Today I had the honor of interviewing T. Suzanne Eller, author and founder of Dare To Believe, an organization geared towards helping teenagers. I met Eller in an online writing forum several years ago, and just recently reviewed her newest book, The Mom I Want To Be and was amazed with how brilliantly she was able to tell her story and bring home valuable life lessons that can truly transform the lives of her readers. So when she shared that she was heading out on a radio tour, I just had to ask...

How has radio interviews helped you as an author?

Radio interviews stretch you as a person and as a communicator. It helps you to connect with people on such a wide scale. Recently I was a guest on a Seattle, WA show and it was a call-in program. Those are more difficult because you never know which direction it might take. The woman felt so abandoned by God, and by others. It turned out to be a total ministry to a person, and though it took a different path, it was amazing to watch God use this media to touch a hurting individual.

Radio is my favorite medium. It's very real. You have the ability to share with hundreds of thousands of listeners, and yet it feels intimate as you communicate with the host(s).

How does one go about getting booked on radio shows?

There are a number of ways:

• Your publisher can set up a limited amount of interviews.
• You can connect with a freelance publicist/publicity firm. Or,

• You can contact radio shows yourself.

Depending upon the publisher, the number of books that they are marketing, and the budget, you may or may not receive a great deal of publicity. Hiring an outside firm means they will concentrate on your message, your book, and all possible audiences.

My book, The Mom I Want to Be - Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future will have a very different market than my book for teens, Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life. When my book for parents of teens came out, I contacted many radio programs and was able to interview on several small to medium to large programs. Each was an opportunity for listeners to discover that a possible resource was available.

My advice if you contact them yourself?

• Don't be a pest.
• Be professional.
• Give them information about your book, but concentrate on questions or topics that might be of interest to their listeners.
• Mail a copy of your book, a press release, and a set of questions. You can also fax this information (less the book), but if you do so tie it in with a current need.

What do you feel is the most important thing a radio guest can do during an interview?

I think interviewees can relax on the marketing aspect. Let the host promote your book. You are responsible to promote a message that will encourage listeners.

I listened to one woman (who is fairly well-known) and after her third reference to "well, as I said in my book, XXXXX XXXXX). It became an infomercial.

Read my interview of her latest book, The Mom I Want To Be by clicking now: http://thedabblingmum.com/reviews/booksparenting/momiwanttobe.htm

Visit Eller at http://daretobelieve.org/

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