author: Betsy’s Day at the Game by Greg Bancroft.

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/26003263/new-book-promotes-life-lessons-through-baseball

On to other topics…

Here are a few things that have been on my pop-culture mind:

1. Garth:  Today he will announce his concert tour.  So excited! First stop is Chicago on September 4!  http://www.garthbrooks.com/chicago/

2. The View:  Wow what a roller coaster! Jenny and Sherry are out, Barbara has retired, and now Rosie is on.  Who will be next?

3. Fargo and Emmy nominations:  Fargo did not get the most nominations but hopefully they will win the most!  All the performances were phenomenal.

Take care and stay tuned for the next Garth tour announcement.

Garth Brooks and Sony/RCA are announcing a world tour, new music and digital sales.   He live streamed a press conference today on GarthBrooks.com.

Here are some of his announcements:

*Brooks is asserting he will have new music within 1 or 2 months.

*He is announcing a world tour on July 14.  He is calling a fan named Andy and telling him the first tour date.  Then it will be announced publicly.

*He will release digital songs available only on his web site.

*His shows will be huge: his stage is 255 wide and 25 feet tall.

Garth also address the controversy currently with canceled Irish shows.

Go to www.GarthBrooks.com for more information.

Authors and Income

July 8th, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

I read a very interesting article today about authors and income.  The publishing world is going through so many changes and this article proves it.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/jul/08/authors-incomes-collapse-alcs-survey

Children’s writer Mal Peel discussed her income here.

Mal Peet, whose children’s novels have won prizes from the Carnegie medal to the Guardian award, said his income from books had “dwindled really significantly” over the past four years. In the past, he said, he received royalty cheques of up to £30,000 for a six-month period. In the last half of 2013, his royalties for all his novels were just £3,000.

In this age of published, it must be about more than the book.  It has to be about what you can offer after readers close the book.

1. Seminars

2. Licensing

3. Merchandising

Twitter and news

July 3rd, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Hi all,

Happy day-before-a-holiday!

I was thinking about what to discuss  and my topic hit me over the head.  I was on Twitter when I saw a tweet from Chris Colfer, star of Glee.  It said due to personal reasons he was being let go from Glee.  Fans were shocked.

Then a few minutes later his rep said his account was hacked.

A few minutes later Huffington Post and Entertainment Weekly both announced his departure as if he had passed away!

Unreal…

In the space of a few minutes, he was on the show, off the show, back on and then reported to be leaving.

Speed seems to be all important in this day and age of journalism.  No one seems to fact check.  I learned in J school that we need at least 2 sources to confirm a story before publishing anything.  At least 2!

Today, journalists seem something on Twitter and jump on it to be first.  Just lazy!

It was ABC entertainment that did not jump on it and announced Chris’ rep said he was hacked!

Lesson number one:  patience is a virtue and everything you read online is not true!

What is the Duck Stamp?

July 1st, 2014 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

This year is the 80th anniversary of the duck stamp.  See this Ducks Unlimited article:  ahttp://www.ducks.org/conservation/public-policy/the-federal-duck-stamp-turns-80?poe=JA14

The stamps has benefited millions of acres of land in the U.S.  It equals the size of Vermont!

The current question is should the price of the stamp be increased?  It has not been increased since 1991.

If you are interested in more information, try Dr. John Juriga’s biography about duck stamp contest creator Bob Hines.  He is the man who singlehandly brought the term “conservation” to American consciousness.

Speaking of 1991, this is also the anniversary of the Walkman.

I loved all of my Walkmans.  I dropped many and had to replace them at least once per year!  Remember batteries?