Authors Seeking Book Publicity Need 3 Free Top Crucial Elements To Start Says The Barrett Company

Dec. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA  December 7, 2010 – Barbara Wall, Vice President at national book publicity firm The Barrett Company (www.thebarrettco.com) stresses that authors seeking a book publicist should place at the top of their search list a firm offering “free marketing consultation” before a contract is signed.  “We’ve always offered this service and without charge to potential clients,” says Barbara, “but, now more than ever, we know how important it is for authors and publishers to thoroughly understand their opportunities  - - and even in some cases limitations  - -  to publicize their books be it in print, broadcast and digital/online medias in this challenging marketplace.”

Also, she said, authors should be sure to receive from a book publicist a free written plan of attack to market their book as well as a written agreement between the author and the book publicist clearly spelling out what each is responsible for in their project together.

The Barrett Company has successfully created and launched book publicity campaigns designed in an a la carte and fairly priced suite of services to both non-fiction and fiction writers from major publishers such as Simon & Schuster and Norton to self-pubilshed firms such as i-Universe, AuthorHouse and Xlirbis as well as CreateSpace and others.  Recent and upcoming clients include Gary Fong, author of “The Accidental Millionaire” from BenBella Books, Carla Malden's "Afterimage" from Globe Pequot Press, Kristy Haile who penned the popular holiday book “I Am Santa!" and "Power Over Stress" by Dr. Ken Nedd.

“In these times, authors, in particular, need to spend ‘quality time’ – either personally in a one-on-one situation or over the telephone – with a publicist or PR agency they might be considering for representation.  This is not a ‘one size fits all’ process,” added Barbara.

Barbara relates stories of authors attempting to explore publicity services strictly by e-mail.  “What these types of authors don’t understand is that it is imperative to the success of their project that they be able to succinctly verbalize the content of their books and what they hope to gain through the use of publicity.

Sometimes this can be a difficult and thought-provoking process.  Authors typically have been immersed in their book outline/plot, the content and editing/re-editing of their material.  Many times, they have not thought through exactly how they will get the books to market.”

Barbara adds, “We here at The Barrett Company will probe and question until the author has a better picture of the path he needs to follow.  In turn, this helps us devise and formulate a customized marketing plan which will be sent to the author, along with a proposal.  The proposal will spell out TBC’s and the client’s respective responsibilities, as well as costs.”

After the client signs, TBC will expand upon this consultation by providing media interview training.  This training will help the author crystalize his thoughts about his book so that he is ready for those all-important interviews.


About The Barrett Company

Based in Los Angeles and also represented in New York, The Barrett Company was established in 1992 as a full service media relations and outreach firm, serving authors, publishers, small press, film and TV studios and Hollywood celebrities.  Our author clients have seen their books reviewed with our assistance in The New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Book List, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune and the San Francisco Chronicle as well with online medias like bookreview.com, Pacific Book Review and  Independent Professional Book Reviews, among others.  More information on TBC’s services for the publishing industry can be accessed at the firm’s website via www.thebarrettco.com or via info@thebarrettco.com, or by calling the firm in Los Angeles at 310-471-5764.

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Based in Los Angeles and also represented in New York, The Barrett Company was established in 1992 as a full service media relations and outreach firm, serving authors, publishers, small press, film and TV studios and Hollywood celebrities. Our author clients have seen their books reviewed with our assistance in The New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Book List, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune and the San Francisco Chronicle as well with online medias like bookreview.com, Pacific Book Review and Independent Professional Book Reviews, among others. More information on TBC’s services for the publishing industry can be accessed at the firm’s website via www.thebarrettco.com or via info@thebarrettco.com, or by calling the firm in Los Angeles at 310-471-5764.