The author interview is a time-honored way of not only promoting new books but also building the author’s brand in order to attract a loyal readership. However, these interviews are something that not every author feels comfortable with since they are probably more used to working alone rather than being in the public eye. Here are some tips on how to make the author interview more comfortable.
1. Learn how to relax. Although nervousness is natural during interviews, you can help alleviate it by focusing on the interviewer. Take a few deep breaths just before the start of the interview and don’t hesitate to pause slightly before answering questions. And keep a glass of water beside you and take occasional sips from it if you feel your throat getting dry.
2. Help yourself stay at ease by wearing comfortable clothes. Don’t buy a new set of clothes for the interview that might make you uncomfortable but do dress well.
3. Be enthusiastic but not overwhelmingly so. Don’t talk over the host and take over the interview. Remember that this is supposed to be a conversation and not a monologue.
4. Keep your answers concise, since long answers will not hold most people’s interest. But at the same time, don’t be terse to the point where you’re giving one or two sentence answers.
5. Beware of spoilers but don’t be afraid to reveal details about your book. Remember that you have to grab the reader’s interest so they’ll buy your book.
6. If you’re being interviewed by phone patch, remember that background noises will be amplified so eliminate ambient noises until the interview is over. For example, turn off your cell phone and shut off your air conditioner.
7. Enjoy the interview. Have fun and don’t be afraid to be playful with the host. And don’t forget to thank the host afterwards.
8. Don’t prepare for the interview by practicing jokes or trying too hard to be witty. Just be yourself and answer the questions naturally.
9. Ask for a copy of the author interview afterwards so that you can study it and learn from your mistakes as well as identifying interesting bits of information that you can repeat in future interviews.
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