Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 27

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Mastering Book Promotion Strategies: Proven Insights from PR Experts (Part 3)

Thank you to the many book promotion professionals who shared tips for aspiring authors with me! In Part One, read about treating your book launch like a campaign with consistent social media and a newsletter. In Part Two, focus on realistic goals, being a great guest and research research research. Read below about how your community matters for the third article in this series.

Lisa Niver and Andrew McCarthy speaking at the Travel and Adventure Show

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Did you love all the tips in part one and two of this series? Well, buckle up because David Thalberg has more ideas for what you need to do for a successful book campaign!

His #1 tip for authors that will help build awareness for and sell their book is “four months prior to your publication date, start putting together your email list.  This is a list of your contacts:  business associates, college alumni, church members, community organizations, FAMILY. Once the book is available for PRE-SALE (PRE-ORDER), email these people. Tell them that you’ve written a book, and you hope they would consider pre-ordering the book. Once they’ve read it, ask them to leave an honest review on Amazon, GoodReads, and other book sites.” This is not a time to be shy. Ask everyone you know to pre-order your book. I had a promotion party and I ordered a cake with the cover of my book on it. My friend arranged to have my book cover on foam core signs and we all took photos together. It was so much fun to start the celebration and invite my friends and family to pre-order my book!

David’s Tip #2 is to ask everyone to visit your website or “splash page” for your book. I sent my book page out as the follow-up from my party.

From that page, you can have a sign up for your newsletter so that people can receive regular updates regarding your book, media, events and speaking appearances. He recommends you also ask them if they would be interested in inviting you to speak at a local organization (in person or via zoom), or if they know of others in their circle who may be interested in the subject matter found in the book. This is a great tip and one I need to focus on next because if you do not ask, you will not get!

I agree with him when he says, “remember all of those people you’ve helped out one way or another over the years who thanked you by saying: “If there’s ever anything I can do for you to repay the favor, please don’t hesitate to ask…”  Well, now is the time to cash in those chips and ASK!  You never know what may come of it—maybe your 2nd cousin is married to a book editor, or their neighbor runs a book club at their religious institution or club!”

I asked David for his #1 Reason to hire a publicist and his answer is TIME & STRATEGY. “A publicist lets the author focus on creating content and the dozens of other things they have in mind as an author. The publicist can reach out to the author’s contacts for them.  The publicist understands the current rules of book publicity (if you last published a book 10 years ago, the rules have certainly changed – particularly with social media!)  A good book publicist will be strategic in outreach. It’s not just about securing a media placement. It’s which media placement: a blog may have as much influence as a local TV morning show (the few that remain.) The book publicist can strategize with the author the best routes to take to secure the most promotion for their book which will have a direct lead toward sales.” 

In this three part series, I have spoken to many book publicity professionals and there is a link to their websites so you can see the work they have done for their paying clients. Pick carefully because “you need to have trust in your book publicist. Develop a good relationship with them for a long run, as media placements don’t happen overnight. Make sure when you interview them that they understand the mission of your book.”

Lastly, I want to share wisdom from my friend, Rachel Sales, who co-founded Pink Pangea as well as Enunciate. We met in Israel and she wrote about me in 2015. I reached out to her about a new article for my upcoming memoir and we reconnected. 

RACHEL RECOMMENDS:

1. Engage people in your story. Take a step back and consider how people might relate to your book and invite them to share their stories with a specific campaign. For example, if your book is about bravery after 50, pose this question: what leap did you take after 50? Ask them to share a photo of themselves and post their story. Create a great campaign hashtag to build momentum and grow your audience. Once the campaign gains some momentum, pitch it to media outlets as well.

2. Develop your thought leadership, weighing in on relevant conversations in the media. When a news story breaks that you have special insight into based on your book’s subject, pitch your expertise either through contributed articles or commentary to journalists who are covering the story. 

3. See what other authors you love and respect have done to garner engagement for their writing. Track their social media and media features and adapt accordingly.

4. Engage other influencers. If you mention others in your book, get them involved in the promotion. Tag them and ask them to tag you so that you broaden your audience. Also, tap into other influencers in your network to share your book. Provide them with templated copy that they can adapt.

5. Don’t forget about low-hanging fruit! PR doesn’t just mean the New York Times… great PR can also include your community outlets. For example, send blurbs about your book to your college alumni magazine, your neighborhood listserv, your favorite Facebook group for women who love to travel, your religious institution’s weekly email, and more.

Hiring a PR professional ensures that your promotional work is strategic and consistent, and targets clear objectives and key results (OKRs). Through industry insights and competitive analysis, PR professionals will have an understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and what’s worth spending time on for small hits and big hits alike. PR professionals will also have relationships in the field that they can tap into to tell your story and be able to create a clear roadmap and timeline to ensure your book gets the spotlight it deserves.

Thank you to all of the awesome public relations professionals who shared their knowledge for this series. I am working hard to build a campaign for my new book! Tell us in the comments which tips you tried and who you hired!

READ MY NAVIGATING BOOK PROMOTION SERIES
PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE

Ready to PROMOTE your book? Take the great advice of all the Book PR professionals in my 3 articles. You can message them, hire them and pre-order my book too! It is a #1 HOT NEW RELEASE ON AMAZON for both paperback and digital!

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Countdown to Celebration: My Memoir Arrives Next Month!

Aug News 2023 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:YAY!! My book is coming!Thank you to Good Day DC! I loved talking about my book with Marissa Mitchell.

My book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, launches September 19, 2023! My memoir is available for pre-order as a paperback or digital e-book. YES! There will be an audio book!

Available in Paperback, Kindle and Audiobook! Learn more about my BOOK through these INTERVIEWS:How to be BRAVE-ish on Hotter Than EverSwellcast Talks Travel with Lisa NiverBRAVE-ish on WLS RADIO 890 with Colleen KellyThe Importance of Community and Networking for WritersCANVAS REBEL talks to LISA NIVER about writing Thank you for reading my August Articles:Loreto: Exploring the Aquatic Wonders On and Under WaterExploring the Enchantment of Loreto: A Magical Mexican PuebloMy Unforgettable “Firsts” in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida Wondering how to promote your book? Read my 3 part series: Navigating Book Promotion: Expert Tips from PR PrUnlocking Book Promotion Success: Insider Strategies from PR Experts (Part 2)You can now read my articles on MSN Microsoft Start FIND and FOLLOW We Said Go Travel on GOOGLE NEWS! THANK YOU for watching my podcast! It has now been seen and heard in 36 countries on 6 continents!

USA India Canada Ireland Puerto Rico UK Italy Australia Philippines Singapore New Zealand Portugal Switzerland Hong Kong Mexico Japan Fiji Seychelles France Latvia Netherlands Kenya UAE Cambodia Guatemala Germany Uruguay Bangladesh Spain Panama Thailand Uganda Greece South Africa Costa Rica Bosnia and Herzegovina

New Season 3 PODCAST episodes:

Jews in Africa: the Abayudaya in Uganda  and Beta Israel in Ethiopia 

Ageless Ambition: Inspirational Leadership of Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman

Empowering Humanity with The Good Road Hosts Craig and Earl

Heroes of the Holocaust: A Small Light

READ THE TRANSCRIPTS FROM MY PODCASTS: CLICK HERESOCIAL LINKS AND ARTICLES FROM MY PODCASTS: CLICK HEREWATCH my podcast, “MAKE YOUR OWN MAP: Are YOU ready to be BRAVE?” on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Podcast,  Google Podcasts, Audible, Anchor, Pandora & iHeart Radio

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Enjoy these videos from summer networking in Los Angeles with University of PennsylvaniaWHERE CAN YOU FIND MY TRAVEL VIDEOS?

Here is the link to my video channel on YouTube where I have NEARLY TWO MILLION views on YouTube! (now at: 1,945,000 views)

Thank you for your support! Are you one of my 4,040 subscribers? I hope you will join me and subscribe! For more We Said Go Travel articles, TV segments, videos and social media: CLICK HERE

Find me on social media with over 150,000 followers. Please follow  on TikTok: @LisaNiver, Twitter at @LisaNiver, Instagram @LisaNiver and on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and at LisaNiver.com.

My Podcast: “Make Your Own Map!”

Fortune Cookie SAID:

“Within the pages of a book, worlds unfold and dreams take flight.”

“May your book be a doorway to wonder and a passport to the extraordinary..”

BRAVE-ish, One Break-up, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty My book is available for pre-order !!

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Chemin a La Mer Serves New Orleans Culinary Classics with a Modern Twist

Velvety and decadent, the baked feta appetizer is served alongside crusty sourdough.BY ROBIN CATALANO

New Orleans has no shortage of high-end, celebrity chef–helmed restaurants. Some never quite live up to the hype, while others become instant classics. Chemin à la Mer, the latest from local culinary hero Donald Link, is one of the latter.

While on a press trip in February, I was invited to dinner at the restaurant, which opened in December 2021. Located on the fifth floor of the new, 34-story Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, Chemin à La Mer has the ambience of a luxe tropical club. From the glossy wood floors to the mixture of sculptural leather chairs and woven seating, the vintage-look flush-mount fixtures, and the curving marble bar, it’s both thoroughly modern and of another period. The profusion of live greenery and original wildlife art of Southern painter John Alexander gives the dining room a breezy elegance. But the best design feature is the wall of windows along the far side of the room, which gives every table in the house a view of the Mississippi River. Weather permitting, there’s also outdoor dining on a wraparound terrace.

Craft cocktails like the Tugboat pack a punch at Chemin a la Mer.

Over a two-decade-plus career, Link has become one of the Big Easy’s dining impresarios. Besides Herbsaint, his original and James Beard Award–winning eatery, his empire now includes Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Pêche, La Boulangerie, and Gianna, which opened in 2019. Chemin à la Mer is the first venture for Link outside of Link Restaurant Group, and his first hotel eatery. Here he again calls on the Cajun and Southern influences of his childhood, crafting a menu that features signature Louisiana ingredients and flavors prepared with the precision of classical French technique.

Given Link’s ability to transform steak into the stuff of foodie fantasy (I’m told the côte de boeuf, which serves two and is carved tableside, is especially decadent), it’s not surprising that there are lots of meat options on the menu. The kitchen crew has also included several takes on New Orleans favorites, such as gumbo, thickened with slow-roasted okra instead of the usual roux, and swimming with colossal jumbo shrimp.

Velvety and decadent, the baked feta appetizer is served alongside crusty sourdough.

When you give your restaurant a French moniker meaning “Pathway to the sea,” you’d better be ready to deliver. The oyster bar features Gulf Coast varieties, as well as selections from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Meanwhile, the pan-roasted Ōra King salmon, served alongside Beluga lentils and piled with fresh herbs, has already been the subject of more than one fawning article.

I’m a vegetarian who occasionally leans pescatarian, and I’ve never quite developed the taste for oysters—they’ve always been a bit too gelatinous for my palate. The oyster plate, featuring four different types from around North America, blew my expectations out of the proverbial water. My top pick: New Brunswick, delicate and mildly briny, with a hint of fruitiness.

I moved on to the gulf fish and shrimp ceviche, with hearty chunks of fish so fresh, it might as well have still been flapping around on the bottom of a boat. It was generously spiced with chile peppers, and rendered refreshing with a marinade of lime, cucumber, red onion, and mint.

It was challenging to make a decision appetizers. I ended up going with the flavorful seafood ceviche.

For my entrée, I went plant-based with the grit cake, a thick fried disk of the Southern staple. Deliciously creamy and cheesy, it was fantastic on its own. When combined with sauteed wild mushrooms and rapini in a tangy sherry vinaigrette, the dish was so flavorful and filling that I put down my fork in surrender. No kidding. I actually turned down dessert.

Chemin a la Mer’s grits cake is a creamy delight, especially when paired with earthy mushrooms and tangy greens.

Covetous, I watched as my companions topped off their meal with chocolate mousse bombs, while I nursed the rest of my cocktail—the Tug Boat, smoky mezcal blended with Rhum Agricole, Creole shrub, bitters, orgeat, lime, and coconut—and cursed myself for eating too much at lunch. If I have the chance for a do-over at Chemin à la Mer, I’ll make sure I save plenty of room for a sweet finish.

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How to be BRAVE-ish on Hotter Than Ever

Thank you Erin Keating and Hotter Than Ever! I loved coming on your show.

Despite traveling to 102 countries and scuba-diving with shark countless times, writer and travel expert Lisa Niver wouldn’t call herself “brave”. She prefers “brave-ish”. As Lisa explains in her memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, cultivating bravery is like planting seeds—it takes patience and practice to see it grow. Years later, the fruits of those seeds have led Lisa on an incredible journey of self-discovery, adventure, and transformation.

In this captivating episode, Lisa reminds us that it’s never too late to live our own “Brave-ish” life, explore the world, and create the life we dream of.

In addition, Erin and Lisa discuss:

Lisa’s transformation and liberation after getting divorced at 47.

Her pursuit of 50 new adventures before turning 50 and the lessons she learned along the way

The significance of self-care, rest, and reflection in achieving personal growth

Redefining bravery as a muscle that grows through practice and facing fears

The power of embracing change, stepping out of our comfort zones, and taking  challenges head-on

The importance of honest self-assessment, finding balance between adventure and community

Crafting a unique, unconventional life path

HOST: ERIN KENTING

Why are we so scared of change? The second half of your life can be happier, sexier and more fulfilled, but you may need to blow some stuff up. To find out how, we’re bringing you interviews and frank, irreverent, inexpert advice on everything from career and aging to sex and body image in what used to be called “middle age.” Laugh, get honest, break the rules and stop caring what other people think. Join us, and we can be hot together!

OUR GUEST: Lisa Niver, an award-winning travel expert, has explored 102 countries on six continents. A University of Pennsylvania graduate, she spent seven years sailing with cruise lines like Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean, and three years backpacking across Asia. Her articles appear in esteemed publications like AARP and WIRED, and she hosts the podcast Make Your Own Map, featuring interviews with figures like Deepak Chopra and Olympic medalists. With multiple journalism awards and finalist recognition, Niver is also a #3 travel influencer in 2023. She shares her insights on KTLA TV, YouTube (2 million views), and in her memoir “Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.”

Cultivating bravery, one seed at a time

Embracing change and facing fears head-on

Crafting a unique, unconventional life path

Want more Lisa?

Find her online at http://wesaidgotravel.com/  and follow her on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaniver  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisaniver 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.niver 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaniver 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LisaNiver 

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wesaidgotravel/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaellenniver/

You can find her book at: https://lisaniver.com/braveish/

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@hotterthaneverpod How to Be Brave-ish with Travel Expert Lisa Niver 102 countries, countless scuba-dives, and a life that's "Brave-ish" – Lisa Niver's adventures will spark your wanderlust. Join us for an episode that's all about: Cultivating bravery, one seed at a time Embracing change and facing fears head-on Crafting a unique, unconventional life path Tune in now via the link in bio or find us on your favorite podcast platform. #hotterthaneverpod #careeradvice #newpodcast #womenover40 #inspiration #reinventyourself #datingover40 #marriageadvice #adversity #therapy #therapyjourney #midlife #liveyourbestlife #midlifeawakening #braveishlife #inspirationunleashed #embracechange #wanderlust ♬ original sound – hotterthaneverpod

@hotterthaneverpod Ready to Ignite Your "Brave-ish" Journey? Missed out on our captivating podcast episode with @LisaNiver ? Don't worry, it's not too late to dive into her story of self-discovery, transformation, and fearless exploration. From embracing change to redefining bravery, Lisa's insights are a roadmap for crafting a unique and unconventional life path. If you're seeking inspiration to step out of your comfort zone and pursue your dreams, this episode is a must-listen! Click the link in our bio or find us wherever you get your podcasts to catch up on all the empowering wisdom Lisa shares. Tune in now and let her journey inspire your own! #hotterthaneverpod #careeradvice #newpodcast #womenover40 #inspiration #reinventyourself #datingover40 #marriageadvice #adversity #therapy #therapyjourney #midlife #liveyourbestlife #midlifeawakening #braveishjourney #inspirationunleashed #embracechange #wanderlust #selfdiscovery #embracechange #inspirationunleashed #createyourdreamlife ♬ original sound – hotterthaneverpod

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Heroes of the Holocaust: A Small Light

Thank you Tony Phelan and Joan Rater for creating the moving and mesmerizing limited series, A Small Light about Miep Gies, who hid the Frank family from the Nazis during the Holocaust in Amsterdam. I met them at a Jewish Federation Los Angeles screening at UTA and at Stephen Wise Temple. Joan Rater told the audience, “People make choices and choices make history.” Miep Gies believed she was just an ordinary person who made a choice that anyone would make but we know that is not true. Would we choose to help? As Miep would say, “We can all turn on a small light in a dark room.”

A Small Light Screening by Jewish Federation LA at UTA

Listen or watch our interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform

READ THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW

Lisa Niver:

Good afternoon, this is Lisa Niver. I’m the founder of We Said Go Travel, and the author of Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless after 50. And I am beyond excited and honored to have the most incredible producer joining me today. Tony, thank you so much for being here.

Tony Phelan:

I’m happy to be here.

Lisa Niver:

I loved meeting you at the Federation event at UTA about your current project, A Small Light. I know it’s available for people to see now, and we are definitely going to talk about this show, which I think everybody should watch. I think they should have it in classrooms. I used to teach at Steven Wise Tempe, I taught in Culver City Middle School. Everybody needs to see your show, but before we get there–You have a long, very prominent, incredible career with movies and television, so can you give people a little bit of background? Who are you?

Tony Phelan:

Well, I am a writer, director, showrunner and my wife, Joan, and I write as a team. We have been on such shows as Grey’s Anatomy, Madam Secretary. We just created a show for CBS this past year called Fire Country.

Lisa Niver:

The top rated new show of last season.

Tony Phelan:

We’re very excited about that. We came to A Small Light having pretty much spent our entire career in television on network. A Small Light, which tells the story of Meap Gies, who was Otto Frank’s secretary and was instrumental in hiding the Franks as well as the other people in the secret annex. What Joan and I discovered through our research was that while she and her husband Jan were hiding the Franks, they were also hiding up to 12 other people in and around Amsterdam. And so this to us, felt like a wonderful opportunity to tell the story of the helpers of people who in Amsterdam during World War II, helped to hide Jews. And tell the story of people who, when faced with bigotry and antisemitism went out, could have chosen to do nothing, but instead chose to go out of their way to help their fellow man. It really felt like an inspirational story and a way to tell the story of Anne Frank from a different perspective. In partnership with Disney+ and Nat Geo, we created an eight episode limited series, which is now available on Disney+ and Hulu and really has some wonderful performances. The intention was to tell a historical story and wipe away the cobwebs and to really tell it in such a way that felt immediate and vital and exciting.

Lisa Niver:

It’s phenomenal. I saw it with an incredible crowd, and my parents saw it the following night at Stephen Wise Temple a big crowd. Everyone I’ve spoken to about it who’s watched it comes away with the same thing that it’s so compelling. For many of us, I grew up with a lot of education about the Holocaust and knowing about the Frank family, but I had no idea, which was one of the things you guys discussed that night, that she was so young and newly married.

Tony Phelan:

She and Otto Frank formed this amazing relationship. When he hired her, she was very young in her early twenties. By the time he asked her to help hide his family, she was newly married. She was just starting out in life, but was a bit of a hot mess. In a way that I think feels very relatable. She herself was an immigrant. She was born in Vienna. After World War I, there was a program to relocate children who were in the war zone to the Netherlands, which had been neutral during World War I. They had food and all sorts of services that were available to children. There was this strange reverse kinder transport that happened at that time that we discovered.

Meep was adopted by a Dutch family, and found herself wanting to stay in Holland. When she met Mr. Frank, who was an immigrant from Germany, they formed an immediate kinship because they shared a language. Mr. Frank then used Miep and her husband Jan, as what they refer to as their Dutch friends. And so put them in contact with all these other German Jewish emigres because they could help them navigate the social morays and the customs of the Netherlands and help them with the language and other issues. So that when it came time for him to ask for her help in hiding his family, she immediately said yes to the point where he said, no, no, no. Take a moment. Think about it. You could be arrested or killed if you were found hiding Jews.

She said, I don’t need to think about it. Anyone would do it. Well, we know that not anyone would do it, because not everyone did, but she did. Our research in the show was really about why was she so open to helping others. We think part of it was the fact that she was an immigrant herself. Part of it was what she later said in life, after the success of Ann’s diary, was that you don’t have to be special in order to help other people. Small acts of kindness can really do tremendous things. That was a message that we felt the world needed right now. We’re thrilled to bring that and the story of Miep and how she was the person who scooped up Anne’s diary after everyone was arrested in the annex and kept it in a locked drawer for Anne when she came back.

When they found out that Anne and Margot were not coming back from Bergen Belson, she gathered up the diary and walked it into Mr. Frank’s office and laid it on his desk and said, this is the legacy of your daughter. And then together, they made sure that the diary found as many readers as possible. After the war, Otto chose to live with Miep for seven years until he remarried, which is pretty remarkable that this boss and employee could eventually move into being really family.

Tony Phelan and Lisa Niver recording our interview

Lisa Niver:

That’s a lot of what you feel in the episodes of the show is about chosen family and choices. At the screening you reported that Miep always said– anyone would’ve done it. But we know, looking at the issues with bystanders, allys and upstanders, that she was an original upstander. When called into action, she was committed. I thought the contrast in some of the scenes where the friend is having the party and she’s wearing the fancy dress and skating and the opulence versus these people hiding. You really see how it was so tenuous for Anne every day, wondering if she could get food? Did they have the ration books? What was going to happen next?

Tony Phelan:

Not only that, but how do you live with the fact that you get to go outside? If you chose to, your life was not that different. As the Nazis were systematically ridding Amsterdam and the Netherlands of Jews, if you chose to collaborate or just turn away, your life was relatively unaffected. People ask us did we take some dramatic liberties with the story. We tried to stick to the historical record as much as we could.

But in the example of the friend that you bring up, that was an invented character, because we wanted to show that people who did not make the same choice she did. And how the fact that Meep was hiding this from her family, from her friends, caused huge rifts in her life. Even she and Jan, her husband, had to keep things hidden from each other. That put tension on their new marriage.

Lisa Niver:

All of your shows from Grey’s Anatomy to Fire Country have dramatic tension about real relationships. The smallest details to the largest details of what would you do create compelling shows with so much for people to think about. When there’s an accident in the street who calls 9 1 1? That’s a very small participation that I’ve been involved in different accidents. I worked on a cruise ship for seven years. I was a very highly trained first responder. So if there’s an accident, I’m going to call 9 1 1. I don’t think about it, but not everybody thinks I need to do something. And Miep really stepped up.

Tony Phelan:

These people were her friends. One of the amazing things about Amsterdam is how much of a kind society it was. From the 1600s, Amsterdam had been a haven for Jews across Europe. Not only Jews, but also LGBTQ people. Real people in Amsterdam could not wrap their heads around the fact that this was happening to them and their society. One of the things that we weren’t able to tell, but I thought was really interesting was after the Nazis invaded and took over the country, the Dutch were the only occupied people to launch a general strike against the Nazis. They basically said, you’re doing this to our Jewish friends and neighbors. We are gonna shut everything down and just not participate.

The Nazis couldn’t believe that this was happening. They expected the Dutch to welcome them with open arms being fellow arians. And they brutally put this general strike down to the point of leading the leaders of the general strike out into the street and just shooting them, which stopped the general strike. But that spirit was always there. When the Nazis first imposed Jews having to wear yellow stars, there were Dutch citizens who started to wear little orange flowers or little crosses to depict that they were Christians in defiance of the Nazis. If you’re going to label the the Jews as Jews, we are going to label ourselves as well. These little acts of defiance were pretty remarkable for the time. But yes, Miep did these acts of resistance, and at the same time, not knowing how many other people were doing them since everybody had to be very secretive about what they were doing.

Lisa Niver:

At the Federation event, you and your wife spoke about how this story chose you, that you were with your family in Amsterdam.

Tony Phelan:

We were with our family in Amsterdam. There’s a wonderful documentary about Miep called Anne Frank remembered that came out in the nineties, won the Academy Award for best documentary. That was the first time we ever saw her. And she was well into her nineties and was talking about Anne and finding the diary and her relationship to Anne. Then we took our kids to Amsterdam about seven years ago. While we were there, we were going through the Anne Frank Museum and reading the signs, and we were reading a sign about Miep. Our son had just graduated from Columbia, very smart, but hapless. He was just starting out in life and he was figuring out things. We read about Miep’s age when she first started working for Otto.

Tony Phelan:

And we thought, she’s just this young woman who does not know how anything works. And all of a sudden she has all these lives in her hands. So the act of figuring things out is the story. She and Jan were not super spies. They didn’t know what they were doing. They had to cobble it together as they went. And then, we left the museum, rented bikes, and we rode the route from the hidden annex to the Frank’s apartment about 45 minutes. We got there and we saw the Frank’s apartment building, and then we were going to get ice cream. We turned around and we saw there’s a park across the street from the Frank’s apartment, and we saw these 10 year old girls doing cartwheels. And we had this revelation of that’s Anne.

Anne was just a 10 year old girl doing cartwheels when history overtook her. The desire to make these people human and relatable became our stated goal. Many times when I watch historical dramas, the language and the way that they’re shot, there’s a real barrier between the viewer and the people. They speak in a different way. They wear different clothes. We wanted to clear all that out and have them speak in a more contemporary way and shoot it in a more realistic, grounded way so that barrier wasn’t there, so that the audience could really immediately relate to these people, and put themselves in the shoes of the characters and say, what would I do?

Lisa Niver:

There’s a interesting parallel that this story found you through your family, and you are a successful creator working with your spouse. How did you and your spouse find each other and find your way into being writing partners?

Tony Phelan:

We first met in 1988 in New York. I was a young theater director, and Joan was an actress. We met through mutual friends. Joan was always complaining about the fact that she hated auditioning. She wasn’t having much success. We would go to parties together. I would watch her tell these incredibly humiliating stories about her dating life before me. I finally said to her, that’s a show –you telling these humiliating stories is a show. Don’t wait for somebody to give you a job. We can create a job for you. We started writing together, and we went into rehearsal space with a tape recorder and recorded her telling these stories and then transcribing them. And then that was a script. Gradually over time, she started doing these shows and found a lot of success doing them.

We toured them around the country, and she had regular sit downs at various theaters and, and got a following for doing these. Over time we got some grants to write. I got a grant through the Williamstown Theater Festival to first write a play, and then do it. Once again, I had no idea how to write a play, but what I would do is I would find people on the street and say, can I have 10 minutes? We’d sit down and I’d press play on the recorder, and then I’d tell the story of the show. In telling the story over and over again, I found that I started deepening the characters and discovering connections between them. We all have that capacity. We’re all storytellers, but many of us have fear of actually taking a pen putting it to paper.

In telling, I got over that fear, and we started doing these adaptations of novellas. That’s how we started. And by the early two thousands, we were playwright /director/actors in New York. And were pulled out to California because we did a reading of a play that we’d done off Broadway that had had some success. And at this reading in LA nobody came except a few of our friends. It was very disappointing. After this woman walked up to us, at intermission of the reading and said, have you ever thought about writing TV because the dialogue in your play is really great. And we had not ever think of that. And she said– just stay an extra day, meet my boss and see if it’s something you’re interested in.

We’ve been banging our heads in New York for 12 years and met some success, but not as much as we’d like, so we thougth why don’t we try this? We moved out here with a three-year-old and once we got out here, met with a lot of open doors and a lot of encouragement. That’s how we did it. Those 12 years in New York were really instrumental in teaching us how to rewrite ourselves, how to work with actors, how to be open. Since TV is such a collaborative art form it is perfect for us. We’ve been very lucky. We’re at a point in our career now where we can really determine what kinds of shows we want to do. When we were first talking about Fire Country, the thing that drew us to that show was the fact that in California there’s a program for prison inmates to work on fire crews, and by doing that, they work time off their sentence. That felt like a great way to tell a family story about redemption and essentially retell the story of the prodigal son.

Lisa Niver:

All of your stories are focused on what we spoke about the night when I met you was about educating to activate and how does content shape culture. I definitely feel that as a theme in A Small Light and Fire Country and some of the themes in the early Grey’s Anatomy that you were part of. Another thing that’s really resonates for me is that you spoke about with Meip that after all that she did, that she still felt like a failure.

Tony Phelan:

In her mind, the people who she was in charge of were arrested, and only one of them survived. Despite her best efforts, despite her walking into Gestapo headquarters to try and bribe them free. She really genuinely resisted people calling her a hero because she just felt like she did what anybody would do. The thing that made her unique was she famously said that if she hadn’t done what she did, she didn’t think she would be able to live with herself. Something that we can all adopt, especially now that we live in such a divided country and a divided world, and especially now that we see the rise of antisemitism again. When I was growing up myself and many of the people that I was growing up with thought that anti-semitism was something that happened only in the past.

Anti-semitism is on the rise again, and it’s being weaponized by people to take power and frighten people. We have to be vigilant and we have to educate and we have to reach people at a young age. One of the things that I’m most excited about is the fact that A Small Light is on Disney+, which means that it has a worldwide reach and that it has a reach to young people who can access it, even if they might be in a community or even in a family where the ideas and aspirations of A Small Light might not necessarily be in vogue.

They can have access to it. I think that’s exciting. The other thing that we talked about the other night was when you and I were growing up, I was surrounded by Holocaust survivors. I had the opportunity to meet them, talk to them, hear their stories, and know when you would see people’s grandparents or parents who had tattoos know what that meant. That living testament was right there in front of you. And unfortunately, now that generation is leaving us. It’s incumbent upon us to figure out how do I keep the story alive? How do I reach that next generation who isn’t going to be able to speak to those people one-on-one? In its own little way, A Small Light can reach that generation and bring these stories to people in a way that they find accessible and they find terrifying. But relatable.

Lisa Niver:

I agree that it is at times terrifying, but incredibly relatable. Those small moments where it becomes clear that people knew what was going on–when he shows up with extra potatoes and the special strawberries. It’s clear that people knew and they wanted to participate in their way. They might not have been able to take the leap that Miep did instinctively.

Before we close, I am asking all my guests related to my book about feeling brave and taking challenges. Obviously we know that you and your wife have had this incredible experience with this story that chose you. But is there something additionally that you’re most proud of or something where you’re still reaching for a brave choice or a challenge, a story that you really want to bring to the world next, or something personal?

Tony Phelan:

The challenge is that you find a story like Miep’s that is so compelling. And it sets a high bar. We are talking about a couple projects that we find exciting. The story of Meep and Jan and the Dutch resistance is a once in a lifetime kind of thing. But we will certainly continue to tell stories that celebrate the human spirit and celebrate people in very real situations, having to make difficult, gray moral choices. Because it’s very easy to make a black and white choice. To make choices that go on day after day that take a toll and that are gray is much more challenging. And that’s certainly what I aspire to both in my work and in my family too.

Lisa Niver:

I, myself, and I know a lot of other people, really appreciate that you’ve brought into our homes, Grey’s Anatomy, Fire Country, and now this incredible, A Small Light. I loved what it said about Miep that we make choices every day and we can choose to do something good. And I love the quote that the title comes from Miep, that anybody can turn a light on, a small light on in a dark room. I really do think that’s what you’ve done with showing people what was it like day to day there during the Holocaust, during the war, and that people can make a choice to really help someone else in the community.

Tony Phelan:

That is Miep’s lesson — you don’t have to be special and even a secretary or a teenager, I mean, Anne always knew she was going to be a writer, but had no idea the impact that her diary would have, and she did it because she loved writing.

Thank you, Lisa for having me on the show. I hope your audience will check out A Small Light because it’s a show that we’re very proud of.

Lisa Niver:

Everyone can watch on Disney+, Hulu and NatGeoTV . Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.

Tony and Joan speaking at Stephen Wise Temple

I met Tony Phelan and Joan Rater at The Jewish Federation’s Entertainment, Media & Communications (EMC) Professionals Network and Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy exclusive screening of A Small Light, the inspiring, real-life story of Miep Gies, who played a critical role in hiding Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. Following the screening, there was a conversation with Creators/Executive Producers Tony Phelan & Joan Rater and Executive Producer Peter Traugott.

The Jewish Federation is the central organization of Jewish Los Angeles. We put Jewish values in action to meet our community’s needs and make our voices heard on issues ranging from antisemitism to social services to ensuring a strong Jewish future. We care for our most vulnerable, inspire Jewish journeys, connect with and support the people of Israel and Jews around the world, and actively engage in Los Angeles civic life to build bridges with other communities. We accomplish this by working with our dedicated partners, our generous donors, and our passionate leadership.

LISTEN on APPLE PODCAST: MAKE YOUR OWN MAP Lisa’s book: Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty

Sharon Spira-Cushnir and Lisa Niver at A Small Light screening at UTA

The post Heroes of the Holocaust: A Small Light appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Unlocking Book Promotion Success: Insider Strategies from PR Experts (Part 2)

More Expert Tips from PR Pros: Navigating Book Promotion Part 2

Thank you to the many book promotion professionals who shared tips for aspiring authors with me! In Part One, read about treating your book launch like a campaign with consistent social media and a newsletter.

Lisa Niver and Patricia Schultz speaking at the Travel and Adventure Show

GOALS MATTER

Kathleen Schmidt told me to write down clear goals for my book. Schmidt said, “When I have an initial call with potential clients, I ask them what their goals are. If you are an author, having realistic goals is healthy. Goals like “get on the New York Times bestseller list” or “get my book picked for Reese’s Book Club” are pie-in-the-sky and not easily attainable. Start with small, achievable goals like getting a bylined piece you wrote published, so you gain name recognition.” I agree that setting expectations can really help. When I started my YouTube channel, I was happy with every small win. I celebrated when I reached 100 views and then 1000 views and now I have nearly two million views on my videos! It is important to recognize our accomplishments. I am excited that I have a book and cannot wait for my upcoming launch!

BE A GREAT GUEST

Stand out in today’s noisy world as a guest on a podcast. Liz H Kelly recommends that authors focus on a targeted podcast campaign to reach readers. Kelly told me that “one of the best things is to invest time in a podcast campaign to reach your niche audience. Start at least 3 months in advance of your book launch, search for top podcasts and pitch the hosts with a personalized email. Find podcasts that have a similar audience as your book, and actually listen to an episode before pitching. After an interview is secured, ask the host if they can publish it close to your book launch date, so you have a burst of PR to promote sales.” I love being a guest on podcasts and I even started my own podcast called Make Your Own Map in December 2022. So far people are listening from 36 countries on 6 continents. 

MAKE YOUR OWN MAGIC

Joseph Pastrana practices what he preaches and tells authors to “start contacting organizations, book stores, anything relatable to the subject of your book about an appearance, reading, book signing. I have been hosted by different types of organizations including a menswear shop. It’s always important to go out and try. Once you book an event, you can parlay that to more coverage by reading out to media that cover appearances.” Joseph said, “hire a professional that knows the “who” and “how” and even “when” to reach the appropriate media to help with publicity for the book. 

Laurie Graff agrees that there is nothing like an in-person event to engage a reader with you and your brand. While an author can arrange their own event or signing at a local bookstore or thematically related venue. Graff wants authors to ask themselves, “Who will relentlessly promote the event? Who will take photo-ops of the author with their strategically placed book and send it out to local media? A publicist can elevate the author from writer to expert, to make them a newsworthy interview across all platforms.”

Desiree Duffy, Founder of Black Château, Books That Make You and The BookFest told me that “speaking at events has evolved into an array of opportunities for authors. Virtual events give us a platform as well as real life events. Plus, there are many hybrid options with live events offering livestreaming and recordings to those who can’t attend in person. This means authors have more options than ever before to reach a wider audience. The BookFest, for example, reaches people from all over the world with impressions in the millions. One could never pack that many folks into a room at an in real life conference. Yet, the networking and ability to connect with others in person can never be totally replaced. I recommend authors to do both types of events if possible. And when it comes to speaking, being able to deliver an array of topics and types of talks is valuable. You never know what an event producer might be looking for, so you should be prepared to offer an array of options. Consider homing your speaking skills when it comes to doing readings, speaking on panels, offering workshops or demonstrations, participating in conversations or interviews, and delivering keynote addresses.” In fact, I will be a featured author at The BookFest on Saturday Oct 21! I had reached out to Desiree to learn more about her project and asked to be considered!

I agree with Desiree that “speaking at events helps authors elevate their areas of expertise. It can have a big impact on their business and personal brand. When an author speaks, they are seen not only by readers, but other event producers, media and press, potential collaborators, and even film and TV production companies, directors and producers. One of our first BookFests led to a participating author getting a film deal for his book series. By putting yourself out there, wonderful things can happen.” Now cross your fingers for me about what will happen when I speak at BookFest this year!

If you are still wondering about if you need a professional, Justin Loeber CEO of Mouth Digital + Public Relations explains, “Just like a real estate broker is the go-between the buyer and seller, the publicist brokers media. And if you could call Oprah on a Monday and book an interview on a Tuesday, there would be no industry called PR.”

DO THE WORK

Christine Chitnis’ “number one tip for authors is to plan to invest as much time and effort into the marketing and publicity of their book as they did into writing their book.” I agree with her that “the workload involved with the publicity push often comes as a surprise to authors, as they expect their publisher to do the heavy lifting. However, a successful campaign depends greatly on the author’s efforts and the leveraging of their personal network. A good campaign needs a broad and deep approach.” 

Chitnis recommends “pursuing a multi-prong approach that includes: social media, print, TV, radio and digital press, podcasts, events, brand partnerships, speaking gigs, and more!” If you feel exhausted just hearing that list, she told me, “that’s why you might consider hiring a professional; to help with the planning, organization, communication and outreach necessary to pull off a broad, deep publicity campaign which will not only sell books but also broaden their client’s overall brand awareness. A professional will also have their own network to leverage, and that can only help!”

INVESTIGATE

Invest in your success by spending time online. Andrea McKinnon told me that “one of the benefits of the Internet is the limitless, really infinite, wealth of knowledge and resources. It may take some effort but one can really hone in on websites, outlets, podcasts, writers whose “beat” covers the genre, themes or topic of your book.  Steampunk? Cookbook? Self-help? Poetry? no matter the subject, there is a community writing and talking about it! The vast majority of publications & outlets have information on how to contact them – just follow their rules & suggestions!” 

DO NOT WAIT

Start promoting your book EARLY! Janet Appel explained that many reviewers have a lead time of four to six months especially the trade reviewers like Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and most print magazines.

Appel believes that authors need to be on the social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn as well as the media sharing networks like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube AND the discussion forums like Reddit, Digg and Hive. I am on all of the social and media sharing networks I can think of but Appel was the first one to recommend the discussion forums to me. She recommended using all of your platforms to “amplify the visibility and awareness of a brand, book, individual” as well as working with a seasoned professional to take advantage of all opportunities.

HOW DO I GET SALES?

Every author wants to sell more books. Appel told me that in order to drive book sales, you must target the right audience for your book. “It’s really a combination of book signings, obtaining book reviews, media coverage in magazines and newspapers, TV appearances, radio and podcast interviews, digital outlets, relevant websites, blogs, Amazon reviews, blogger reviews, virtual book tours, a powerful book trailer on the author’s website, social media, consistent speaking engagements to target audiences, live videos on Facebook, blog posts to your website and LinkedIn, SEO ranking (i.e., using keywords that your target audience will likely search for) and making sure that the book can be preordered. These are some of the key factors that will drive book sales!” I am working on many of these and I will keep you posted how that turns out for my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. You can check out my progress and make sure that I update my events page for my book launch! 

READ MY NAVIGATING BOOK PROMOTION SERIES
PART ONE PART TWO PART THREE

The post Unlocking Book Promotion Success: Insider Strategies from PR Experts (Part 2) appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

CANVAS REBEL talks to LISA NIVER about writing

Thank you to Canvas Rebel for interviewing me. Today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Niver. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below. Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Mary Tyler Moore said, “Take risks, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” My book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, launches on Sept 19, 2023. It is about my 50 challenges before I turned 50 after my divorce as I worked to reinvent myself.

Writing a memoir and launching a podcast both come with challenges and uncertainties. I have faced a myriad of obstacles. I have grown both personally and professionally.

Each setback has fueled my determination to improve. I have come to understand that there are no mistakes just opportunities for learning and a chance to practice bravery and push the boundaries of my comfort zone. Through storytelling, I have forged meaningful connections with individuals around the world. My podcast is now reaching people in 33 countries on six continents. My episode with Deepak Chopra was nominated for an award.

As I continue this journey, I am fueled by an unquenchable passion for growth and a desire to make a positive impact. With my book and each podcast episode, I strive to deliver valuable content, inspire others, and spark meaningful conversations. With Mary Tyler Moore’s words resonating in my heart, I continue to take risks, and embrace the journey with courage and enthusiasm.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, I sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Find my articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as my site WeSaidGoTravel.

On my award nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, I have interviewed Deepak Chopra, the Irish Ambassador to the USA, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist have been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For my print and digital stories as well as my television segments, I have been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times.

I was named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, and talk travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, my YouTube channel with nearly 2 million views, and in my memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In the aftermath of the September 11 tragedy, the company I worked for Renaissance Cruises faced a devastating blow as the travel industry plummeted, leading to bankruptcy within a week. It was a time of immense uncertainty. I chose to embark on a new chapter after traveling full time for seven years.

Leaving behind the world of travel, I returned to teaching. I channeled my energy into making a positive impact in the lives of students, instilling knowledge, and fostering a love of physics and chemistry for my 8th grade students at Culver City middle school. They loved my stories from around the world which inspired me to keep writing.

I also taught science at Brawerman Elementary School and Curtis School, where I went to 5th and 6th grade! Over the years, I started to travel more and made another transition to journalism. I am excited for this adventure as an author with my book in bookstores! I hope to see many of your readers at my upcoming events.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

To grow in my writing career, I went to conferences and workshops, which has been an absolute game-changer in my journey.

I started to attend workshops with David Hochman at UPOD Academy. I have also worked with him one on one which was immensely helpful in my book process. The Facebook group he runs has really helped me with finding the right editors and selling stories.

A friend recommended that I join the Los Angeles Press Club and I have made so many connections and gone to incredible events.

Taking classes has been like a launching pad for my knowledge and skills. Each course I took has empowered me with valuable insights, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of my field.

By actively engaging in networking activities, attending industry events, and connecting with professionals in my field, I’ve built an amazing web of contacts. These connections have opened doors to my book being published in September! I highly recommend getting involved in these groups which have really made a difference for me.

Contact Info:

Website: https://lisaniver.com/braveish/ and https://www.wesaidgotravel.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisaniver/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.niver/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaellenniver/Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaniverYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@LisaNiverPODCAST: Make Your Own Map: https://lisaniver.com/makeyourownmap/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wesaidgotravel/_saved/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisaniverMORE: https://bit.ly/m/lisaniverTHANK YOU TO CANVAS REBEL for interviewing me!

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BRAVE-ish on GOOD DAY DC

Thank you FOX5 Good Day DC! I loved the opportunity to talk to Marissa Mitchell about my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, on your show. Good Day DC: CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO FROM FOX5

Feeling fearless, the author of BRAVE-ish joins us live with new challenges to tackle and tips for that Bucket List birthday project.

Marissa Mitchell:

Our next guest is a testament to live life to the fullest. Her story could actually inspire you to cross off those bucket list adventures. We all have them and you can get on yours today. Joining me right now is award-winning travel host Lisa Niver. She’s also the author of the upcoming book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After 50. Hey, welcome Lisa to the show.

Lisa Niver:

Thank you so much for having me. I’m so honored to be here.

Marissa Mitchell:

Your book is a gem. I’m so happy to encourage our viewers to dive in. Before we get into some of the specific parts of it, why did you decide to embark on this 50 things before 50 Journey?

My 50th challenge

Lisa Niver:

That’s such a good question. First of all, again, I’m so honored to be here and it really makes me so happy to hear that you enjoyed my book. Thank you. So what happened was I was traveling with my was-band but then he was my husband. I came home back to America and I’d always had some problems with my eyes. So as part of my divorce process, I was fixing this issue with my eyes and I always thought I was clumsy. It turns out I’m not clumsy. I had a problem. As part of that, my amazing doctor, Dr. Alan Brodney recommended, now that we’ve got your eyes working, you have to do some challenges. And that led me to try new things and reinvent myself through the 50 challenges.

Marissa Mitchell:

I know one thing you talk about is your fear of water, right? but you did so many things, water related, including underwater dancing! So how did you kind of get rid of that phobia at the same time?

Video from Carnival Breeze Waterslide one of my 50 before 50 Challenges!

Lisa Niver:

On the video, this is me on the water slide on a Carnival cruise. I did have a near-drowning as a child and I was afraid of the water. One of the ways I felt better was I took these really tiny baby steps and one of the baby steps was that in college, my roommate taught me — re-taught me to swim. And now you can see in the video, this is me scuba diving underwater. And like you mentioned dancing, andhaving such a good time underwater. The thing that I think repeatedly in my adventures has been, if you never take that first tiny step, you never get to the bigger step. You’re never going to scuba dive with bull sharks if you didn’t feel more comfortable swimming in the water. We forget sometimes that you have to take those little steps first, even if it feels like nothing. When a friend says, can you meet me for coffee? And you decide, yes, I’m actually going to go that you’ve gotten outside your house.

Marissa Mitchell:

Absolutely.

Dancing underwater at Beaches Turks and Caicos

Lisa Niver:

And then you can get to the next step. I started hula hooping for exercise and I’ve been traveling with my hoop and my friends were filming me. I filmed in Kenya, I filmed in Mexico, and then one day I filmed hula hooping while flying a kite. This video has more of my adventures in Indonesia. I was a teacher first and I love to meet children around the world.

YES! I hula hooped while flying a kite in Loreto, Mexico

Marissa Mitchell:

Absolutely. I love teachers. I have a family full of teachers. I also love too that you are a cruiser. Viewers by now know that I love a good cruise. I know you mentioned that at length as well, but you talk about getting over the fear and doing it anyway. I love the line where you say, after the divorce and everything, you go completely and utterly disoriented. “I knew I had to get on the plane, but part of me still did not even know why.” It’s okay to not know.

Lisa Niver:

That’s true.

Marissa Mitchell:

You still have to put one foot forward and keep moving. And along with the book, I know that you share about that on your podcast. Talk about that as well.

Lisa Niver:

It has been so exciting to have a podcast. I recently got to interview the ambassador from Ireland, and she was the Irish ambassador to the Security Council. It’s just incredible to learn from people. I was able to speak with Deepak Chopra and he was so interesting and kind. I had interviewed his daughter, and so I introduced Deepak Chopra as Malika’s dad.

Marissa Mitchell:

Oh, . I love that. I’ve interviewed him too. You can just feel it. You have to be a good interviewer to sit down with him. I know you’ve been invited to cover the Oscars and the United Nations. So many things came out of that list, right? You didn’t envision all of that for yourself?

Lisa Niver:

Not only did I not envision it, I quit about 1 million times during this project. I was not finishing the list, I was not finishing the book. I was always quitting. And it’s okay to take a break and start again.

Marissa Mitchell:

At any age. Well, thank you so much, Lisa. I wish we had more time. This was a lot of fun. Her book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty isavailable for pre-order.

Lisa Niver:

Yes my book is available everywhere books are sold. Walmart, Amazon, Target, Bookshop. You can find my book all over the internet!

Marissa Mitchell:

Thank you so much. I would say you’re brave. I know you put the ish on there, but you’re very brave and courageous. Thank you for joining us.

Lisa Niver:

Thank you for having me on your show.

Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty Lisa Niver and Marissa Mitchell on FOX5 Good Day DC

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