Author: Angelle Barbazon

Angelle joined the Books Forward team in 2014, and her experience and dedication has led to her being named our lead publicist. Her distinct pitching style and effective research has secured media coverage for our authors and their books in Vanity Fair, Buzzfeed, The Associated Press, The New York Times and USA Today, as well as countless regional media outlets. Our authors love Angelle’s meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to their vision and their books. Other publicists frequently spend time learning from her — how to ask probing questions, find the right person to contact and craft a successful pitch. She began her professional career at news outlets across the country before surrendering to her love of books. An award-winning journalist whose own work has appeared in local and national publications, including NPR, she is tenacious in finding the right angles to utilize for each campaign and connecting with the right reporter for the job. Angelle can usually be found at a concert, working on Mardi Gras costumes or taking photos of random cats that she meets wandering around New Orleans.

4 tips to promote reader engagement between book releases

Posted on | by Angelle Barbazon

When you’re promoting a new book, there are many easy ways to connect with your readers — for example, sharing new reviews on social media, signing copies at bookstores, visiting with book clubs and participating in author panels at book festivals. But once the dust settles and you’re ready to begin a new writing project, how can you stay in touch with all those loyal readers between publishing books?

Here are 4 helpful ways to promote reader engagement and stay connect with fans:

Stay active on social media

Maintain an online presence through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or whatever social media platform you enjoy the most. Bring your followers up to speed about your newest manuscript, share behind-the-scenes content, post photos of your workspace and share fun updates about your daily life.

Start a conversation

Recruit your biggest fans to become beta readers for your newest book so they can provide valuable feedback and be part of the creative process. Understanding what readers like or dislike can guide you in crafting stories that resonate more with your audience.

Create a community

Get to know your readers and get them talking among themselves! Reader engagement by way of community is a great organic place to start a conversation. What books are they currently reading? Are there certain TV shows everyone is binging? Do they have specific songs they love listening to on a road trip?

Write guest articles and blog posts

Keep your name out there by showcasing your expertise.

With these strategies, you’ll maintain a loyal, engaged audience who will eagerly anticipate your next release. Keep the conversation going, and your reader engagement will continue to grow along with you!

Interested in learning how you can keep momentum building for your books between releases? Contact us to learn more about customizing a marketing plan for you!

Bridging techniques for smoother interviews

Posted on | by Angelle Barbazon

When promoting a new book, authors often find themselves in the spotlight, eager to discuss their work, ideas and passions. Yet, amid the excitement of sharing their message, there can be a lurking concern: What if an interviewer’s questions veer into uncomfortable territory? How can you gracefully navigate discussions on sensitive topics without compromising your message or integrity?

It’s important to tread carefully, especially when faced with interviewers who may not share your perspectives or even challenge your beliefs. It’s in these moments that the art of “bridging” becomes invaluable — a strategic technique that allows you to steer the conversation so that your key points are highlighted.

Here are a few tips:

Show empathy toward the interviewer’s concerns or questions 

  • Acknowledge their perspective, then smoothly transition to a related topic that you want to discuss. For example, “That’s an interesting point, but what’s really important here is…”

Take the essence of the question and reframe it in a way that allows you to address your key messages

  • For instance, “I understand your concern about X, but what I think is crucial to focus on is…”

Be an active listener by paying close attention to the interviewer’s question to ensure you understand their concerns or interests.

  • This allows you to tailor your responses more effectively and find relevant bridges to your key messages

Offer a concise response to the question and then smoothly pivot to a different topic that aligns with your messaging.

Transition by using relevant examples or anecdotes

Use conditional language with phrases 

  • For example “If we’re looking at it from another angle…” or “While that’s important, let’s also consider…” to introduce your desired topic.

Stand strong while staying calm and confident throughout the interview

  • Staying positive and professional will help you build a better rapport with the interviewer and leave a positive impression.

Other phrases that might be helpful to shift the conversation:

  • “That’s one way to look at it, however…”
  • “I can appreciate your perspective, but let’s also consider…”
  • “I am really glad you asked that, because…”
  • “Let’s look at it from a broader perspective…”
  • “Have you considered the equally important question…”
  • “Well, another issue playing into this is…”
  • “That reminds me…”
  • “Speaking of which…”
  • “That’s very interesting, but what I really want to say is…”

While bridging and deflecting techniques are useful, it’s also important to address the interviewer’s questions to some extent so you don’t appear evasive or insincere. Balancing these techniques with genuine engagement and responsiveness can help you successfully navigate interviews, especially if there are sensitive topics being introduced. 

Check out our other interview tips here!

What if an interviewer hasn’t read my book?

Posted on | by Angelle Barbazon

Journalists and radio hosts are being stretched thin, pulled in more directions than ever. It’s not always feasible for them to read a book from beginning to end before an interview. 

With this in mind, it’s best to provide the interviewer with all the information they need to properly guide the conversation, giving you the chance to fully communicate your message.

Before booking interviews, you’ll want to create 5-10 talking points that reflect your unique voice and your mission as an author. When brainstorming, consider the following:

  • What do you want to communicate? 
  • How do you want to present yourself? 
  • Why is your perspective timely and relevant? 
  • What topics will entice readers to pick up a copy of your book?

When booking interviews, give the producer or host a copy of your book and press kit along with your list of sample talking points. You can also share any additional resources that may be helpful (book trailers, links to articles you’ve written, etc.)

During the interview, don’t be afraid to fill in the gaps if needed. Bring up important topics even if the host doesn’t. If there’s a specific talking point you’d like to emphasize, go for it. It’s ultimately up to you to promote your book. If possible, keep a notecard with your talking points in front of you during the interview.

If an interviewer gets something wrong, gently correct them. It’s better to set the record straight than to have misinformation spreading around after the interview airs.

And if you don’t have enough time to cover all your talking points in the interview, that’s okay. It can be helpful to spread your message across multiple interviews and guest articles to keep things fresh!

Looking for more interview tips? Check out our article here.

Long-time Managing Director Marissa DeCuir is Named President and Partner at JKS Communications

Posted on | by Angelle Barbazon

Long-time managing director Marissa DeCuir has been promoted to president and partner at JKS Communications, a book marketing and author publicity firm, effective immediately.

DeCuir started with the firm eight years ago as a book publicist and has steadily risen through the ranks. During her tenure, she has been a key factor in building the firm from a two-person operation to a team that is headquartered in Nashville with satellite operations in New Orleans, Atlanta and Charlotte.

“Marissa is the quintessential leader. Her understanding of publicity from the perspective of what a journalist needs on the other side of the table is key to our growth. Her expertise in implementing cutting edge technology, while focusing on results driven campaigns to serve our clients, is central to making JKS Communications one of the top publicity firms in the country,” founder Julie Schoerke said.

Her leadership has been instrumental in the book publicity firm’s growth to which has now represented more than 1,000 books and more than 600 authors. While experiencing exponential growth, the firm has been committed to building a culture of “family” and the authors represented are often known in the industry as “The JKS Family.”

JKS Communications works with both traditionally and independently published authors, as well as small presses. The firm specializes in helping authors navigate the ever-changing book industry, while implementing creative strategies to stay ahead of the curve.

“I am proud to lead a strong team of former journalists and publishing experts that have managed campaigns for New York Time and USA Today bestselling authors, some of the most award-winning books and those that change lives and make the world a better place. I am so proud of what we have accomplished with our authors. I look forward to our JKS family’s continued success in the future,” DeCuir said.

A former journalist herself, with USA Today and Gannett Company, her work has been featured in National Geographic and The Chicago Sun-Times in the past several years as well. She grew up in a family of journalists who own newspapers in Louisiana, and she is a journalism graduate of the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, where she served as managing editor of The Daily Reveille and lsureveille.com.

DeCuir takes the reins of running the firm from Schoerke, who founded the company in 2000. Schoerke will focus on strategic planning of the firm going forward.

What (Not) To Wear for a TV Interview

Posted on | by Angelle Barbazon

Have you ever watched an interview on television and couldn’t help but feel that something was drawing your attention away from the person’s message? Perhaps it was what they were wearing.

People shouldn’t make judgments based on your appearance, but some will, even subconsciously. Certain colors, patterns and types of clothing can create unintentional distractions on camera when they would typically go unnoticed in everyday situations.

While there are always exceptions to every rule, here are a few tips to keep in mind for your next television interview:

Don’t wear white, black, red or green. Cameras are sensitive, and these colors can be harsh on screen. While white tends to glow, black will absorb light, and bright red hues can be distracting. Green also interferes with digital backgrounds. Solid blue and pastel tones are generally a safe bet.

On that note, stay away from patterns, including stripes, plaid and small designs. Again, cameras pick up everything, and some designs can create visual interference.

The general rule for attire is business casual. Avoid wearing short skirts, dresses, shorts or other revealing clothing. It’s also a good idea to look online for recent interview clips to get an idea of the set and see what other guests have worn in the past.

Before an interview, remove any jewelry that moves, makes noise or could hit your microphone. This includes dangly earrings, bangle bracelets and long or bulky necklaces.

Avoid brand name logos and words on your clothing. You want viewers to hear what you are saying, not your T-shirt.