Tuesday, September 7, 2010

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:



39 comments:

  1. Great information! I hadn't even considered what to put in the media kit. Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Donna's awesome as I know her from the VBT Yahoo! Group. I really need to work on media kit. Its time to take that next step and prepare myself for radio and hopefully TV inteviews. Thanks for a timely and informative blog.

    Stephen Tremp

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  3. Great interview. I knew nothing about media kits. That was cool. Thank you Donna.

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  4. Mason:

    Thank you for hosting me today. It's wonderful to be here.

    Vicki, Stephen, and Tabitha:

    Thank you for visiting with me today. If you have any questions about media kits please feel free to email me at dmcdine at optonline dot com.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  5. Well, I certainly don't have her credits, but I've set up places at my site for most of those items.

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  6. Donna, thanks again for sharing this information with us. A media kit can go along way in helping an author get their information out to the public.

    Vicki, Stephen, Tabitha, and Alex, thanks so much for stopping by. Have a fun and productive day.

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  7. Hi Alex:

    Glad to hear you have your site organized for your media kit. Way to go!

    Hi Mason:

    It's my pleasure to be here and to share what I've learned along the way.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  8. Hi Alex:

    Glad to hear you have your site organized for your media kit. Way to go!

    Hi Mason:

    It's my pleasure to be here and to share what I've learned along the way.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  9. Donna, This is new info for me. I will tuck it in my memory for future use. Great advice.

    thanks, Mason, for the interview.

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  10. Thanks for hosting Donna today. It was nice to see the new trailer posted, as well.

    I'm so thrilled to have you kicking off Donna's two-month tour to promote The Golden Pathway. Thanks for all you do.

    Cheryl

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  11. Mason - Thanks so much for hosting Donna.

    Donna - Thanks for this terrific advice on preparing a media kit. Authors focus, I think, quite a lot on writing and often less on marketing. After all, we want to create good books, and many authors are less interested in promo. But it is important, whether or not one's been published.

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  12. Donna - Lots of great PR tips. Thanks so much for reminding us all of what we need to do to promote ourselves and our books.

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  13. An interesting and hopefully useful post. I am feeling a little discouraged at the moment. I just got a form rejection from an agency, so working on a media packet seems far-fetched, but maybe I will try.

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  14. Great information about media kits. Thanks for sharing it. I wish you much success with your blog tour and your book.

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  15. Nice blog post about getting ready to market. I agree. It's never too early to create your plan and start implementing it.

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  16. YES, thanks for this! It will be helpful! :-D

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  17. Journaling Woman, Cheryl, Suzanne, Susanne, and Lou...thank you for stopping by today and for your kind words of support.

    Margot, thank you for stopping by. It's definitely important to find a blend of both.

    Mary, don't let the rejection get you down. I can wallpaper a room with my rejection letters. Don't give up on your ms, research and send to another publisher.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  18. Thanks so much, Donna! Sigh! I'm feeling discouraged, but I have faith in my work, and I will not give up.

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  19. Mary:

    I'm happy to hear this. Keep the faith!

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  20. Excellent advice, Donna! Most think of this stuff after the first book.

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  21. What fabulous tips! Thanks, Donna and Mason. So practical and helpful.

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  22. Great information, Donna.

    Nicole Weaver
    http://www.melangeofcultures.wordpress.com

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  23. Diane, Talli, and Nicole:

    Thank you for visiting with me today. I'm thrilled the tips are helpful.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  24. I am definitely bookmarking this article and going to start working on this when my book is out in 2012.
    Thanks for the complete list!

    Margo
    http://margodill.com/blog/

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  25. Very good information. I think we underestimate the importance of getting your name out there before the book comes out. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Hi Donna,

    You always have so much good advice for writers. You've mentioned a coupld of things I need to do.

    Have a wonderful tour.

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  27. Lee, Margo, Terri, and Bev:

    Thank you for stopping by today and leaving your lovely comments. At first the media kit feels like a daunting task, but once you start creating it it's quite fun to get even more creative outside our standard writing.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  28. What a wonderful trailer! Good luck!
    Andi

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  29. Donna, we have to stop meeting this way. . .

    Great info and interview, mate. Love your book too AND that cool trailer. Success with a capital "S."

    Books for Kids - Manuscript Critiques
    http://www.magotfinke.com

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  30. Hi everyone, just wanted to pop in and say thanks so much for dropping by today. I've had to be away most of the day (that work thing). Hope everyone is having a great day.

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  31. Aha! The "leave a comment" opened up in another window. That's why I couldn't see the comments form. Thank you so much for the advice. I loved the trailer. and I loved the book. I hope all you hard work in promoting pays off.

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  32. Hi Andie:

    Thank you for stopping by and for your support.

    Hi Margot:

    I just love bumping into you in cyberspace. Kim did a WONDERFUL job with the book trailer. Thanks!

    Hi Karen:

    Great idea on the sell sheet.

    Mason:

    It was an honor being here today. I'll stop back in again later before the day is out.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  33. Wonderful interview! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  34. Libraries and schools are always interested in having children's authors visit.

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  35. Great info, it always pays to plan ahead.

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  36. Nancy, ReaderBuzz, and Holdenj:

    Thank you for stopping by today and leaving your comments. I appreciate your interest and support.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  37. Nancy, ReaderBuzz, and Holdenj:

    Thank you for stopping by today and leaving your comments. I appreciate your interest and support.

    Best wishes,
    Donna

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  38. Thanks for the great tips. Great trailer, too. Can't wait to read the book!

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.