Radio interviews

In common with other authors, I often receive invitations to visit radio stations to give live interviews. Over the years I’ve visited radio studios all around the UK as far afield as Newcastle and Sussex, Manchester and Kent, Merseyside and Bristol.
In a live interview you hope to achieve a fleeting but intense chemistry between presenter and interviewee, as your words are broadcast on the airwaves to tens or sometimes hundreds of thousands of people. Meanwhile, you perch on a chair in a small room chatting with a single presenter. Experience helps. Beyond that, in common with everything else an author does, the key to a good interview lies in the preparation. One sneaky advantage of radio interviews is that your audience can’t see you glancing at notes. You can scribble a few points on the back of an envelope – not that I would ever do such a thing, of course! – without anyone knowing. Yet however much preparation you do in advance you need to be able to think on your feet, because there are always unexpected questions. In a live interview, you can’t afford to get flummoxed.
Most of the presenters I’ve met have been enthusiastic readers of the crime genre, but even with presenters who don’t read crime novels, the genre is so fascinating that there is always plenty to talk about. Apart from your own experience of writing, there are areas like research, plotting, character, the appeal of the genre, morality, violence... the list goes on. In fact, it’s very easy to become so involved in a discussion, you lose sight of your reason for giving the interview in the first place. This could be promoting a new book, or an upcoming event. It’s important to retain a good balance between following your predetermined agenda and simply enjoying the discussion.
 I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all of my interviews so far. It’s always slightly disappointing when the half hour or so comes to an end. So if any radio presenter chances to read this, please feel free to contact me on http://leighrussell.co.uk I’d love to join you for a chat!
 STOP DEAD, the fifth in the Geraldine Steel series, is out in print this May. COLD SACRIFICE, the first in the Ian Peterson series, is published as an ebook in June, in print September.

Learning about my family

When it comes to interviews, I'm an old hand. In fact, Mystery People have just invited me to write about doing live radio interviews, as I've done so many.  Still, it's a new experience to be learning something new about my daughter in an interview she's just given (and I'm not talking about the reference to lego...! ) Click on the link to find out more... Subba-Cultcha Introducing

Radio Interview

I enjoyed chatting to Danny Smith at Radio Verulam 92.6 FM. If you'd like to hear the interview, you can listen again on the Radio Verulam website. Tuesday 19th March 5.30 pm. Hope you find it interesting.

Radio interview

If you're in the area, you might like to listen to my radio interview on 92.6 FM at 5.30 today 19th March.

This week's interviews

Interview on Harrogate Festival website http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/yourebooked/2011/02/youre-booked-spoke-to-leigh-russell/
Interview on The Rap Sheet
http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2011/02/steel-at-it.html

Good News and Bad News

I've all but finished the edits for DEAD END and am getting quite excited about publication in May. It's not that far off! In the meantime, ROAD CLOSED is being reprinted, and CUT SHORT will be reprinted in a new format in June.
With all the focus on preparing for publication, the promotion goes on. It is not an exaggeration when I say that I regularly receive invitations to give interviews. Just today I had approaches from journalists on two local papers covering areas where I'll be signing near Christmas, saw a post I'd written go online on the Harrogate Festival website, heard about another guest post going online at the beginning of December, received a PDF from Mystery Women who had asked me to write a Guest Author Post for their online magazine which will be sent out next week and I'm waiting to see a feature about me in the Times Educational Supplement in December.
Here's the link to my post on the Harrogate website:
http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/yourebooked/2010/11/my-beginnings-by-leigh-russell/
And links to two other interviews which came online this week, both print copies published a few months ago. This one is from Hertfordshire Life http://hertfordshire.greatbritishlife.co.uk/article/crime-pays-for-watford-author-27276/
and In Touch Magazine in Cyprus where not only is the article headed 'An Exclusive Interview with Best Selling Author Leigh Russell' but the type is in a lovely purple font! Love it!
http://www.freeintouchmagazine.com/uploads/3/0/3/5/3035922/leigh_russell_interview.pdf
On the down side, I wasn't invited to join a panel at Harrogate Festival - one day, when I've made my name, I hope to be there. In the meantime, it's back to the edits...