VJs Power Blog

“Your coaching helped me both on the radio and in my first presentation—

I got a standing ovation, and sold lots of books and CDs!”

My client launched his book tour last week and is already seeing RESULTS.

To kick off the Fall Book Tour Season, I’m offering a

BOOK TOUR BASICS SPECIAL:

2-hour ONLINE Training for $97

DATE: Wed., Sept. 30^th, 10am -12noon Pacific Time

Whether you’re self-published or with a small or large publisher—this program will work for you.

In this customized media training session you will learn how to

Find your story hook to attract the media

Nail the “what’s your book about?” opening question

Relieve the stress & panic of performance

Adapt to all types of interviews – Radio, TV, Phone, Internet

AND…SELL LOTS OF BOOKS.

ONLINE SESSION IS LIMITED TO 10 PARTICIPANTS, SO

SIGN UP NOW BY CLICKING HERE.

I recently got a request to submit a book that I would recommend people read during difficult times. At first I chose my usual suspects…from authors such as Kahlil Gibran, Don Miguel Ruiz, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Eckhart Tolle.

Then I remembered a specific instance where a different type of book turned my heart around. So that’s the submission I sent to the website that Laina calls “Good Books in Bad Times.”

Here is what I wrote:

I remember when GE sold the NBC radio station in San Francisco where I was morning news anchor, and we all lost our jobs. I had been completely tied to my business card, believing that’s who I was…and that’s ALL I was.

Then I found a book at the store.

It was in the children’s section, which seemed to be the natural area to gravitate to, since I was feeling small and unsure of my place in the world.

It was a picture book by Sandra Boynton, titled: YAY, YOU! Moving Out, Moving Up, Moving On.

As friends and family face upheavals in their jobs, relationships, or homes, this is what I recommend that they read…or better yet, what a loved one should read to them. It’s a simple reminder that they are a special gift to this world, just as they are, and that the world is full of possibilities for them to share their gift.

It is definitely a Good Book in Bad Times.

A good time was had by all at Sunday’s “IWOSC Reads Its Own” at Barnes & Noble, the Grove in L.A. Fifteen writers shared both published stories and works-in-progress, including a song about writing at Peet’s Coffee! I read my essay, “Mother’s Day” (see pic) and several poems, which will soon be available as recorded downloads.

Because the subtitle of this blog is Make Your Message Count, here are some of my tips to add Performance Power to your readings:

1. ADJUST the microphone until it’s the right height and is close to your lips. Particularly important if someone much taller or shorter has read just before you.

2. PRINT your selection in larger type, double-spaced on paper if you want to make it easier for you to read. Some authors also re-write certain book passages if they don’t sound quite right for the spoken word. Others are perfectly comfortable reading from their published books. That’s up to you.

3. BREATHE. Pause and take breaths regularly for energy, pacing, tone, and character shifts.

4. SPEAK UP. It doesn’t matter what beautiful words you wrote, if the audience can’t HEAR them.

5. PRACTICE. If you write every day, read out loud every day. It’s a different set of muscles.

As writers, if you can face the blank page and write, you can face the microphone and speak. Each is its own mountain, and you climb them one step at a time. Yes, it’s work, but the view from the top is well worth it.