Interview with National Book Publicist Charlie Barrett

Joining us today is national book publicist Charlie Barrett. We’ll talk to him today about The Barrett Company, what they have to offer, and what he sees in the company’s future.



Welcome to The Book Connection, Charlie. It is an honor to have you with us. Can you start by giving our readers a brief history of your work in media relations and marketing?

Charlie: Before I became a publicist I was a print journalist working in New York and later Los Angeles for The Hollywood Reporter. I have been a publicist in Hollywood and New York for some 25-plus years, working in books, movies and television. My firm, The Barrett Company opened a book division some 12 years ago with author and Hollywood producer Marty Jurow (he produced "Breakfast at Tiffany's") and his book "Seein' Stars: A Show Biz Odyssey" from Southern Methodist University Press. Aside from books, we also handle TV shows, most recently CBS' "The Amazing Race" and movies too with MGM, Paramount and Universal. Before opening my firm I served with the NBC TV network, first as manager of information for NBC News and later Johnny Carson’s and Ed McMahon's publicist on "The Tonight Show," which led me to open The Barrett Company in 1992. Not many know that Ed McMahon was also a very successful author, penning four best seller books, including "Laughing Out Loud."

What made you decide to strike out on your own?

Charlie: After Johnny and Ed exited NBC I was already repping Ed as his publicist and decided right then to open my own firm...it was September 1992. Ed was my first client with his show “Star Search" and also TV producer Larry O'Daly who created the seminal TV comedian's show “An Evening at the Improv" that ran for years on the A & E network.

The Barrett Company serves a diverse client base. How are you able to meet the needs of each client?

Charlie: We emphasize close and personal attention for each of our clients in books, TV and films and we are available to hear from them almost 24 hours a day with e-mail, texting and phone. Each of us here are specialists in our fields...mine is books, TV and some movies now. We hold daily meetings on the phone with our clients and look for every marketing op we can see day-to-day. To really do a good job at this, one has to really be a media junkie. Each client has a unique story to tell and the key is knowing the media so well you know where to take it to get maximum coverage and attention.

Is there something special you look for to help you decide if you can form a solid relationship with a client?

Charlie: Yes. We are contacted daily by many potential author clients either via e-mail or by phone. I prefer a phone call from a potential client and not e-mail to start out. We look first to see if the potential client is honest and trustworthy and if they are for "real," because some callers have posed as authors and really they are just looking for free advice on PR, or they are unsolicited phone marketers. We do not reply to blind e-mail requests for proposals...never, never. However, once we feel a new potential client is worth our time and we are interested, we always offer a free consultation to get started and answer their questions as best we can. We also require seeing a copy of their book or final galleys before going further. The Internet can be a tricky landscape and even publicists need to be on their toes for fakes. I think we look mostly for credibility and trust in our clients.

How has your company changed over the last decade?

Charlie: Well, mostly we have been expanding our services for self-published and trade published writers as well as serving some small press companies too. We are very interested in where electronic publishing is going as well and what vistas EP will be opening for authors. The Internet plays a huge role today in a publicist’s life since so much is done with the media and clients via e-mail, online social blogging, Twitter and Face Book. This has made a huge change in our operations since 1992, which previously was built around word processors and fax machines. It is an exciting time to see a new model emerging in publishing and so much change.

What is it that makes your company stand out from the rest?

Charlie: The single thing I find that most makes us stand out may be that we are based in the nation's creative center...Hollywood. Many authors can be attracted to that since they have ambitions to create screenplays from their works and also want us to place their books with celebrities and select producers we know or perhaps a studio head or network program executive. I personally am among very few book publicists out there that have strong credentials as a former print journalist from the AP to The Hollywood Reporter and that counts for a lot too, I think. We also have a great track record with the major book reviewers and USA TODAY along with CNN, and the “Today" show.

What does the future look like for The Barrett Company?

Charlie: We want to get more into the growth of electronic publishing with our authors. While stand alone books, in real time, will probably always be with us, there is a new model coming and Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others that are at the forefront of a new dawn in the industry. Traditional publishers are developing new pathways to sell their books as many book stores are closing, especially independent ones here in Los Angeles.

Where can we find you online?

Charlie: Our web site is http://www.thebarrettco.com/ and a new more specialized book web site is coming in the near future from us via http://www.hollywoodbookpublicity.com/. Our e-mail contacts are info@thebarrettco.com and barcopr@earthlink.net. We can be reached in Hollywood at 310-471-5764.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Charlie: Yes. Before an author decides to write their first book he or she should do some basic research on the publishing industry and understand where their position is within its vast structure. Many authors are not aware that as many as 3,000 or more books are published each day in the United States and that number is growing. Most books published are from self-published authors too. If they do self-publish, they need to do some homework on selecting who they want to work with, which is crucial for costs and service. Lately I have found many self-published authors very happy with CreateSpace to publish their SP books.

WE'RE HAVING A FACEBOOK PARTY!

Full details at http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=494281102448!

The Story of an Angel and the King of Pop

What a shocking and sad day America experienced yesterday. Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer and the King of Pop died suddenly and mysteriously from a suspected cardiac arrest.

While we typically stick to books here, the passing of such legends, along with the recent passing of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show sidekick Ed McMahon, cannot go unacknowledged.


While I was a bit young to watch the Tonight Show, everyone knew about Johnny Carson and the famous "H-e-r-r-r-r-r-e's Johnny!" line that McMahon delivered each night. McMahon had his own turn in the spotlight when he hosted Star Search in the 1980's, many years before American Idol and America's Got Talent made their way on the scene.

In the last few years of his life, McMahon had been plagued by health issues and financial woes, but I'm sure America will always remember the wonderful second fiddle who delivered his serious lines and still got laughs.




Farrah Fawcett became a household name when she starred in the first season of Charlie's Angels as Jill Munroe, one of the three crime-fighting beauties who worked for the mysterious and never seen Charlie, voiced by John Forsythe. Along with Kate Jackson and Jaclyn Smith, Farrah heated up the TV screen each week and became a sex symbol.

Leaving after one season, Farrah took on many dramatic roles after Charlie's Angels, the most famous of which was The Burning Bed, a movie about domestic violence.

Farrah's long and brave battle with cancer was recently highlighted in the documentary, Farrah's Story. Her longtime companion, Ryan O'Neal had intended to marry the actress as soon as she was up to it.

Farrah Fawcett was an amazing actress and an inspiration to those fighting life-threatening illnesses. While we rejoice that she no longer suffers the ravages of a dreaded disease, we mourn the loss of a brave and beautiful woman.


Perhaps the saddest news this week was the sudden and unexpected passing of Michael Jackson who was poised for a comeback when he died of an assumed cardiac arrest.

Even at a young age, you knew that Michael Jackson was destined to be a star. The Jackson 5, a group formed with Michael's four brothers, were a huge pop music phenomenon in the 70's, which led to solo careers for Jermaine and Michael.

Michael's solo career included huge hits like Thriller, Billie Jean, and Beat It. His unique fashion sense and ground-breaking videos inspired future generations of music artists. He crossed racial barriers, collaborating with Paul McCartney on Say, Say, Say and The Girl is Mine, and encouraged change with songs like Man in the Mirror.

While his personal life was plagued by many hardships the past several years, Michael was planning a comeback tour in London at the time of his death.

No one can deny his influence on the music industry or Jackson's level of talent. As Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said, "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work..."

May all these icons of various generations rest in peace!