Part of publicizing your book means spreading the word about you! Some authors love this, while others dread it, but whatever side you’re on, it’s good to prepare for the possibility of talking about yourself and your book A LOT!
Radio and podcast interviews are great for this. These can be interviews with local stations, or on shows that share a niche focus with your book. Either way, it’s great to have this kind of exposure!
Staying prepared for interviews
Some authors get nervous and feel like an interview is going to be a quiz, but the hosts want it to go well just as much as you do! Some hosts will send you questions beforehand so you know what to expect, while others will have a more conversational feel.
They booked you because they are interested in what you have to say and they think their listeners will be, too. We promise they aren’t trying to trick you!
Adding to your calendar
Triple check the time and date of your interview — especially the time zone! Make sure you have the link or call-in number available (or be prepared if they’re calling you). And technology can be fickle, so request a back-up way to contact the studio or host.
If you scheduled the interview a month or two ago, it may be helpful to check in a day or two ahead of time to make sure nothing has changed. Be sure to make a note of the name of the show or station, as well as the host you’ll be chatting with.
Staying on topic
Think about the main points you want to get across during the interview. We usually suggest four or five points that are of the most importance to you. Write them down and have them nearby during your interview, so you can refer back to them and guide your answers if you get lost.
Practice talking about these main points beforehand; 15-20 seconds on each should be short enough to fit in any segment, and isn’t so long that people will start to lose interest.
You shouldn’t be afraid to be yourself during an interview. Let your personality shine! And if you’re an expert on your topic, especially if your book is nonfiction, be prepared to talk about any current events that might relate to your area of expertise.
We have some more tips about familiarizing yourself with shows beforehand and tricks to keep the conversation flowing in our interview tips blog here.
Study the show
One of the best ways to get a feel for the show is to listen to other episodes! It will give you a great baseline on the host’s personality and types of questions they might ask, as well as the general flow of things.
You can tell some hosts have done their homework and read every book, whereas others may not and prefer to get to know more about the subject and the writing by asking guests about themselves and their book during the interview. It truly isn’t a matter of disrespect or them not being prepared — it’s just different styles of shows!
Ready to record
Be sure to make sure you have a quiet place to talk during the interview without interruption, and remember using headphones may help with sound quality. Try to sit in one place while speaking, as moving around can cause you to lose a connection or make background noise.
If the interview is also going to record video, make sure you acquaint yourself with the recording format — learn more about our video interview tips here.
We’ve found that being upbeat translates to a better interview. Some authors have reported that smiling while speaking (even if it’s just audio) can lead to a more positive energy. And remember to keep your answers short and sweet, and try to return back to your talking points when appropriate.
If there is an awkward silence, trust that the hosts will know how to segue to other topics or gloss over it and don’t try to fill it yourself with whatever pops into your head as that may lead to what I call a “Michael Scott situation.”
Try to remember to mention your book’s title, ideally more than once if you can bring it up organically, as well as any local connections you have if it’s a locally focused show. And if your website is simple enough to mention, that can be beneficial as well!
After the interview
And after the interview, be sure to send a quick thank-you to anyone involved in the interview (hosts, producers, bookers, etc.), and of course ask if/when a link to the show will be posted so you can share it on your website and social media channels!
Above all, try not to stress and have fun with it. You’ve worked hard on your book, and this is part of the reward!
Looking for more tips on preparing for radio and podcast interviews? Check out our interviews with hosts Lisa D. Smith, of Big Blend Radio, and Max Bowen, of Citywide Blackout. And learn how radio can be valuable exposure for authors.
Ellen Whitfield is senior publicist at Books Forward, an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
Interested in what’s possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.
