Several years ago, I worked with Gerry Hass on his book about the South End Community Health Center. The pandemic prevented him from doing a public reading when his book was published, but he was able to do so in grand style in mid-March. This blog by my editorial assistant Jillian Tillian is a Q and A with Gerry on his book, his event, and his work at the center. The photo by Agnieszka Rytych-Foster Photography was taken at the gala in Boston.

What inspired you to write a book? 

I wanted the history and story of the South End Community Health Center in Boston, Massachusetts, to be recorded so that we could pay tribute to the people who helped us found it. I wanted to acknowledge the extraordinary hard work of all the people who helped make the health center possible without any funding and also acknowledge the wonderful hard work that helped us grow the center over time.

How did Janice help you complete your book project?

The stories about the center came from interviews conducted by Pearl Vercruysse, who at that time was an undergraduate at Emmanuel College. I transcribed the interviews and edited them and wrote a draft of the book. Then I reached out to Janice, who is well-known in the Northampton area; my daughter and her husband actually knew Janice. So I thought it would be helpful to work with her, since I have never been a good writer. She turned the book into something that was readable and appealing while maintaining the feeling of what I had written. 

What value did you find in Janice’s work? 

She corrected a lot of my writing and corrected things such as peoples’ titles. And there were other things that didn’t read well, and she was able to trim those and make them more coherent. 

Tell me about your book reading! I understand it was delayed several years, thanks to COVID:

No thanks to COVID! In March 2020, we were meant to have the reading and signing at the South End of Boston library, and the week before I was supposed to do it they called me to say it had been postponed indefinitely. I realized it wasn’t going to work, and then three years later it seemed that it might just work, and I just wanted to pay tribute to the wonderful people who started the center. The only sad part was that three of the people who were instrumental in starting the health center had died by then, including Mel Scovell, the director and planner. So I thought I better get on with this before anyone else passes on. I wanted to do it while I was still coherent and able to speak. 

Who was in attendance at the reading?

Many of the people who started the health center that could make it—nearly 100 people. The nurses, the doctors, the support staff, the organizers. It was wonderful because we became very close. In fact, the health center has been regarded as a family. The people worked together and knew each other and knew the people in the community because there was no health care in the community other than the big Boston city hospital. They were so grateful to come, and they brought their friends. We were like a family, and we remained friends for the next 50 years. All of us. 

What kind of agenda did you plan for the event?

It was really a celebration of the 50 years-plus and there was a book reading and a discussion of what the South End was like in the late ’60s. 

Are you proud to be unveiling your book so many years after publication?

I am. I have a whole pile of them from three years ago. and I didn’t want to sell them, and I knew people wanted them, so we were able to give them away. Over the years I took care of thousands of patients, and I had staff who moved on to other places, but we always remained friends. So there wasn’t ever any trouble in getting rid of the books. Three years later is not quite a terrible time to wait. Three years ago, we had a reunion for our 50th anniversary of our founding in 1969, and so many people came. I mentioned that I was writing a book at that time, and everyone said they’d love to have it. The book stands on its own. It’s not a memoir, and it’s not about me. It’s about the people who started the center and made sure it provided wonderful care. It was very special. 

What does it feel like to have successfully told the center’s story?

Wonderful! 

What advice do you have for others who have a book in progress?

I think they need an editor, and Janice is a terrific editor. I am very grateful to her and her time and friendly help. It’s very important to get an editor. There are very few people who can write books. This is not the only book I’ve written as I’ve written medical books, but this is a story and she was able to edit and shape it and for that, I am very grateful.

The post A Client Q and A with Gerry Hass appeared first on Beetle Press.

I help clients promote news and events to help raise awareness and attract notice. I wrote a press release for neuro-artist Laura Bundersen to promote an art pop-up shop she hosted in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the end of 2021. Here is an interview with Laura about the experience.

Tell me about your organization.

I am an independent artist. I’ve been working in the field of creating neuro art for about seven years now. Everything is in the shape of a brain or is brain-related. I am primarily a fiber artist. So, I work with fabric, thread, and also include paint. In the last couple of years, I’ve branched out in creating a line of enamel pins, and I have notecards that are based on my original artwork designs. I also make earrings and a lot of good fun “brainy” things.

What inspired you to get into this creative work?

I’ve always been an artist, and when I moved to Western Massachusetts 12 years ago, I really decided that I would try to concentrate on creating an art business. Then about seven years ago, I did my first two brain pieces, and they were just very well received. They had an immediate impact, and I was really fascinated by doing this kind of work. I read a lot, and I was working part-time at Mount Holyoke College, working with neuroscientists, helping them submit grant proposals to help get their research funded. They encouraged me as well, and I ended up going to the Society for Neuroscience Convention for three years in a row. I have been fascinated and encouraged and inspired by people who have neurologic disorders and people who work with those people. So neurologists, neuroscientists, neurosurgeons—they’ve all kept me encouraged and inspired. 

How did you learn about Janice’s PR work?

I think my partner mentioned her to me, but I had also been on her email list or getting her newsletter for years. So, I think I may have reached out to her years ago just to see what it was that she did, but I wasn’t quite ready yet, and I didn’t have anything locally that was going on. Most of my work is online. I have a website, and I sell online primarily or sometimes internationally. Then I was part of a funded event in Springfield, and it just occurred to me that Janice could perfectly help me to promote that. 

What prompted you to reach out to Janice?

I was feeling really overwhelmed with “How do I get people to know about this shop that I’m going to have for a week in Springfield?” I remembered that Janice could do press releases, so I initially thought I’ll just contact her and ask her to write a press release for me. Then it became more than that, and she actually helped me design a marketing email and letter that I sent out to neurologists and neuroscientists in the area. 

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

Oh, I just found it really easy to communicate with her. Her writing is wonderful, and she was very easy and painless. 

Did the press release Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Oh yeah. I got quite a few hits. The WWLP came down and did a little in-person news story, which is on my website, and there was a business insider piece in the Hampshire Gazette. It was really quite fabulous. I got a lot of traction out of the one press release. 

Who in your various audiences benefited from the PR work and in what ways?

My biggest audience is the neurologists, neuroscientists, and people who have neurologic disorders. I had people who came down to the shop who heard about me through the press. 

What else would you like Janice’s blog reader to know?

I would just say that Janice is really, really easy to work with. It’s difficult to promote yourself. It can be kind of daunting to go to an outside person who doesn’t know you that well, and Janice completely put me at ease and made me feel really comfortable, and she made the whole process really seamless and easy. Her responses, when I had any questions or tweaks, were seamless. She responded rapidly to every email I sent her too. 

The post Q and A with Laura Bundesen, a neuro artist extraordinaire appeared first on Beetle Press.

Last week, I blogged about the Media Consult I led with Mary Knight, the communications chairman for Zonta International District 1. Today, you can hear from Mary directly about her organization and what she learned in the consult. 

What is Zonta, and what inspires you to take part?

Zonta is an international organization, and our purpose is to empower women and girls to be the best they can be. We work around the world in a number of different avenues, including crises such as trafficking and domestic violence, helping women to reach a higher level of decision-making. We’re working in Massachusetts, especially on stopping child marriage. Girls as young as 12 or 13 can get married in the state, and we’re trying to move that age to 18. The work is truly inspiring.  

What prompted you to reach out to Janice recently for help?

I was charged with doing a training and putting together a tool for the individuals who are in charge of communications for each of our clubs throughout the district—New England states and Nova Scotia. I felt a little bit uncomfortable doing it on my own. So, I contacted Janice for tips and ideas. She was easy to work with. 

You took part in a Media Consult. How was that structured, and what did you learn?

It was structured just as I needed it to be, working on an existing document and going through it step by step, and rearranging things. Frankly, in 30 minutes, Janice was able to help impart best practices, tips, lessons learned. I was really inspired. I gave her a press release I was working on at the time, and we used that as the basis for our 30 minutes. Together, we constructed the press release, and as we went through it, Janice explained why she was recommending her edits and changes. Then she helped me send it to the key people in the area and in the format they would want it in. It worked! The release was picked up by all six publications I sent it to. It was wonderful, and I really learned a lot. Through that work with Janice, I was able to put a template together and some notes so that I could train others. 

What value did you find in the consult?

It was invaluable. I’ve sent a lot of news releases over the years, and they were not picked up by the editors and used in publications. I learned why. This was a big deal. I learned how to make sure that your first sentence offers a summary of who, what, where, when, and why. I learned what material to use in quotes. I learned how to properly send information to a specific editor as opposed to just a general email address. And I also learned to include the text of the press release in the email and attach it and that you shouldn’t embed pictures but instead attach them. I learned a lot!

Did you learn skills that you will now always have?

I absolutely did. 

Who else do you think might benefit from a Media Consult?

Frankly, I think anybody who does not do media relations, newsletters, news releases on a regular basis would really benefit. Janice has an awful lot to offer and learning what I learned in 30 minutes is a great return on my investment. Anybody who doesn’t do this regularly for a living and wants to be better would benefit from working with Janice. 

Anything else you think readers of Janice’s blog would like to know?

The thing I really liked about Janice is that she is really straightforward. She doesn’t pull any punches, and you know she is certainly a kind person to work with. I highly recommend her.

The post A Q and A on a Media Consult Experience appeared first on Beetle Press.

I connected with Jennifer Kelley three years ago and began writing blogs for the organization she leads, the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction. It’s an organization near and dear to my brother Allan’s heart, and I had heard much about it and wanted to help. (Jennifer and I also worked together on several books—one about the Auction’s 40th year in 2021 and one about her mother’s life.) Recently, my colleague Jillian Tully interviewed Jennifer about what it’s like to work with me on PR.

In brief, what is the work or mission of your organization?

The Greater Lakes Children’s Auction’s mission is to raise money for kids in need in the Greater Lakes Region community of New Hampshire. We engage with the community and financially support children in need with a vision to ensure that every child is empowered to succeed and positively impact the region. 

When did you begin working with Janice, and what specific services did she provide for you? 

I’ve been working with Janice for three years. She was interviewing what we call the Children’s Auction champions—volunteers who go above and beyond to help the organization. She wrote blogs about our champions, and I posted them on our website. Then I would put the stories in our monthly news blast, and Janice would write a press release on the champion and send it to the press. Today, she continues to write the auction champion articles and additional releases for the auction on broader topics. 

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

It was excellent. She really got to know the champions and added some color in sharing why people do what they do to help the Children’s Auction. So, it was very helpful. Additionally, I think the people Janice interviewed felt valued by the organization, which is always good. 

Did press releases Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Definitely. She helped us do press releases all around the Children’s Auction champions, but then she wrote some additional press releases. That really helped people know more about the auction and realize that the auction is not just something that happens in December; we are an organization that works year-round to help fulfill our mission. 

What value did her other content creation efforts bring to your organization?

After writing over 40 articles, Janice took it upon herself to turn them into a book capturing some of the history of the past 40 years of the auction. She took on the mission single-handedly, also interviewing about 15 nonprofits we support to also tell their story. The book was a really nice way to commemorate our 40 years. Janice sold them to raise money for the organization, and the book is still for sale.

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

The people that benefit the most are the kids who are served by over 80 local nonprofits providing services for low-income families and children in need. Our mantra is, “It’s all for the kids.” We want to enhance their lives. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in your marketing and public relations efforts?

Without a question. She started with just doing the auction champion articles which was huge, and we launched a whole campaign about highlighting a champion every single month in our news blast. Then she offered to do the book that she created. Now she is starting to do just a lot of press releases for us, so without question, she is a partner. 

The post A Client Q & A with Jennifer Kelley, Executive Director of Greater Lakes Children’s Auction appeared first on Beetle Press.

Note: I have been working with Jack Milner of the UK since the spring on the manuscript for his book, “2D to 3D: How to Be a Virtual Presentation Superstar.” Jack is a performer-turned-communication-coach who provides organizations with the tools to influence, persuade, and engage—whether through storytelling, presenting, or communicating within teams. His book acknowledges how rapidly the world pivoted to online meetings and presentations with the onslaught of COVID-19 and offers impactful tips to help them stand out in a virtual world. Working with Jack has been a great experience. Recently, my summer intern, Emma Listokin, interviewed Jack and what it was like to work with me. This is their conversation, verbatim.

When did you get into writing and why?

I got into writing when I was a teenager, so initially, I liked writing angsty and depressing stuff involving drugs and stuff like that—things I knew nothing about. At 14, a teacher did an exercise, and you couldn’t help but write a bit of nonsense. It was supposed to be a two-page essay, and in the end … it was 20 pages long. The following week my teacher handed back my work and said, “Jack, is it alright if I read your story to the class?” I said, “Yeah, yeah absolutely!”  He read my piece to the class, and they all roared with laughter, and that was the thing that got me started, that moment. That’s what I like, and that’s what I want to do. 

What prompted you to write a book? And why?

Like with most things for me—it was an accident! I was supposed to write a book about presentation skills from a different angle, and then COVID arrived, and one of my clients—Samsung—asked for a handbook on virtual presenting to go along with the course. I quoted 5,000 words and it ended up being 20,000 words. They were delighted, and then I thought, “You know, this is the beginning of a book here.” Others encouraged me, and I took the idea seriously. Then I got in touch with Janice, and I thought Janice felt like the right fit. 

How much of your book was written when you contacted Janice?

I think most of it was written, a really bad version of it, maybe not really bad, but most first drafts are pretty rubbishy. 

How did Janice help you hone in on an illustration style for the book?

I needed an illustrator for the book, and my neighbor connected me to two university students who are illustrators. I said to both of them that I don’t care what they come up with; it could even be animals. One came back to me with what you’d expect in a business book: a bit presentation like, but nice graphics. And I thought, “That’s good enough.” The other one came back and said, “I was going to go with snails, but I’ve decided because you said you were going to have a photograph of a frog to come back with frogs.” I said to Janice that I think I’m going to go with the first design, because my mentor said, “Jack, whatever you do, don’t do cartoons!” Janice came back and said the second design is really funny and original and quirky and matches my personality, and she helped persuade me toward the frogs and connect the theme to my manuscript. One of the mantras for this book is, “Janice is always right,” because it’s true! 

What stage is your manuscript at now?

It’s now at the stage where I’ve written close to the final draft, but there might be some final tweaks. It’s with a PR firm now that is shopping it around for publication through a traditional or hybrid company. Janice helped connect me to this firm because she thinks my book could have a wide reach. 

How did Janice help you advance your project to this phase? 

She genuinely cares about you and the work. If she gets frustrated, which she really never does, it’s more, “C’mon this can be better, and here are steps to make it better.” The first draft she shared a lot of things that could be improved and gave points that could be clarified. There were a lot of notes on the first draft, most of which I followed through on. Janice’s grammar is much better than mine, so she’s great for eyeing the grammatical errors. She instills confidence: A writer needs to be told what’s good about his work. Because without that, it’s much harder to write. 

What did you consider the most valuable part of working with Janice on your book? 

It’s two things. Firstly, having a clear process and deadlines so that you have a working structure to help you focus. And the second being Janice pushing this to be magic. We found a small moment of magic, and Janice spotted it, and that led from this book going from being ordinary to being much more than ordinary and that came from her inspiration and encouragement. Sometimes you need that encouragement to take a risk. 

What kinds of suggestions did Janice make? Did you act on all of them? If you had differences, how did you resolve them? 

We didn’t need to resolve anything. Janice gets writers and is a very good writer herself and all she’s trying to do is help you get your vision across in the way you want it and sometimes needs to nudge you. 

In what way did your manuscript turn out differently from what it would have been if you had not worked with Janice on it? 

I think if I hadn’t worked with Janice and worked by myself, it would have been okay, but what Janice has done has helped me put Jack into it and helped me be a bit more confident. I’m quite proud of it. That’s quite a big deal. 

What are your hopes for next steps?

I’d love it to get published. I’d love it to make a difference and sell a few copies, and up my fees for my master classes, and if it does all of those things, I’d be happy. 

Anything else you want readers of Janice’s blog to know? 

Janice helps you be you. … I’ve really enjoyed the chat and banter. She’s a really good person, a good human being. She’s fun, and she really likes people to be themselves and encourages that. She’s got a good sense of humor. I highly, highly recommend working with Janice. She’s also 100 percent honest. 

The post A Client Q and A with Jack Milner appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been working with Monica Curhan, senior vice president director of marketing at Florence Bank, a local, mutually owned bank in Florence, Massachusetts. Recently, she offered some thoughts on what it’s like to work with me and what value I add to her marketing team.

What is the work or mission of your organization? 

Florence Bank is a local bank focused on providing financial services to individuals and businesses in the community through outstanding customer service.

When did you begin working with Janice, and what specific services did she provide for you? 

I believe it was in 2017. Since then, Janice has assisted us with all things public relations. She interviews stakeholders and writes blog articles, writes, and distributes press releases, invites reporters to events, and handles them at events. A long-time resident of the Pioneer Valley, Janice knows the area, and provides valuable advice on how the market and media will respond to proposed initiatives.

What was the quality of Janice’s work?

Janice’s work is of the highest quality. She gets the facts right and tells a story that leaves the reader educated, informed, and entertained. I enjoy reading her work—whether it’s a press release, a blog article, or a book.

Did press releases Janice wrote for you attract attention from the media?

Yes. In fact, I can’t think of one press release written by Janice that did not get picked up by the media. 

What value did her other content creation efforts bring to your organization?

The articles Janice wrote for our website helped us to educate and inform our customers on all sorts of financial topics. Hosting informative content articles, written by Janice, drove traffic to our website.

Who in your various audiences benefited from the work and in what ways?

The bank’s brand benefits from the positive PR Janice generates for us. Customers benefit from the information and knowledge obtained through articles Janice has written. I benefit from her insight and advice regarding potential market reaction to proposed communication.

Did staff also benefit?

Janice taught some of my staff members the basics of writing and distributing press releases. Having her advise me and assist with the bank’s public relations efforts enhances the quality of our communication. 

Do you consider Janice a partner in your marketing and public relations efforts?

Absolutely! Janice is an extension of the Florence Bank Marketing Team.

The post A Client Q and A with Monica Curhan, Senior Vice President Director of Marketing, Florence Bank appeared first on Beetle Press.

Recently, an author who was considering the idea of hiring me to edit and help self-publish his memoir asked if I could connect him to Judith Kelliher, the author of “A Wartime PhD,” so she could serve as a reference. 

He knew I had provided similar services to Judy when she published her book about her brother Bobby’s two tours in Vietnam. He specifically wanted to speak with Judy as we three were once all colleagues at the Daily Hampshire Gazette. What follows are the author’s questions for Judy and her answers.

What did you consider the most valuable part of working with Janice on your book? 

What was invaluable was that I had worked on this project for six years, and my book needed a keen eye and fresh perspective. Janice brought both. She has the experience of working on other books so she knew the process and what else I would need besides editing of the manuscript (such as obtaining an ISBN and copyright, identifying what goes in the front matter of the book, etc.) Janice also brainstormed with me to come up with the title, which I am very happy with. She designed the cover and the layout. Her experience was hugely helpful. She prepared all the files for the printer, too. 

What kinds of suggestions did she make? Did you act on all of them? If you had differences, how did you resolve them? 

Janice edited the manuscript for grammar, clarity, and flow. She used track changes, and the Comments feature in Word to note her edits and questions/suggestions, which made reviewing the document easier for me. In the vast majority of cases, I accepted her suggestions for rewording, but there were a few times I felt strongly about keeping the writing as is, and she respected my view and agreed with me. Some of her suggested edits made my writing more powerful and punchy. 

In what way did your book turn out differently from what it would have been if you had not worked with Janice on it?

Overall, I would say my manuscript was in pretty good shape (for example, I didn’t have to move chapters around or large chunks of text). BUT all the things I mentioned above made the book a cleaner read with additional clarity. I was too close to the book after six years, and it really needed that professional eye, which Janice has!

How did Levellers Press help you get the word out about your book? Was your experience with them positive? 

I hired Levellers to handle the printing. They also collaborate with Amazon and fulfill book orders. I had a very good experience with their team. They did not help me promote the book. So far, my only promotion has been through Facebook and word of mouth. There was a story about my book in the Wilbraham-Hampden Times and we are waiting for a MassLive story to come out. I plan to do more promoting when I come up for air from work!

What kind of reaction have you had to your book? 

The feedback has been incredibly positive! My brother and I have each received very heartfelt and moving comments personally and via phone, email, text, Facebook, and some people have even taken the time to send handwritten cards! If you go to my Amazon page you can also read comments left there: https://www.amazon.com/Wartime-Ph-D-Soldiers-Vietnam-Learning/product-reviews/1951928113/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews.

I thank Judy for her remarks. The author in question has decided to work with me, and that means you will be hearing more about his memoir as our work together evolves.

The post Feedback from a Client on the Editing Process appeared first on Beetle Press.