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For many authors an appearance on the Medical Author Chat podcast is an opportunity to connect with readers, share why they wrote their book, and to, hopefully, sell some copies of their book. Podcast appearances are just one of many opportunities for book promotion.
If you are a medical author or an aspiring author you might want to check out The Ultimate Digital Book Promotion Handbook - The Authors Guide To Finding Places To Promote Your Book Online
In this episode of the Medical Author Chat podcast I talk to Clif Castleman, WEMT, about The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid. We discuss his background as an Eagle Scout, American Red Cross instructor, volunteer EMT, and degree in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Penn State University. Clif is a founder of the Center for Wilderness Safety and also works as a safety ranger with the National Park Service in Virginia.
The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness First Aid is a compact book meant to fit in a first aid kit and be accessible and easy to understand by the reader. The book and the Wilderness First Aid course are used by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, SAR professionals, Sierra Club leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts.
We also discuss Clif’s process for writing the book and his experience publishing with Lulu.com.
Buy the book, take a course, and learn more from any of these links:
WFABook.com
RestockYourKit.com
WildSafe.org – Center for Wilderness Safety
Facebook.com/WFABook
Responding, the second book, from EMT and author Michael Morse is now available at EmergencyStuff.com. There is not a Kindle version available yet but I imagine it will be available soon.
Mr. Morse is the author of the phenomenal book, Rescuing Providence
Listen to a previous episode of the Medical Author Chat about Rescuing Providence.
If you have already read Responding I would welcome a review post for the Medical Author Chat.
Thanks.
A colleague is looking for books about EMS in Latin America. Do you know of any?
My Kindle Fire arrives today!
It has been a couple of quiet months at the Medical Author Chat. I have been busy reading (lots of non-EMS books), writing at (EverydayEMSTips.com) and traveling (Pinnacle EMS, EMS World Expo, and NAEMSE Symposium). Note: most of the links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links.
We’re Not Leaving
I have an interview scheduled with Dr. Benjamin Luft about the book he has compiled/edited called We're Not Leaving
Kindle Fire
I followed yesterday’s news conference about the Kindle Fire and took the plunge this morning and pre-ordered. I don’t currently own a tablet. Are you going to buy the Flame? I don’t normally buy first generation products at their launch so I ordered with a bit of apprehension. I am expecting delivery just before Thanksgiving. If all goes well I will receive it just before hunting season and will be reading and browsing on the Kindle Fire from my tree stand.
Have you read any great books lately?
I use the LinkedIn.com reading list by Amazon to keep a running list of what I am reading and share my quick book reviews. I also like watching other people’s lists to learn about new books. Some of the books I have read in late summer and early fall:
Enchantment
End Malaria
Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain
Read This Before Our Next Meeting
Anything You Want
Thunder Dog
Thanks for your continuing support of the podcast and interest in books!
In this episode of the Medical Author Chat retired firefighter/paramedic Lisa Carney tells us about her novel Cowboy in the City
Lisa began her EMS career in 1992 as an EMT. She continued her education, eventually becoming a firefighter/paramedic, and had a career position that was cut short by an injury. She always thought about writing about her experience, but it wasn’t until her forced retirement that she began her book.
Lisa describes Cowboy in the City as a tribute to EMS that highlights the positives, the quality people, and how EMS changed over the years. She also describes it as a “coming of age” story that EMS professionals anywhere will identify with.
We had a great discussion of how Lisa self-published and has been able to successfully market the book with social media tools like Facebook. She also attributes reviews in JEMS Magazine and EMSWorld.com as being important to her success.
Finally, Lisa has heard from lots of readers that Cowboy in the City is great for helping non-EMS significant others understand the allure and reward of EMS. Share Cowboy in the City with friends and family to help them understand why you are part of EMS.
Show notes:
Cowboy in the City on Facebook
EMS World Q and A with Lisa Carney
Medical Author Chat podcast listeners and blog readers occasionally ask me for advice on how to get their book of EMS stories and memoirs published. Since I have not published a book myself, other than three copies of my masters of science thesis, I can’t suggest a foolproof process. Nonetheless, these are ideas that might work:
1. Ask published authors. At the end of each podcast episode I always ask the author/guest for their advice on becoming a published author. Ask the published authors you know. Read Seth Godin’s blog, books and check out the Domino Project.
2. Grow a tribe. You are not likely to publish a collection of EMS stories for a mass audience. Instead start growing a tribe of friends and followers through blog posts, articles, and podcasts. A tribe that has come to know your writing is more likely to buy your book than a stranger or bookstore browser.
3. Referrals and Recommendations. Ask your tribe to tell their communities about your blog, podcast, and book. Ask readers to write recommendations on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other websites where people buy books.
4. Be accessible. If you are selling books you need to be found. I regularly find books that I would like to interview authors for the Medical Author Chat podcast but I can’t find the author’s email address, web site, blog, or Facebook page. If I can’t find you I can’t help publicize your book.
5. Attract Attention. Do things that will attract attention. In his book, Attention: this book will make you money
Are you trying to publish your own collection of EMS stories?
Last week I was struck by the number of Black Friday ads for ereaders. I was suddenly aware that a piece of tech had become main stream and it was passing me by. My dad is reading books on his iPad and I see more and more travelers reading on Kindles, iPads, and Nooks.
A year ago I was given a used first generation Kindle. Despite my good intentions it spent the next 12 months in a night stand drawer. Finally, yesterday an Everyday EMS Tips reader recommended I read EMS: the Job of Your Life
I am a bit of a tech junkie so I feel like I should have written this post in 2008. These are my first three impressions reading on the Kindle:
1. It is lighter and easier to hold than I expected. I have comfortably held it while sitting, standing, and supine.
2. Quick and easy download. The most time consuming part was finding the book I wanted. Then I did the 1-click purchase and a minute later the book arrived on my Kindle.
3. Automatic low power state. After some period of inactivity the Kindle goes into a sleep/low power mode. The boot-up is quick which is great because I do a lot of reading in spurts – while I brush my teeth, cook dinner, or wait for the dog to come inside.
Are you using an ereader? Which one? Has it changed how you read?
