Wednesday’s promotion tip

One of the best ways authors can save time and generate favorable publicity for their book is to prepare their own interview questions in advance of being interviewed by editors and reporters. Preparing for upcoming interviews by creating a list of questions you’d like to be asked benefits authors in several ways. The most important benefit is that the author controls the content of the article, interview, or profile, ensuring that the right points will be addressed.

Even if the editor or reporter rewords the author’s questions, the previously-prepared questions will provide a framework for the interview. Journalists, today, are often too busy to read your book or throughly research your background and your website. Many will be grateful for the questions you provide, and won’t deviate from them.

Most important, preparing questions in advance gives you an opportunity to plan and rehearse your responses. The goal is not to sound “canned,” but to be able to comfortably and enthusiastically respond to the interview questions. Even if you don’t consult your notes during the interview, your responses are likely to be smoother and more credible than if the interviewer asks you questions you’re not prepared for.

Once you have prepared your own “interview” questions, you can post them in your author media center or press center on your website, and you can e-mail them to editors and reporters when they contact you to set up an interview.