AAW Writer's Publicity Series: Regina Lynch-Hudson
Atlanta's premier publicist Regina Lynch-Hudson has been profiled for an avalanche of publications, including Black Enterprise magazine, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Sister-2-Sister magazine, and countless newspapers and radio stations nationwide. She has been in the business for over a decade. Attorneys, athletes, artists, authors, associations, celebrities, corporations, catalog production companies, inventors, physicians, politicians, publishers, and tourism sites contract her company, The Write Publicist.
She graciously spoke with me about the importance of book publicity and how to find a great publicist.
How important is it to get noticed by one of the major distributors?
Being picked up by a major distributor/publisher is critical. It's branding. If a major name publisher is listed on the spine of the book it is easier to publicize, and reaps more visibility than any self-publishing effort. In this society, it's like the difference between a kid wearing a pair of Michael Jordan or Iverson athletic shoes and wearing a no-name brand. Sadly, the kid in the brand name shoe has automatic acceptance among his peers. I know. I am the publicist who attempts to get press for books by self-published authors. I am the auntie who gets requests to buy brand name athletic shoes.
Do you think that authors start making connections with distributors too late?
Yes.
So when should a writer start their marketing plan?
The Marketing Plan should really be in an author's head and heart when they first start writing the book. In an ideal world, by the time the manuscript is complete a plan should also be also complete.
After they sign on the dotted line, won't they be able to turn the marketing reins over to the in-house public relations representative and wait for sales to take off?
In-House Public Relations juggle dozens of books per year. Hence, one author gets no special attention, unless you are John Grisham. And, a black author really needs their own publicist because typically mainstream In-House publicists lack relationships with minority media and most admit that fact. They can't even write a press release about the "soul" of a book by a black author the way a minority publicist can. Someone of another race or culture oftentimes may not fully understand the expressions, slang, thought process or feelings in the book. It's like expecting someone of another background to translate your soul when they lack your experiences.
What's the difference between a PR Rep and a publicist?
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