My first novel, Without Reproach, to be published within the next few weeks, and I'm looking for ideas to plug it as widely as possible. I wondered if anyone has any experience of their books being reviewed on TV programmes such as Richard and Judy, and if so, how did they go about it?

Approaches to the Richard & Judy show is normally made by your publisher or by word of mouth after the book has taken off.
- Scott Pack has made a few comments on the subject on his blog Me and My Big Mouth

If you are responsable for publicing your book then I would suggest the following:
Write a press release and send it out to all your local newspapers offering to give an interview about your book - in your local area and where you were brought up (assuming it's in the UK and different fom where you live now).
Approach the local radio stations and give an interview on air - make sure te local bookshops stock your book to cash in on impulse buys following the interview.
Approach your local bookshops and offer to do a booksigning/book launch.
Send some free copies out to Books suppliments and book reviewers (eg. in your local Arts Review pages in your local newspapers).
Approach your local libraries and offer to give a talk about your book.
Print off some posters to put up in the local Libraries to advertise your book.


- NaomiM

<Added>

I have concentated on 'local area' because publicising your book nationally is governed by the law of diminishing returns, if you are having to do all the leg work.


<Added>

Oh, and of course, approach your local BBC and ITV TV stations.

Anthony, you might have found it already, but here

http://www.writewords.org.uk/forum/48_101043.asp

is a report on an excellent talk Maria MacCarthy gave on publicity for authors...

Emma