I've a Somerset Sounds radio interview at 9.15 Thursday 7th to discuss my book 'Pets in Prospect' I'm told it will last c 15 minutes. Long enough for loads of ummms and errrs as I'm not very good at expressing myself vocally let alone doing it on air. So I'm really nervous at the 'prospect' but have decided to give it a go as it will help to plug the book. Can anyone give me some tips so that I don't make a complete fool of myself? Thanks.

Ask before you go on what's going to be covered, and lightly rehearse some answers (I don't mean learn anything by heart, though!). If you're not driving, a glass of wine before you go on might help. Radio interviewers are skilled at getting people to talk and helping them if they dry up and generally steering the conversation, so they'll make it as easy as possible for you. And no one minds a few ums and ers, so don't get in a tizz about it.

Prompt cards are your best friend. I used to do a lot of exams in public speaking and a huge amount was impromptu talks on an unknown subject - given 5 minutes before! It has never phased me but you're lucky since it will be on the radio no-one will know you're clutching bits of paper.

I would write down prompts to some of the important/funny parts of your book so when your mind goes blank you can at least have a few anecdotes written down. I would also write down important things you would like them to know about you so you could fit them into the questions. Use capital letters, red pen and big writing. Maybe vary colour from card to card for different subjects so you can see at a glance what it is. Don't put too much on them though or you'll end up reading them (and sounding stilted) - just headers to prompt you.

They may be able to give you some idea of what you'll be asked so you could prepare the right things.

Above all though - relax and enjoy. These things can be far more fun than you expect them to be and the adrenalin rush afterwards is amazing!!!

I've advised this before, but doing some breathing exercises beforehand can help to relax you. If you must drink (says he) limit it to one glass of wine or a swift shot of sherry. You may feel more confident when drunk, but it may come over on radio that you're not completely sober.

Vocal excercises can also help, but above all, I'd say just have faith in yourself and your work, and remember that it's highly unlikely they will ask you anything you don't know.

Oh, and break a leg.

JB

Excellent news, and don't worry, it's not nearly as scary as you think.

Yes, the adrenalin rush is great - just as effective as alcohol, I find - and carries the most terrified person through. Plus local radio is very used to first timers, and they make it easy and are very good at smoothing over any slightly hiccups.

I had a very steep learning curve into this stuff recently, doing nine in six days Down Under. I came out of it with huge respect for radio presenters as a breed - wish I could think on my feet, aloud, that slickly.

Beforehand, you might want to check out the following - a good producer or presenter will remember, but it always seems to us slow-paced writers to be seat-of-the-pants stuff, so don't rely on it.

is it live?
will I be able to see the presenter or is it remote? or on the phone?
how long is it?
will there be one or more breaks?
for ads or music?
what's the audience (i.e. is it a book slot, or a general chat slot)?
will you mention the publisher and publication date of the book, or should I make sure I do?
can I have a glass of water handy, please!

They may ask you if there's anything you specially want to mention (I think they mean readings or signings, or perhaps a witty story about how grateful you are to... whoever).

You could try thinking out a few answers to the following (no particular order after the first one, which is because they haven't read the press release).

What's it about?
Did you always want to be a vet?
What made you want to be a vet?
What started you writing stories?
How did the book come about?
Was it hard to get a publisher?
Is your MC you? How autobiographical is it? Are all the animal stories true?
Do you see yourself as the new James Herriot?
What's your favourite animal?

Attach a little story to illustrate as many as you can. Add in all the stuff that ordinary people have asked you since they knew you were writing a book. You just might get a curve ball: are there any animal stories in the news at the moment you'll get asked your opinion on? Animal rights? Are Brits more sentimental about animals than other countries? If there's anything you don't want talked about, tell them beforehand (they may ask anyway) but perhaps rough out a polite way of sliding out from under it just in case.

Very good luck. I'm sure it'll be fine! Let us know how it goes, and if it's available online afterwards, don't forget to post the link here on WW!

Emma

You're going to be talking about something you know and love, so you're already more than halfway there.

Take a deep breath before you go 'on air' and just go with the flow. You'll be surprised at how quickly the time goes when you are talking about something you enjoy, it will be over before you know it.

Break a leg, and let us know how it went.

Katerina x

If they ask you the killer question 'What's the book about' have some snappy soundbite answers prepared beforehand. Even if it's only 'Vets n' Pets': almost as bad as the 'Ummm's, is the 'chapter by chapter drone'.
Another classic question is 'what made you wanna write it?'
Like Eve said, prepare a few short anecdotes from the book; maybe prefaced with the phrase 'we once had a case...'
Might be worth timing yourself so you don't include anything too long.

- NaomiM

Oh Im so glad I joined this place!

I've just had a call from BBC Southern Counties, for an over the phone interview tomorrow morning.

Eek.

What lovely people you are, such good advice.

I'm sure mine wont be as long as fifteen minutes, as I haven't done anything except won a short story competition... but it's still scary, and at 09.40 it's far too early to hit the bottle.

Good luck, MWman

vanessa

Good luck, Nessie. The first radio interview I did, by phone, they didn't even tell me it was going to be live... You'll be fine.

The other question to prepare for is the one you can't refuse to answer, but are sick to death of, and is nothing to do with the book. Try to eliminate the sigh of resignation before you answer it.

Emma

Thanks Emma! I shall do my deep breathing exercises, and practice not sighing.

vanessa

One last thing to add- most people talk far too quickly when on radio/TV and rush their words, and nothing is worse when hearing yourself afterwards, rabbiting on.... a mate who does a lot of public speaking advises practising speaking more slowly than you usually would, and recording yourself if possible, so you can listen back and see how it sounds.

Congratulations MWman and Nessie. I don't have any advice for you, never having been in this position. I'm sure that the programme makers will want you to do well, so they won't be out to trip you up. (Neither of you are down to be interviewed by Jeremy Paxman, are you?) When I spoke to print journalists on the phone I invariably thought, 'Oh, I forgot to mention such and such...' as soon as I hung up - so if there is something really important you want to get over, it might be worth having some prompt for that. I don't think it's a bad idea to have some sound bite - or even a statistic or two - pre-thought out. I have this theory that journalists love statistics. Don't know how you can work a statistic in, though.

At the moment I find print interviews much more daunting than radio interviews - there's less scope for them mis-taking what you say and turning it into something else. On the radio it's only like an extension of having a conversation at a party, without any obligation to ask them about their job/house/taste in drinks in return. There are worse ways of spending fifteen minutes. But yes, there's always something you wish you'd said.

I'd agree about the talking too fast, but I'm never sure about listening to yourself. Like most people I loathe how I sound when recorded, and if I was thinking about that just before I went on air I think I'd be utterly tongue-tied from self-consciousness.

Emma

<Added>

tsk! less scope in radio interviews, I mean

Some friends did a local radio interview for a short story anthology - and it went over really well. They said they were eased into it - the interviewer started chatting to put them at their ease and then when it went 'live' they just carried on with the conversation.

Best of luck!

Sarah

I've done a few too,only relating to magazine stuff, and I also find this sort of thing terrifying! In my experience, the presenters are usually very gentle with the questions and don't try to trip you up.I'd echo what others have said about asking in advance what they're going to question you about.
Good luck!