I got a client on Fox5 Good Morning Atlanta this week.

She was interviewed about her father’s experience as a WWII POW — and how that story inspired her to write her debut novel, WAR BONDS.

And I’ve gotta say: I’m really, really proud of this one.

Why it matters.

• The book is really good. I can't market products that I, personally, can't get behind.
• This is going to propel the rest of our work together. Every pitch to a new contact just got easier.
• This is a client milestone for Hot Olive. Now, we have the receipts we can do both social media / content AND traditional media placements. This win validates the kind of work we do. How content actually leads to credibility.

How we got here:

Pam wrote and published her first book. As an old friend, I bought it to support her and was completely captivated by it.

Nearly 10 months post-launch, she reached out and hired Hot Olive as her publicist.

Her publisher had handled some light Amazon ads and newsletter placements, but it didn’t create the momentum she hoped for.

Meanwhile, she was running from book club to book fair to get her book in the hands of any readers she could.

It paid off.

She got a prestigious Kirkus Review, an interview with Washington Independent Review of Books, and a 4.65 rating on Goodreads with over 500 reviews.

So here's the truth. I had never done book publicity before.

I was only a consumer in the space — bingeing BookToks, watching YouTube video essays on the Bridgerton series. I felt out of my league.

But, I loved the book and I knew how to tell this story. So we shook hands and got to work.

What we've done so far:

We chose a holistic approach for this project.

• Content framing
• Meta ads
• Influencer campaign
• Organic video
• Press pitching

Last Friday, I was pulling performance reports from our Meta Ads campaign when I got this email.

I’ve been reflecting on what we did right.

What worked

• The timing: We pitched while they were planning content ahead of the anniversary of D-Day and Father’s Day. It was relevant, emotional, and easy to say yes to.
• The punchy subject line: STORY: Daughter turns father's WWII POW past into novel.
• The placement: We got the “yes” not through a personal contact… but by sending 2 emails to the generic tip line (Yes, they do actually read those).

Why we got the invite

We didn't get placed because I sent an email to the right inbox. We made it because we had the right elements...

• We made it newsworthy: We tied it to a meaningful date, human theme, and pitched her local news station.
• We focused on the people: Pam didn’t just tell her dad’s story, she brought his wartime artifacts to the studio. A grown-up show-and-tell moment that made the segment memorable.
• We followed up: Following up might feel like being the kid tugging at mom’s shirt…But if you want to show you believe in what you're doing, you follow up.
• We cast a wide net: We didn’t just pitch TV stations. We pitched museums, podcasts, bookshops, cemeteries—you name it. When one placement lands, it builds momentum that makes the rest easier.
• We looked like pros: No @gmail.com. No "hope you're having a great day!"— we get to the point. Pam is a former CNN anchor, which eased the producers' biggest fear: that a guest might clam up on live TV. She was poised, practiced, and gave them peace when extending the invite.

📺 Watch the segment here. ​

📚 Buy the book on Bookshop or Amazon.

📲 Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads.​

✍️ See Pam's website for more details on the book and the one releasing in 2026!​

🤳Follow Pam on Facebook, Instagram, or Threads.

Next Up for Me

I’m circling back with everyone I pitched before. But this time with a link to the Fox 5 segment.

TV builds notoriety. Social media and content help you do something with it.

I can't wait to see how this reflects in book sales.

Until next time...

P.S. Got a pitch or placement you’re proud of? Hit reply and tell me. I want to celebrate with you.