Guest Blogger, Donna M. McDine

Please join me in welcoming award-winning children’s author Donna M. McDine as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Donna’s latest release is THE GOLDEN PATHWAY. She’s stop by today to talk about something I think all the authors and aspiring authors will appreciate, “where does one begin in creating a media kit.”

Media Kit? Why would I need a media kit, I’m not even published yet? To be quite honest with you it’s never too soon to start. To begin now will make it much simpler to add to as you move forward in your writing career. The essential components in creating your media kit are:

Interviews (online and in-person): Even before I became published - myself and fellow aspiring writers interviewed each other for our blogs to get our names out there. It’s fun and simple. Contact a fellow writer and exchange questions and there you have your first finished interview.
 

Appearances: Appearances may include volunteer reader at your local library and/or school and later on as you become published you will be known as the local children’s author which then will open up doors to school visits.

Awards and Publishing Credits: Even if this is blank for now, create the page with this heading and you can fill in your information as you go along.

Media Releases: Even without publishing credits you can create a media release about upcoming interviews and book reviews on your blog and of course tying in with interviews make sure you write up a media release about your personal interviews. It’s important you send out your media release to your network and post on free media release sites such as www.prlog.com. For a more detailed list of the services I utilize visit: http://donnamcdine.com/dynamicmediareleases.html

About the Author or Writer: Even without publishing credits you can list your current bio, education, and current work-in-progress.

Book Reviews: Yes, even if you don’t have a book published yet do not forget this important part for when you do so you can place excerpts of book reviews for easy reference.

Yes, some of your pages will be blank for now, but you will be surprised how quickly they will fill up. All of my pages started out blank and are now filling up. My book review page is still blank and I’m eagerly awaiting reviews to fill in below the title. The saying from the movie The Field of Dreams… “Build it and they will come” is true for your media kit too. The intention and creation of blank titled pages will bring it to fruition. Oh and yes, working at your writing craft is essential too.

If you have any questions I’d be happy to help. Feel free to leave your questions or comments here today or email me privately at dmcdine@optonline.net. You may also view my media kit at http://donnamcdine.com/mediakit.html.

It’s been a pleasure being here today, thank you.

Donna, thanks so much for sharing this with us today. These are very helpful tips for those working on their novels, as well as those who have finished works.

For a little background on Donna. She received Honorable Mention in the 77th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and two Honorable Mentions in the 78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. Donna’s stories and features have been published in many print and online publications, and her first book, THE GOLDEN PATHWAY, will be published through Guardian Angel Publishing. She is a member of the SCBWI, Musing Our Children, and The National Writing for Children Center. Learn more about Donna at http://www.donnamcdine.com If you sign the guestbook, you’ll receive a FREE e-Book WRITE WHAT INSPIRES YOU: AUTHOR INTERVIEWS. More on Donna can be found at her blog: http://www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com and http://www.thegoldenpathway.blogspot.com.

Here's a book trailer for THE GOLDEN PATHWAY, enjoy: