Start smiling…(+ sell more books!)

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MEDIA-READY AUTHOR: Go From Uncomfortable to Confident and Sell More Books with my Media-Training Class for Authors on Tuesday, October 18th!

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Whenever I walk up to the counter to pay for a cup of tea or a t-shirt I always make a point to smile at the person at the register before saying anything. I make eye contact and have a moment.

That’s not something people often do. And in all honesty it freaks people out sometimes. But think about it - we just rush between transaction after transaction.?

What if you did pause and give a smile? What would that do??

I’ll tell you what it does on camera - it makes you likable and makes people want to pay you for stuff!?

Isn’t that the point??

Think about it - how often do you buy something based on how likable the person is selling it to you??

Maybe you decided to go see one acupuncturist over another one because the one you chose was kind and seemed to be generally interested in you.?

Or how about the last book you bought?

Did you buy the book because you saw the author on TV or at a book signing and he or she seemed fun and nice???

Take for instance my media-training client Chef Todd Richards. He’s the author of the book Soul: A Chef's Culinary Evolution in 150 Recipes.

I worked with him just prior to his book launch to get him prepped for any media opportunities that popped up.?

We met like I do with all my clients via Zoom video conference.? He’s in Atlanta and I’m in New York City.?

I had already seen a few media appearances of him and I will admit I thought I had him figured out.?

But when I met him I was blown away by how personable and friendly he was.?

You see I thought he was super serious and not very friendly at all because guess what he wasn’t doing in those media appearances I saw him in?

Yep - Smiling!?

So I had a different version of what he would be like in my mind given that one piece of video. But I was dead wrong. And you’d be too if you saw that same segment.?

So our sessions were focused on getting the “real” Todd to be seen on camera.?

He was a good sport with me when I would stop him mid sentence and say, “Why aren’t you smiling? We’re talking about bacon!”

Just like an athlete practices drills and plays - any author who wants to be on camera has to practice the same way.?

Many people think they’ll be “just fine” when it comes to an on-camera interview. But I’ll tell you in my nearly 20 years of experience as a TV producer that is not the case at all.?

Something strange happens to people when they get in front of a camera. And without the proper training you could blow your big chance.?

In fact - I’m hosting a live online training called Media-Ready Author: Speak in Soundbites, Set Up Your Virtual Studio and Sell More Books with more tips just like this.

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==>Signup for my online training<==

If you’re an author, soon-to-be author, publicist, literary agent or anyone looking to get your message out in the world I’d love for you to join us!?

AFTER TAKING THIS TRAINING YOU WILL:

• Know what really sells books during media interviews?
• Learn what the media wants from its go-to contributors?
• Get your ideas across succinctly and powerfully?
• Feel more comfortable and look better on camera?
• Know what to do if something goes wrong or you’re asked a question you don’t know the answer to?
• Be able to distill your messages for multiple audiences?
• Talk about unpopular opinions with confidence?
• Know the best tools and lighting to amplify your message?

==>Join me live!<==

I love a happy ending and thankfully all that practice with Todd paid off and I feel like a proud mama!?

Todd was asked to appear on CBS This Morning and he knocked it out of the park.?

He was smiling, storytelling (something we also worked on), cracking jokes and being the life of the party.?

THAT is the Todd I know and I was thrilled to help him feel comfortable enough on camera to be himself.?

You don’t just snap your fingers and feel more like yourself on camera - it takes practice and work.?

Todd put in the time and it paid off - oh and hopefully sold some books too!?

Join me for Media-Ready Author: Speak in Soundbites, Set Up Your Virtual Studio and Sell More Books to get camera-ready for your own book launch!?

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==>Signup for my online training<==

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“Paula helped me to find confidence in telling the story of my first book. As a journalist, I am far more comfortable asking the questions than answering them. Paula helped me to get out all my long-winded responses and to hone in on the ideas that really worked. She put me at ease and helped me to set myself up as strongly as possible, with practice and planning, so I can think less about my performance and more about the important messages I hope to deliver. I’m so grateful.”

Chelsea Conaboy — Author, Mother Brain: How Neuroscience is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood and Science Journalist

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All the best,

Paula?

P.S. Join my online training Media-Ready Author - I’ll give you all my best tips live! (And there’s a recording if you can’t be there)