A monthly podcast of the Chicago Writers Association hosted by Bill Turck featuring in-depth interviews and candid conversations with published authors on the art, craft and business of writing.
One Final Thought with WC Turck
On this the final episode of Chicago Writes, Time Management for the writer. Part two of my conversation with Paul Bryan Roach author of Jack’s Rogues available on Amazon. The art of the Press Release and building a Media Contact List. Plus, we catch up with The Spine Bookshop owner Lindsay Schultz on her historic fight against book bans in Tennessee.
And I say so long to this great CWA audience. Visit my Substack at WCTURCK.substack.com. Classic Storytelling across the Virtual Campfire.
There are some great sources online for building a media contact list. But here are a few tips to get you started:
A media contacts list, simply put, is an updatable and managed directory of journalists, editors, bloggers, and influencers relevant to your business.
There are a few important components of a media contacts list:
Contact Names and Positions: Note the names and job titles of journalists or media influencers. This helps tailor your pitch. Prowly’s Media Databasewith more than one million contacts free for 7-days. prowly.com/media-database/
Email Addresses and Phone Numbers: make sure you have up-to-date email addresses and phone numbers. Accurate contact details are crucial for communication. compile a list of journalists from news sites. There are tools like Muck Rack to find email addresses and social media links to help build that list.
Outlets and News Sites: List the media outlets or news sites they work for. This helps in aligning your story pitch with their publication’s focus.
Social Media Links: Note their social media profiles. Engaging on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn can enhance relationship-building.
Identify journalists and outlets whose beats and audiences match your target demographic. With data from Semrush, Prowly offers the most reliable, in-depth audience and traffic analytics on the market.
Notes and Preferences: Include any personal notes or preferences for contact, such as the best time to email.
Remember:
Element
Description
Industry Focus
Journalists specializing in your sector
Email Distribution
Collect relevant email addresses for outreach
Social Media Links
Evaluate platforms for deeper engagement
Clients-contacts-testing.
There are a many social media anylytics services that can allow you to measure engagement, such as agencyanalytics.com, supermetrics.com and www.hootsuite.com, who has a novice friendly dashboard.
And that should get you started. You’re in the big leagues now. This is the business of publishing a book. Go get ‘em!
1 Nov 2025
Author Paul Roach and the Fundamentals of Research for Novelists
Author Paul Roach and the Fundamentals of Research for Novelists
We spent the past couple of episodes with an exploration of the science fiction genre. Fantasy and magic are popular subgenres. Often over-looked is the spiritual sub-sub-genre. Paul Roach served twenty-seven years in the US Navy Medical Corps, with multiple combat and noncombat deployments. His memoir, Citizen-Surgeon, recounts his experiences as a combat surgeon in Afghanistan. His latest novel is the first part of the Jack’s Rogues Trilogy- Operation Agos, a supra-natural, that is, transcending the natural, a supranatural thriller. His Substack describes his genre as Fantasy - Magical Realism - Metaphysical Fiction.
The website is: paulbryanroach.com
I looked up some research techniques for Fiction writers: From Owl Mountian.com: Research is the secret ingredient that transforms a good story into a great one. Whether you’re diving into historical events, exploring cultural nuances, or nailing down technical details, solid research lends authenticity and depth to your fiction. But how do you ensure your research enhances rather than overwhelms your narrative? Here are some tried-and-true techniques to help you weave facts seamlessly into your storytelling
owl-mountain.com/2025/02/04/effective-research-techniques-for-fiction-writers/
1 Oct 2025
Talkin' SyFy with Professor Joe Austin
Jotham Austin, is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Chicago. He is also a Chicago Writers Association Board Member and Director of the Book of the Year Contest. Professor Austin is the author of the sci-fi psychological thriller, ‘Will You Still Love Me, If I Become Someone Else?” He is also the co-host of the Rabbit Hole of Research Podcast, which explores the science in fiction and tries to separate the “Handwavium” from the actual facts in the things we read and see in Sci-Fi, fantasy and pop culture. When he is not in the laboratory or writing, he can be found gardening, woodworking, or enjoying a craft beer.
The Website is:https://www.jothamaustin.com
Autumn is the perfect time to work on that project you were putting off all summer. At the www.chicagowrites.org/speakers_bureau we have something for everyone!
And don’t forget to visit our blog for useful tips and resources on writing at chicagowrites.substack.com
Become a member today! Visit Chicago Writes.org
Visit my Substack at WCTurck.substack.com
Who has been a guest on Chicago Writes
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Sharon Woodhouse
Ashley Honeysett
David W Berner
Mark Taylor
Stephen Zimmer
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3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100
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YouTube
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