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Why I Love (Some) Publicists
May 13, 2008
Promoting books is a hard job. Lots of knocking on doors, or phone lines, or emailboxes and lots (and lots and lots) of rejection. I should know: I’ve been rejecting publicists – ok, not them, just their “product” – for years.
But every once in a while, you come upon a publicist who tells you the “truth,” at least in so far as she (it’s often, but not always a “she”) sees it. Not that a publicist will ever trash a client (especially if said publicist runs her own publicity firm: why take on a book you don’t love?) to an editor, but the ones I like aren’t afraid to say: “This one is great for this or that audience, but it might not be your cup of Red Bull,” or, even more admirable: “This is a tough one to promote, but I think you should just read it because I think you will like it.” It’s not easy – and it usually helps to have been in the business a few years and to know the tastes of the person you’re addressing. The greatest publicists, even, will privately admit to a book’s faults without damning its author – and those, above all, are the publicists I like. No book is going to be “perfect” to everyone, and by admitting flaws, honest publicists are helping reviewers and editors do their jobs.
I thought about naming publicists I like here, but then I got worried about the ones I’d forget – or purposely omit. So instead, I thought I’d ask you professionals out there to answer this simple question: “What makes a good publicist and how do you know one when you see (or set out to hire) one?”
I’m listening. . . .
Posted by Sara Nelson on May 13, 2008 | Comments (7)
