JEANNE'S BLOG
Author, narrator, consultant, and motivational speaker Jeanne Burrows-Johnson writes creative, technical and promotional materials and consults on design issues for individuals, as well as profit and nonprofit organizations. Jeanne’s energizing style draws on her background in the performing arts, education, business and authorship. Her authored and co-authored work in fiction and non-fiction includes: Under Sonoran Skies, Prose and Poetry from the high Desert (an anthology written with five other authors from Tucson, Arizona, and her Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries which draw inspiration from the people and stories of Hawai`i, where she lived for over twenty years. This blog addresses the interests of authors, artists and other creative professionals. Seeking inspiration in marketing and design? Please visit ImaginingsWordpower.com.
Interviews: Written and Audio
Interviewer or Subject...
No matter what end of an interview you are on, preparation is essential! Written or audio, interviews are a wonderful opportunity authors to communicate with their readers, listeners, and the general public...regardless of whether they are the subject or the interviewer.
Written Interviews
We are fortunate when asked to give an interview without any effort on our part. Like several of my promotional opportunities, my first interview as an author was arranged by my publisher, Geoff Habiger of Artemesia Publishing. It was with Lorna Holland, The Writing Greyhound, a books and lifestyle blogger in Northamptonshire, England. “Interview: Jeanne Burrows-Johnson,” was a chronological look at my background and the beginning of the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Hawaiian Mysteries. Like most interviewers, Lorna was interested in the process of my writing, the progression of my authorship, and the publishing process, as well as the essence of Prospect for Murder. You can read her current work at The Writing Greyhound.
Later, I was delighted to have a written interview released the day before my 71st birthday. It was based on questions posed by Naomi Bolton of ManyBooks.net. This interview focused on Murders of Conveyance.Publication and was based on my responses to questions posed by Naomi Bolton, who was especially interested in the convergence of two murders separated by sixty years, a Honolulu scavenger hunt during Chinese New Year, and a hidden jade artifact. The interview also explored my writing methodology, expansion of the series with Yen for Murder (the fourth completed book), and A Spineless Murder which is currently under way. I was especially pleased to be able to discuss Conversations with Auntie Carol, Seven Oral History Interviews with Caroline Kuliaikanu'ukapu “Wilcox DeLima Farias—a project nearing completion after thirty years.I craft product descriptions that not only describe your products but also make them irresistible to your customers. I'll help you showcase the benefits of your products and engage your audience with persuasive copy.
Audio Interviews
When I was a young adult working in the performing arts, I sometimes recorded promotional pieces for plays and other events. Today, audio books, podcasts, and even drive-time radio programming, have heightened the popularity of audio interviews in numerous forms. As an author, I began giving talks and audio interviews with the publication of Prospect for Murder in 2016. My initial author audio interview was hosted by Rob Wesson on “The Professionals’ Round Table,” (with the Empire Broadcasting Group). This program highlighted myriad business professionals and I was glad to discuss the essence of my work as a branding and marketing consultant and the transition to being an author of fiction. Click below to hear this interview...
Twice I have been invited to discuss my authorship with Traci Halesvass who hosts “Write on Four Corners” on KSJE. As a retired New Mexico college English instructor, she takes particular interest highlighting the works of authors in the Southwest. Her congenial pace and curiosity about her guests welcomed me to an in-depth conversation about my developing career in mystery fiction from Prospect to Murder to Murders of Conveyance.
March 6, 2019: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4efvz-a9b920
October 23, 2019: https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-dwzci-c12784
Advertising via Interviews
Sometimes it is expedient to pay to be interviewed on commercial programming. Such was the case in 2020, when I was preparing for the Tucson Festival of Books. At that time, I scheduled an interview on “Networking Arizona” (KFNX, Phoenix) hosted by Carol Blonder. I was especially pleased that a replay of the segment was scheduled for the middle of the Festival. Unfortunately, the Festival was cancelled, and I later learned that the program had not boosted sales of any of my books. If the Festival had occurred, the interview might have been a stimulus to potential attendees.
Interviews (especially blogs) are again beneficial, regardless of whether they are by invitation or paid advertisement. Also, it is important to remember that the benefits of advertising and the results of other marketing work are accumulative...you can never really know how an event impacts the reader, listener, or viewer over time. It used to be said that a potential customer had to have about six interactions before they would conclude a transaction. You now have to multiply that number at least twice...if it's simply in print!
Wishing you the best in your creative endeavors,
Jeanne Burrows-Johnson, author, narrator, consultant, and motivational speaker