tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post3051577301080321803..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: Mastering the Radio Interview: 10 Tips for Authors from a Talk Radio HostAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-44997519383400466022015-08-21T09:48:11.656-07:002015-08-21T09:48:11.656-07:00Dion--That's probably because most hosts (and ...Dion--That's probably because most hosts (and even more so, their engineers) are quick to end noisy interviews. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-91034523525496238862015-08-21T05:13:18.025-07:002015-08-21T05:13:18.025-07:00You know, I don't think I've ever listened...You know, I don't think I've ever listened to a radio interview with chaos erupting in the background. Even with listeners calling in -- never a problem.Dion McTavishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06979553545633614804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-74809758136433380522015-08-18T18:39:10.948-07:002015-08-18T18:39:10.948-07:00Everybody--Dave came out of his 5 hours of surgery...Everybody--Dave came out of his 5 hours of surgery looking good (He has a jaunty patch over his eye of course.) But he said his experience at the UCLA medical center was great!<br /><br />Sorry he wasn't able to answer any comments on Sunday. He couldn't get into his Google account. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-30855319320717745492015-08-18T18:36:38.820-07:002015-08-18T18:36:38.820-07:00Joylene--Great reminder about the water! Always ha...Joylene--Great reminder about the water! Always have some water nearby. and I like the idea of sitting in your favorite chair. Thanks!Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79457550078685671982015-08-18T18:31:32.656-07:002015-08-18T18:31:32.656-07:00I've done a few and find sitting in your best ...I've done a few and find sitting in your best chair is a sure way of remaining relaxed. Sipping water before the interview starts helps with clear throat and voice clarity. <br /><br />Great post! I would never have thought about the reception. Of course!Joylene Nowell Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04497637513532136615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-13422924395347003582015-08-17T18:36:55.230-07:002015-08-17T18:36:55.230-07:00Yolanda--I've done several Blog Talk Radio int...Yolanda--I've done several Blog Talk Radio interviews and they were great! My hosts were really well prepared and they actually read my book! I love getting the questions first so I can prepare. <br /><br />But it must be so frustrating to get those yes/no people. Dead air is not fun for the listener. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-58006758539427115362015-08-17T18:03:53.422-07:002015-08-17T18:03:53.422-07:00I used to host a Blog Talk Radio Show and the reas...I used to host a Blog Talk Radio Show and the reason was because I wanted to learn and share everything I could about writing, publishing, and marketing. I loved the fiction writer and did many a good hour long interview. I would send out a list of questions if they didn't have any, and we would follow the script. All my interviews were via the phone. Sometimes the author would give yes and no questions, making it near impossible for a real conversation, but most of the time I had authors who loved talking about their books. David gave great pointers - be prepared and have the key points at your finger tips. Funny thing, it was easier to ask the questions than it was to answer them. :)Yolanda Renéehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09085436784133103221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-2057173943317542662015-08-17T11:03:20.320-07:002015-08-17T11:03:20.320-07:00Claude--Thanks for sharing your experience. That&#...Claude--Thanks for sharing your experience. That's the kind of interview that can be really terrifying. I love your suggestion of rehearsing with a friend. I think that would help a lot. <br /><br />My very first radio interview was with BBC radio Lincolnshire. I had not prepared anything and we ended up talking about Lincolnshire cheese and sausages the whole time. Not a great way to sell my book! Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-55458501324923421342015-08-17T07:08:59.624-07:002015-08-17T07:08:59.624-07:00I was once interviewed on the BBC, scary! That was...I was once interviewed on the BBC, scary! That was back in 2000, when I had just got promoted to UN/FAO Director for Europe and was holding a regional conference with some 40 European ministers of agriculture (that included Eastern Europe and a couple from Central Asia) and of course the BBC was keen to interview me because of what was on the conference's agenda: food safety, an item that hasn't yet come up anywhere on the international scene (since then the EU has set up a Food Safety agency - it's located in Parma, Italy). So FAO had given me a very helpful press agent who made me go through the motions, we "played out" the most likely questions and I gave my answers. Of course, when the real interview came up, one question I had prepared for was there but another one wasn't, these BBC guys are clever! I think eveything Dave says is spot on and I would add that if you have someone with whom you can "play out" - like a dialogue on stage - the most likely questions in advance and your answers, it's a real help. When the unexpected comes up, at least you feel better prepared, the angst is under control...Claude Forthommehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871790739257823515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-51461215795749964612015-08-16T19:26:50.698-07:002015-08-16T19:26:50.698-07:00Leanne--I thought the book was very useful indeed....Leanne--I thought the book was very useful indeed. We all need to know what to do when we have a chance to be interviewed. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-30775993743149685842015-08-16T17:38:55.645-07:002015-08-16T17:38:55.645-07:00Very helpful! I will re-read and plan to take deta...Very helpful! I will re-read and plan to take detailed notes.Author Leanne Dyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12886667518427660865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-83328768973915359082015-08-16T15:24:30.797-07:002015-08-16T15:24:30.797-07:00Anne--Your accent sounds as if it's charming! ...Anne--Your accent sounds as if it's charming! A regional accent can be a nice draw, actually. It can make you more interesting. I love to listen to Scottish accents even though I can't understand a word most of the time. :-) Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-16527244434572565292015-08-16T15:22:11.470-07:002015-08-16T15:22:11.470-07:00fornow--You're so right about having that elev...fornow--You're so right about having that elevator speech perfected before you go on. You need to have a strong take-away message. <br /><br />And oh, yeah, I've had some of those zingers. I had one guy make disparaging remarks about me being "self-published" (I wasn't) and I had to decide if I should defend self-publishing or my publisher. I ended up talking about self-publishing, since it was more interesting. But I could have strangled the guy right through the phone. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-74584171866559878632015-08-16T15:07:48.775-07:002015-08-16T15:07:48.775-07:00I would be scared to death to do a radio interview...I would be scared to death to do a radio interview -- not because I don't like to talk about my books, but because my East Coast accent is sooo bad! Half Ted Kennedy half Jersey Shore. I don't think anyone would understand me. I have enough trouble when I need to speak in front of the PTO. lol<br /><br />Another great post. Thanks, Anne. Thanks, Dave.Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12299643638346680038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61341509270077629882015-08-16T15:05:01.769-07:002015-08-16T15:05:01.769-07:00I've worked a little in radio and TV. He raise...I've worked a little in radio and TV. He raises great points, some of which you'd think would be obvious. The bit about the receptionist is key. I know a few places where they select or hire after checking with the receptionist on how they were treated. <br /><br />Also - be prepared with a core message (sound bite or elevator speech) and main points. These would be tied to the questions you invite. You have an opportunity to communicate what's on offer here so make sure thats what you get out there, mixed into the conversation. Of course, it is a conversation, so it can mean waiting for the opportunity to make a point.<br /><br />And don't be concerned if they throw in a zinger or 2 to stir things up. If you listen to a bit of their work, you'll see how they more commonly handle this. But their goal is to make it interesting and to perhaps express common issues they may hear from listeners.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-70311046162137707512015-08-16T14:52:08.637-07:002015-08-16T14:52:08.637-07:00Phyllis--I didn't know you'd written nonfi...Phyllis--I didn't know you'd written nonfiction! Radio is a really great venue for promoting it. Very clever of you to figure out your host wouldn't have read it--and to keep things quiet. Once just before I gave a phone interview, the neighbor started to mow his lawn. I had to run to the most far-away room and use a different phone. <br /><br />I also once gave an interview where the host HAD read a book by Anne Allen. But it was a different Anne Allen! (There's one in the UK who writes WWII women's fiction) So I learned to always offer a list my books and at least ask if they'd like a copy. Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-48779391621801585432015-08-16T14:23:32.311-07:002015-08-16T14:23:32.311-07:00My first published book was non-fiction and I did ...My first published book was non-fiction and I did many phone interviews for radio. Even for my first one, I surmised the host wouldn't have read my book and supplied questions for him to ask me. And I timed my interviews for silence in my house and no distractions. No one told me to do that - I just knew - and it worked great.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560755679498126758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-31565664475819556362015-08-16T13:47:15.938-07:002015-08-16T13:47:15.938-07:00Paul--Thanks for your "review" of Dave a...Paul--Thanks for your "review" of Dave and Deborah's book. It's so useful! And you're absolutely right that approaching bloggers and talk show hosts can be done in a similar way: a little homework goes a long way! Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79331041430528023512015-08-16T13:04:53.574-07:002015-08-16T13:04:53.574-07:00Hey, Anne and Dave. Great post, Dave. Loved it. I ...Hey, Anne and Dave. Great post, Dave. Loved it. I read and enjoyed your book, "Talk Radio Guest Book," co-written with Deborah Bayles. Also found the book extremely helpful when doing outreach and promo on writer blogs: much of what you said can be applied to finding the right blog for talking about your latest book and approaching the blogger in a polite, sensible, and well-informed way. Great advice. My best, Paul mindprinterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874142522106185186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-77808039494121943782015-08-16T12:37:59.095-07:002015-08-16T12:37:59.095-07:00Alex--I'm glad to hear you've come to the ...Alex--I'm glad to hear you've come to the same conclusion about publicists, too. Every experience I've had with them as been difficult. I had to drop an author a few months ago who approached me through a publicist. The publicist had given another blog the same post he gave me. Not cool. From now on, I need to know the guests before I book themAnne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-83703731560305471982015-08-16T12:35:05.637-07:002015-08-16T12:35:05.637-07:00CS--Since you have some experience as a radio host...CS--Since you have some experience as a radio host yourself, you know the amount of work involved. You played pre-recorded stories, but they needed to be precise in timing and you had to do just the right introduction and recap of each episode. Good radio isn't as easy as it seems. Enjoy your editing!Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34615891642690232002015-08-16T12:19:13.711-07:002015-08-16T12:19:13.711-07:00Great tips!
I can't imagine doing something el...Great tips!<br />I can't imagine doing something else while trying to do a radio interview. I'd be so distracted.<br />I don't host guests that go through a publicist either. If I don't know you and deal directly with you, I don't host you.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-46755117569731562842015-08-16T11:49:13.315-07:002015-08-16T11:49:13.315-07:00Hey Dave & Anne - What a great addition to the...Hey Dave & Anne - What a great addition to the Anne R Allen ouvre -- another great post. And someday I'll be needing this information. But first, better go back to the Word Mine & continue revising.CS Perryesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03086127005229652995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-89510208258510506912015-08-16T11:30:53.716-07:002015-08-16T11:30:53.716-07:00Sandra--You've brought up an important point I...Sandra--You've brought up an important point I should have made in my intro. Broadcast interviews usually are podcasted the next day, and you can link to that podcast from your website (or as you did, Twitter account) It's a great promotional tool! <br /><br />And you're right that Dave knows how to do it right. We won't always get interviewers who have done their homework, so it's good to have some things prepared to say if the interviewer doesn't ask those all-important questions. Thanks for stopping by Sandra!Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-40383290110703698892015-08-16T11:01:58.697-07:002015-08-16T11:01:58.697-07:00Anything that Dave Congalton tells you about radio...Anything that Dave Congalton tells you about radio, you can take to the bank. I've posted my podcasts from his show on my twitter account which has many international followers, some of whom are interviewed themselves on such stalwart outlets such as BBC. Dave gets tons of kudos on his interviewing skills, on how he asks great questions and lets the interviewee talk. Do what the man says, and you're sure to succeed.Sandra Gorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850367686567164074noreply@blogger.com