PRESS KIT OF THE MONTH: "APOCALYPSE TV:"

The press kits (aka "media kits") that I design and send out with media/agent queries also appear as Electronic Press Kits (EPKs) as a separate website or embedded on an author's website. Here's the One Sheet for author Thomas Allbaugh and his seriously hilarious pre-Apocalyptic Christian novel, Apocalypse TV. See it as an EPK at This Link:

Title: Apocalypse TV

Author: Thomas Allbaugh

Publisher: eLectio Publishing (Sept. 12, 2017) Website: www.electiopubishing.com

Genres: Christian Literary Fiction | Dark Humor
Paperback: $17.99  Pages: 277  Words: 80,610
In Stock: Barnes & Noble (Rancho Cucamonga & Glendora, CA)
Available on Amazon and Kindle
ISBN: 978-1632134288      ASIN: B075JQVNXF
Facebook: @ApocalypseTVBOOK
Electronic Press Kit: http://apocalypsetvepk
Publicist: Marlan Warren   Website: bookpublicitybymarlan.blogspot.com
Contact: (323) 347-6762  MarlanWarren@outlook.com Author: tallbaugh@apu.edu

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Thomas Allbaugh welcomes media interviews, opportunities to read/sign his novel, Apocalypse TV, and lively discussions re religion and spirituality in the 21st Century.

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His whole life has been a sham because he can’t accept responsibility
 for his failure to live by his own convictions.—Apocalypse TV

SUMMARY:

Mild-mannered Walter Terry, a beleaguered Christian intellectual professor struggles with reality, religion, and his own authenticity in Race to the Apocalypse, a Reality TV Game Show that brings together religious fanatics, atheists, zombies, the FBI, and “Elvis” as essential players in Thomas Allbaugh’s tightly wound, seriously hilarious novel, Apocalypse TV. Will Walter take up arms against the troubles unleashed upon him by unseen production forces or end up slaughtered as the show’s designated “sacrificial lamb”?

REVIEWS:

Apocalypse TV argues against the extreme notion that only members of a certain faith are favored by God, while making a case for spiritual salvation through love, faith, hope, service…
and the willingness to persevere.—Midwest Book Review

I was caught up from the opening pages to the end of this entertaining novel.

Allbaugh has created a story to savor, and one that readers will not soon forget.

—Joseph Bentz, author of A Son Comes Home and Nothing is Wasted

Allbaugh challenges readers to consider conflicting perspectives related to social issues and faith . . .
leaves an impression that lingers long after the last page is read. —OnlineBookClub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Thomas Allbaugh’s short stories, poems, and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals, including Writing on the Edge, In Touch Magazine, Relief, and Broken Skyline: An Anthology from 67 Press. His poetry chapbook, The View from January, will be published by Alabaster Leaves Press in Fall 2019, and he is working on a second novel, Radio Eden (working title). He is an associate professor of English at Azusa Pacific University, where he has taught for 18 years.

WHAT'S IN A BOOK PUBLICITY PRESS KIT AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?

As a book publicist, I love creating press kits (aka "media kits") to send out to media (news editors, reporters, TV/Radio programmers, bloggers, etc.) via snail mail, e-mail, and posting online as Digital Media Kits (aka Electronic Media Kits). At its best, a press kit serves as a calling card that practically glows in the dark with two important messages:

1. "Your audience will not want to miss out on reading this book.”

2. “This author will give you an exciting interview.”

Now add a “because” after each of those statements, fill in what comes after it, and you’re on your way to a scintillating press kit!

So what’s in a press kit?

1. A ONE-SHEET

When printed out, all this info must fit on one sheet of paper.

Here’s the format I like to use:

*Book cover photo (small jpg in upper left corner).

*The Why of the Press Kit:
"(Author’s name) would be honored to be a guest on your program to speak about (book’s topic)."

*Sell Sheet Info:
List your book’s vital statistics—the same that you find on every Amazon book page:
(Title, Author, Paperback or Hard Cover, ISBN, Price, etc.)
Include author/publicist contact info; website and social media links.

*Summary:
Keep your summary brief and magnetic. This is your marketing pitch. Not hype. It should cut to the heart of what makes this book unique and attractive to its readers. And do so with enthusiasm and style. No spoilers. What would make you want to pick up this book and read it right away?

*Reviews:
Include a few terrific review blurbs. Your best bet is to ask other authors to review your book or submit it to a free but prestigious service like Midwest Book Review. Blurbs carry weight. They may ultimately convince a media host to ask to read the book. Yet newbies often expect their book to get along fine without advance reviews as it bursts out of the publishing gate.

*Author Bio with Photo:
Your bio can only be a couple lines, and focus on the most fascinating things about you. If you can’t think of anything, ask a best friend or family member to remind you.

If you print out a hard copy, you may use the back of the one sheet to include a short excerpt or a press release.

2. PHOTOS: Reporters often ask for relevant photos in addition to the author’s photo, such as a reading/signing at your book’s launch event.

3. EXCERPT: If you include a book excerpt, keep it relatively short (pretend you are contacting an ADD sufferer). If it’s not exciting, funny or intriguing…don’t send it.

Now a few words about Electronic Press Kits (aka “Digital Media Kits”):

In addition to mailing out press kits, you might also consider creating an online press kit. This will have all the info listed above, but on its own site. This serves as a kind of mini-website. Your book at-a-glance.

Here are samples of the Digital Media Kits that I've designed for authors that will give you an idea of how an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) can rock your book:

"Arrgh!"
http://arrghpresskit.blogspot.com/

"Father's Wisdom"
http://authorpresskitsbymarlansample.blogspot.com/ 

And above all…

Have fun!

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Marlan Warren is a publicist with Roadmap Communications and its subsidiary Book Publicity by Marlan in Los Angeles. Yelp named her to its 2018 “Best Publicist in L.A.” list. She writes book reviews for the Midwest Book Review; maintains the blogs Roadmap Girl's Book Buzz and L.A. Now and Then; and is a contributor to the popular book promotion site: How to Do It Frugally. Marlan is the author of the novel, Roadmaps for the Sexually Challenged: All’s Not Fair in Love or War. A filmmaker and playwright, her nonfiction film “Reunion” was the official selection at international film festivals, and her documentary about the women of the Japanese American Internment, What did you do in the war, Mama?: Kochiyama's Crusaders, is currently in post-production. She directed her play Bits of Paradise in San Francisco and Los Angeles.