Yesterday after lunch, our publicist called me and said a reporter from Publishers Weekly wanted to talk to an editor about business management book trends. I looked around me and the only person I saw was me. So I told her I would talk to him. "Can I have a couple days to prepare?" I asked. No, he was on deadline and wanted to talk to me in 30 minutes.
It's only been in the last several months that PW has realized that we exist, I think. So I didn't want to blow the opportunity to put in a good word for our books, and possibly also get quoted saying something really insightful and amazing. But as an introvert who needs time to collect her thoughts, I have a tendency to say stupid things when attempting to think on my feet. Panic set in. Mercifully, I had only 30 minutes to stew about it.
So I talked to the reporter, who had some set questions about young managers and "green" books. To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what I said to him, but maybe some of it was usable. I was even able to mention a few of our books gracefully. I was so thankful for all the time I have spent reading relevant blogs; otherwise, I don't think I would have had answers for him.
The story will appear toward the end of the month. Until then, I am trying not to think too much about which unfortunate utterances the reporter will choose to highlight.
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6 comments:
Lori, don't worry...I'm sure you did a great job!
I can empathize with you...I, too, prefer to have time to collect my thoughts and prepare for this sort of thing. I don't always do well thinking on my feet! I end up walking out feeling like a bumbling idiot; but really my self-impression is usually worse than how I actually came across.
Can't wait to read the story when it comes out! :)
Thanks for the encouragement. I always feel this same way in job interviews, too--like I'm coming off as a complete moron or lunatic just babbling away. I guess we'll see what (if anything) the reporter took away from it all. :)
I'll bet that you did just fine, Lori.
But introversion and the need to collect one's thoughts must be very common traits in editors; I know so many people in publishing like that. And I'm the same way. I find that I always can figure out what I think about any issue by writing it down before talking to people who want to know my opinion.
Oh, thanks! Yes, I did write a few things down beforehand and it helped crystalize my thoughts. But I had only a vague idea of what he was going to ask and didn't get to use my most profound insights!
Lori, I'm with Krisan and Katharine. I'm sure you gave him some good blurbs -- now it's up to him to use the good ones! I also feel better when I can talk with notes in hand.
Perhaps you'd like to blog about your most profound insights? (Yay, words in print!) I'm interested in hearing your take on the topic and I can't be the only one . . .
Hey, that's a great idea! That way, I can say what I really meant to say! I'll break it into a couple of posts starting tomorrow. Thanks, Julie!
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