2009 September

Publicist needs ideas for promoting book of zombie stories

9/3/2009 By Joan 12 Comments

zombie2 Karma Bennett, a publicist for Ulysses Press, asks:

“My company is publishing a compilation of zombie stories. It will be direct-to-trade-paperback, so I can’t get reviews in the leading periodicals that review fiction since it isn’t coming out in hardback.

“Some, but not all, of the stories have never been printed before. The editor is not local and, although the compilation does include some of fiction’s biggest names—Steven King, Clive Barker, Harlan Ellison, H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, Christopher Fowler, Robert E. Howard and Joe Hill—I don’t think they will be responsive to interview queries.

“We are only just starting to venture into releasing fiction and I’m not sure how to go about this. I can’t get reviews. I can’t get interviews. But the topic is zombies which are so popular now because of movies like World War Z, 28 Days Later, and the film version of Pride and Prejudice, and Zombies.

“Can your Hounds suggest ideas for publicity?”

Filed Under: Authors & Publishers, Celebrity tie-ins

Sept. 11 deadline looming for O Magazine pitches

9/1/2009 By Joan 2 Comments

omagazinecover2 Sept. 11 is the deadline for pitching your business woman’s success story, or your tips for women, for a special round-up of story ideas that will be presented to O Magazine editors and other top-tier media.

Publicists for PitchRate.com, which connects journalists with people seeking publicity, will take the best 10 to 20 pitches and present them to editors and guest bookers at Good Morning America, Women Entrepreneur magazine, and the Associated Press, among others.

Here’s how you can participate, for free:

1. First, subscribe to their media leads service at http://www.PitchRate.com/PublicityHound

2. After you subscribe, you’ll see a black bar at the top that says “Exclusive Requests.” Click on that and submit your pitch.

3. If the media like what they see, they’ll call you.

Publicists Michalle Tennant and Drew Gerber, graduates of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program who now manage PitchRate, are soliciting pitches only from Publicity Hounds who read this blog and my weekly ezine on publicity tips.

Having problems with your pitch? Email Shannon and he’ll help you.

Filed Under: Business Promotion, Magazine Publicity, Pitching the Media, PR Consultants/Publicists, TV Publicity Tagged With: get on Oprah, Good morning america, o magazine, Oprah, Pitchrate.com, PR, promotion, publicity

Indie filmmakers need tips for promoting Soviet Union movie

9/1/2009 By Joan 11 Comments

Maria Antonia of New York, N.Y., writes:

“I volunteer for a small independent film company based in New York, NY. We recently completed filming for a feature film called ‘Under Jakob’s Ladder.’

“Set in the Soviet Union in 1941, it’s based on a true story about a man who was thrown into prison for praying at a funeral. We’re still editing the movie and it’s almost ready to be screened. (A photo taken during shooting is shown at left.)

“How can we spread the word that this movie is coming soon? Any ideas for unique and intriguing ways that we can use our blog, website, and our Facebook page to get people interested? What would make YOU want to go see an independent feature film that doesn’t have oodles of money for advertisements?

“Remember, we’re not studio backed. Right now, we’re looking at releasing this movie ourselves and booking our own theaters.

Filed Under: Facebook, Special Events Tagged With: film makers, indie movie, indie movies, Soviet Union, Under Jakob's Ladder