I promised some people in the Indie Marketplace group that I would talk about what it was like to be a radio guest, so here it is.
I have done radio interviews about eight or nine times. Three times I did phone interviews. This was when they were interviewing me after kidnap victim Elizabeth Smart was found; during an ex-Mormon conference (Tom Barberi); and about my cozy mystery series, The Jenny T. Partridge Dance Mystery Series.
For phone interviews I recommend this:
Wear your pajamas. It will make you feel good to know you can DO YOUR JOB in pajamas. (Don’t be naked. This would be distracting. And kinda creepy.)
Use a land-line, if anyone even has one of those anymore. When I was talking to Tom Barberi, I got cut off because of spotty cell phone reception. My bad. It was just after he said, “I don’t like zucchini, but I don’t start a group for people who don’t like zucchini,” and I said, “Yeah, well zucchini doesn’t come to your door trying to find out what you aren’t coming to zucchini meeting anymore, or call your parents and tattle on you, even though you’re an adult and can abstain from zucchini meetings if you want to!” Luckily, I got all that in before we got disconnected.
Be brief, be humorous, and make sure you have your tough skin on. There is no point in getting angry if someone gets combative with you. That’s their job. Play it off with humor. You can bury them in the backyard later.
Now, live interviews. I did about three of these with Frankie, DB, and Jessica on the Z-Morning zoo here in Utah. It was actually fun to be in studio, and see how it works. I was nervous the first time, but got over it fast. If someone invites you to do an in-studio interview, do it. Great experience. Of course, we spent most of the time talking about my books, why they are controversial, and why schizophrenic former Mormons might stalk you if you write these kinds of books. (Yeah, it happened. It was NOT fun.)
I guess I did okay because they kept inviting me back. The most important thing I can really say about this is BE RELEVANT. Answer the question. Don’t incessantly promo your book. DO take your books in and give them to them. I donated a few books to Frankie’s mom who was battling some health issues.
Most of all, do NOT take yourself too seriously. There are enough people walking around with a stick up the wazoo. Don’t be one of them.
Writer in a Bubble 
I’d like to ad 2 comments this discussion… If at all possible listen to the show before you go on the air, you’ll be up on what is going on that day – or what’s been said before you get there. And get there a little bit early, this keeps you from being in a rush, gives you the opportunity to have an off topic chat, I don’t care if it’s about the weather, a comment you heard earlier, or the crazy people driving on the freeway – you gain a common grown, comfort in each other, and by the time you go on air the majority of the jitters are over and you’re talking with a friend.
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I’d like to add two suggestions…. first if possible listen to the show you’re going to be on the day of the interview – this gives you an insight into what’s the station or shows focus of the day, what’s already been said, and more. second – get there early. This gives you the opportunity to slow down, have an off topic converstion with your interviewer if possible, by the time that you go on air you’ve hopefully established a comfort level and familiarity between interviewer and yourself, by the time you go on air most of the jitters are out of the way. And finally remember it’s radio…. deadair is deadair. Just saying.
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