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Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Whenever I pitch a story, I try to make sure that the story I am telling is informative and interesting.  I don’t want the pitch to be self-promotional.

Here are today’s tips to think about when pitching a story:

1. Has the contact covered a story like this in the past?  If you are pitching the 5 p.m anchor about a clothing line, it is not relevant.

2. Speaking of being relevant..Make sure the story is very relevant to the media outlet.  Don’t pitch a story about puppies to a cat magazine!

3. Spell check.  Make sure your grammar is on point.  A journalist can delete a pitch based on a misspelling.

4. FWD: I have seen this many times.  A person puts FWD: in the subject line.  I can be intentional or unintentional, however it never works.

5. Establish a relationship first.  I have received many emails from individuals I have no relationship with. If a story is good, it may work but try to establish a relationships before you pitch.

Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, here is my favorite St. Patrick’s story that deserves more attention.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2015/03/17/create-the-luck-youve-been-wishing-for/

What is News Part II

March 12th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

As I write this the trees are swinging to the breeze in my backyard.  Also, I’m waiting for 70 degrees this evening!

I’m continuing my blog about news.  I find it hard to believe that Madonna dating Tupac is news!  Sounds like an interesting pairing but front page worthy?

So what is news?  Is news measured based on how many people click on a story or is it based on how relevant that story is to an area?  How about if the story affects a tremendous amount of people?  The answer is different to everyone.

We have had an interest in celebrity since Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks got married but at least they had talent.  Why are we obsessed with Justin Bieber, the Kardashians, Bobbi Kristina Brown, or even the Royals?  Is it the money?  The fame?  The fact that they are related to someone talented?

I’m not sure.

What I do know is that these stories need more attention:

Hubble telescope spots ocean on Jupiter moon Ganymede: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/12/jupiter-moon-ganymede-ocean-nasa/70203402/

Millions of Children Trapped by War: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/12/syria-war-children_n_6854612.html?utm_hp_ref=world

Loved this! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jordyn-holman/why-you-probably-wont-finish-reading-this-article_b_6850042.html?utm_hp_ref=books&ir=Books

What is News?

March 10th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Happy Spring!

Is Kim Kardashian dying her hair blonde news?  How about dying it more blonde more newsworthy?

How about Miley Cyrus dating a new beau?

Brian Williams going on 6-month leave?

What is news?  What is hard news and soft news?

In the past, a journalist knew the difference between hard news v. soft.  In today’s world it seems celebrity news is hard news.  Bruce Jenner’s sex change is front page, while a war in the Middle East falls through the cracks.

Here are a few news stories that deserve more space.

1. http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/09/isis-destruction-of-antiques-at-mosul-nimrud-hides-sinister-moneymaking-scheme

2.http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/03/06/orig-pkg-nasa-discovers-mars-ancient-ocean-5-things-to-know.nasa

3.http://www.cbsnews.com/news/world-war-ii-soldiers-wedding-ring-returned-to-his-family-70-years-later/

More of my Favorite Products

March 3rd, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Happy Snowy Tuesday!

Here in Minnesota we are getting a few inches of snow but it will be in the 40s by Friday. Welcome to March in Minnesota!

It’s a new week so a new beauty product topic.

I’m a person who suffers from cold sores.  Ever since I was a child I have developed them when I am tired, stressed or sick.  It has been a struggle to find products that help.  In reality, there is no easy fix for this issue.

Here are a few I recommend to get you through.

1. Abreva: If one puts this on when they feel the tingling sensation, it will lessen the time of the sore.  It is very expensive but worth it!

2. Caudalie cream.  I have been using this lately. It is for hands, nails and cuticles but seems to keep cold sores from cracking.

3. Blistex.  It also keeps them from cracking.

4. Vasaline: Sometimes basic Vasaline is what works!

Enjoy! It will be Spring soon!

I’m on vacation Thursday so the next posting is next Tuesday!

 

 

My Other Obsession

February 26th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

So, I love media, pop culture and books, but my other obsession is beauty products.

There is just something about walking into a Sephora or an Ulta to see the products that will cure my issue.  I love it!  I would have loved the apothecaries of the 1800s.

Now, I’m not a big make-up person.  I put on mascara, some lip gloss and blush.  That’s it.

I know that sounds odd but I love skin products and bath/ beauty products.

In the next few weeks, I plan to blog more about this as well as establish blog postings on other web sites.

First, I’d love to give credit to other blogs, web sites who I refer to.  I found some of the greatest products here:

1. Pop Sugar

2. Rank & Style

3.  This is Glamours

4. Vicki Archer

5. Lucky Magazine

6. Vogue

As far a products, let’s start with a problem I ways have.

Dry, Itchy Skin in the Winter.  Last Winter I had scratches from itching so hard, especially on my legs.  I searched for products that work.  Here are a few as well as a few techniques that worked for me.

1. Cetaphil hand cream.  This is the one in the tub.  I use it in the shower and but it on right after I dry off in the show.  You must stay in the shower to have this work.

2. Elizabeth Arden’s 10-hour cream.  She used to use this on her horses.  I use it on my legs, hand, face, lips, cuticles.

3.  Caudalie’s Divine Oil.  Love this on my face, lips and hands.

They are great and will help you through the winters!

 

Oscars!!

February 24th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

The Oscars were Sunday night!  It was a big night in our house because my husband and I have an annual bet about the show.  We fill out our ballots and follow along as the show slowly moves on.

Sunday night we were neck and neck.  Tied at 11 each!  Then he pulled ahead with the win of “Birdman”!  I had picked “Boyhood” to sweep.

If I were to win, he had to wear a suit for a week.  If he won, I have to cook all the meals for one weekend.

So, he won 14 to 11.  I’m looking for new recipes!

In other news about the Oscars, I thought Lady Gaga was wonderful!  She is the whole package!  I’m glad she is finally realizing she does not need the weird image to be successful.  Her voice is tops!

The low point of the show was the weird John Travolta appearances.  He was getting touchy-feeling with both Scarlett Johansson and Idina Metzel.

I thought Neil Patrick Harris was okay.  His opening was great but the show lagged and I was getting very tired by 11 PM!

Onward to next year!

Huffington Post

February 19th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Happy Thursday!!

Congrats to my client Mehdi Toozhy!  He was just featured in Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mehdi-toozhy/seven-surprising-simple-steps-to-success_b_6693130.html

In other publishing news:

Also, it looks like we will have another Dr. Seuss book on the market this summer.  Random House will published What Pet Should I Get this summer.  It was a recently discovered manuscript.

This is becoming a trend after a new Harper Lee manuscript was also recovered.

Have a great weekend!

Here is a great article from CEO Blog Nation.

http://rescue.ceoblognation.com/2015/02/17/tips-becoming-successful-entrepreneur/

It is advice from the entrepreneur of Budget Blinds!

My favorite are the last two tips.

Full disclosure:  I helped obtain this article.

Happy Reading and Happy Tuesday!

Anchor Man Shuffle

February 12th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Wow, what a shuffle with TV news anchors in the last few days.  Some are controversial others are incredibly sad.

NBC announced that they put Brian Williams on 6-month suspension without pay.   They are looking into the accuracy of several of his stories.

Next, Jon Stewart announced his departure from “The Daily Show.”  This is a shock to many and the search for his replacement will be an interesting journey.

Lastly, CBS newsman Bob Simon was killed in a car accident last night.  What a tremendous loss for the journalistic community!

Rest in Peace Mr. Simon.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

February 10th, 2015 | Posted by Sara in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Good afternoon all:

As many of you know, I work with several authors as a publicist.  Needless to say, this is a very difficult industry.  When one achieves success it can be very enjoyable but the road to success can be bumpy and frustrating.

Recently I read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  It is a very simple book with a lot of life lessons however as a publicist I was struck by his foreword.  He discussed his publishing journey.

“When The Alchemist was first published 25 years ago… no one noticed.  A bookseller … told me that only one person purchsed a copy in the first week of its release. It took another six months for the bookseller to unload a second copy– and that was to the same person who bought the first! And who knows how long it took to sell the third.  My original publisher decided to cut me loose and cancelled our contract.”

He goes on to say he was 41 and desperate.

He stuck with it because it was his “Personal Legend.”  Slowly, through word of mouth, the book was given a second chance.  It started to sell with a new publisher and eight months later an American publisher wanted to translate it.  It was brought to an American audience where Bill Clinton and Madonna were reading it and everyone from Will Smith to soccer moms were talking about it.

He said he had no idea it would succeed.

In publishing, one needs this attitude to succeed.  Don’t go into publishing with the idea that you will make millions.

Do it to share a little treasure with the world.