Gaining Exposure with Publicist Mickey Mikkelson
Publicist Mickey Mikkelson specializes in gaining exposure and brand recognition. Using his independent firm, Creative Edge, he teaches indie authors around the world how to market their books, foster their own reader communities, and build sustainable brands. Mickey has worked in PR for almost five years and has helped bestselling authors like Tosca Lee and Robert J. Sawyer gain publicity. In addition to running Creative Edge, he is a regular collaborator with TopShelf, a popular must-read magazine for booksellers and authors that focuses on promoting and publishing. To contact Mikkelson, follow the link below.
From Creative-Edge.services:
“At Creative Edge, we are a Team and a Community. The entire organization believes strongly in collaboration, the authors, myself, and the key partnerships we have developed. I am passionate about working in conjunction with my clients and finding innovative and creative ways to ensure that each represented client has promotional and marketing success.” -Mickey Mikkelson
Whether you’re traditionally published or indie, writing a good book is only the first step in becoming a successful author. The days of just turning a manuscript into your editor and walking away are gone. If you want to succeed in today’s publishing world, you need to understand every aspect of the business – editing, formatting, marketing, contracts. It all starts with a good book, then the real work begins.
Join international bestselling author J.D. Barker and indie powerhouses, J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon, as they gain unique insight and valuable advice from the most prolific and accomplished authors in the business.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Mickey started Creative Edge
- When to seek out a publicist
- Why publicity doesn’t always equate to sales
- The importance of having a “vision” for your book
- Differences between short-term and long-term growth
Links:
An Important Letter from The Authors Guild – https://www.authorsguild.org/who-we-are/letter-president/
J. D. Barker – http://jdbarker.com/
J. Thorn – https://theauthorlife.com/
Mickey Mikkelson – https://www.creative-edge.services/contact.html
Creative Edge – https://www.creative-edge.services/
TopShelf – https://topshelfmagazine.net/index.php/magazine
Proudly sponsored by Kobo Writing Life – https://kobowritinglife.com/
Music by Nicorus – https://cctrax.com/nicorus/dust-to-dust-ep
Voice Over by Rick Ganley – http://www.nhpr.com and recorded at Mill Pond Studio – http://www.millpondstudio.com
Contact – https://writersinkpodcast.com/dev/contact/
“Muggable” quote by Harley Christensen – https://www.mischievousmalamute.com/
*Full disclosure: Some of the links are affiliate links.
Christopher Wills
3 years ago
Interesting interview today. I find the idea of publicity for a writer uncomfortable because one of the joys of being a writer is not having to become a celebrity. Or is that a necessary evil today, and am I being old-fashioned? Do PR companies promote writing brands where a writer might wish to remain anonymous? J K tried it but failed when a lawyer outed her…
Worth listening to the interview Jo Penn did a couple of weeks ago with Daniel Parsons about networking. The contrast being DIY v employing a PR company.
I’m happy with DIY at the moment and I’ll probably wait until Hollywood beckons before I employ a PR expert.
As always, forever the optimist.
J. Thorn
3 years ago
Thanks, Chris! You raise an interesting point. I guess you’d have to think about the target of the PR. Whether it’s the author or the book…
Active Duty Sailor who just wants to write.
3 years ago
It was implied in your podcast in ep 52 that Amazon should have more controls to prevent “anybody” from publishing, I must remind you that everybody have started as a “nobody”, the goal of many of us is not to be famous but to simply write. The option to have a book written for my kids is extremely appealing to me, why do you want it to be harder for the common man to put out his art, regardless how marketable it is?
J. Thorn
3 years ago
Thanks for the comment! I don’t think either of us were saying we thought the “common man” should be prevented from writing. You don’t need Amazon to write a book for your kids. I think the spirit of our conversation was hoping Amazon could better monitor their content, eliminating scammers and people trying to game the system.
Blogs are where anybody can publish. I think the rules are different in a marketplace where you’re asking people to pay money for a product.
Mark Leslie Lefebvre
3 years ago
I swear, I didn’t interview Mickey for the Stark Reflections podcast last week after hearing him on yours. (I’m actually not caught up on the last few weeks of your awesome show). I’d been trying to coordinate getting him on my show for months.
I actually hired Mickey about 12 hours after I interviewed him, realizing there were plenty of things I’d been holding myself back on that he could help me with.
BTW, still love this show. It just keeps getting better. You guys are awesome! Keep up the amazing (and always inspiring) work!
J. Thorn
3 years ago
Ha! Thanks, man. And it’s totally fine. We don’t have a monopoly on any guest 🙂
Mickey Mikkelson
3 years ago
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity!