I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Julie Schoerke, and her daughter Amanda. Julie is a publicist who works alongside authors Susan Gregg Gilmore, Marti Healy, and Frank McNair, to name a few. Inquiring minds wanted to know what a publicist does and how they do it. So, I sat down with Julie who supplied me the answers, insight and more.
Julie Schoerke
Julie radiates positive energy. She’s as ambrosial as the novels she promotes. Candid, smart as a whip and down-to earth, she tells it like it is. Her job is to nurture. She tends to her authors and loves doing what she does. “Authors are my rock stars. I love each of them and want them to succeed.”
Today’s author isn’t as supported as they once were. The economy is affecting us all, and publishing houses simply can’t promote their authors in the same regard they could a few years ago.
This is why a publicist is a published author’s best friend. They are your marketing champion, savvy mentor, and if you’re lucky enough to have Julie, a supportive friend.
Different authors have different goals for their novels. Some authors want to sell as many copies as possible, but with the economy affecting the publishing world, many now have to apply their advance money to their marketing campaign.
Depending on the goal of the author and how much time and money they are willing to invest, Julie navigates how to best put their book out so that it creates interest and generates sales. 80% of the work she does happens before the book’s publication date, and “if everything is done right, the buzz generates.” There isn’t anything she likes better than creating that buzz for her authors.
Julie defines authors as “always having intellectual curiosity.” She not only gets how a writer’s mind works, she also recognizes that an author is too busy writing, researching and creating to have time to decipher how to promote their novels.
In today’s market, more and more authors are responsible for promoting their works. Publishing houses don’t have the time or money, and the economy has made it worse. To generate interest in your novel, you need to get the word out.
As Julie tells it, “there are a whole lot of other ways to get great buzz going using sophisticated Web 2.0 viral networking on the internet as well as good-old fashion grassroots efforts that include book and media tours.” Her services to accomplish this include: book tour management, virtual book tours, book trailers, arc distribution, press kits, media relations, special promotions and contests, blog and web-based tracking and support, and clipping service.
Julie believes that publishing industry will mirror the music industry. Where they have had i tunes and i pods, we are now seeing the Kindle and e books. It’s a change she feels is inevitable and we just have to ride it out. Change isn’t always a bad thing; it’s just different.
Julie advises writers to “write, write, write.” She says, “finish the book” and “have a tough skin.” Not everyone will love what you write, but if you stay with it and your product is tight, you will find your way. Above all edit - because your work, which to many writers is more precious than gold, should be clean and prepared before you send it off.
Julie isn’t the only person in her family involved in the writing world. Her daughter, Amanda, will be accompanying Julie and her client Susan Gregg Gilmore and Susan’s daughter on Gilmore’s July 2009 book tour. Amanda, along with Gilmore’s daughter, will be video blogging and tweeting the tour.
Amanda has aspirations of being a journalist and novelist herself. She’s a connoisseur of books and loves history. She plans to one day write historical fiction, and I predict astounding works to come from this budding talent. As the song says, her future’s so bright, she’s gotta wear shades.
Julie believes in her authors and I believe that Julie is the publicist to help make their dreams come true. I can only wish that if I ever become a published author that I will be lucky enough to have her consider bestowing her services upon me.
To learn more about Julie, visit her website at: http://www.jkscommunications.com/
And stay tuned to Susan Gilmore Gregg’s webpage for the Video blogs from her book tour in June 2009. Amanda will be coming to you live.
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