Nicole K. Garner shares the secrets to navigating a successful public relations career with her new book ‘Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego’

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Author: Nicole K. Garner

Book title: Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego


Elevator pitch description of the content of the book …


Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego  is an ultimate guide that focuses on niche public relations and publicity disciplines of fashion, music, entertainment and film.  This complete manual is filled with everything one needs to know about the fabulous world of PR equipped with very specific tools of the trade.This book contains tricks of the trade regarding how to achieve millions of media impressions and generate large scale publicity campaigns, tips for seamlessly merging technology into PR strategy, and how to get in the ink of major magazines and blogs.  Interviews featured in this book include Janelle Monae, editors at BET.com and Daily Candy, and publicists from Sony Films as well as my own insight and tips of the trade.

What inspired you to write this book?


This is the book I wanted when I was 22 years old and jumping into the world of publicity, wide-eyed and unaware of what was ahead. After many years of firsthand experiences, groundbreaking campaigns, and my fair share of horror stories with running The Garner Circle PR,  looking back I realized that the  process did not have to be so long and tedious. I then vowed that someday I would gather everything that I learned along the way, compile my findings in a book and share with those who have this unexplainable adoration for the profession of publicity.

Do you have a specific writing style?

For this book, I would say my writing style leaned more to expository

How did you come up with the title?

Public relations is a fast changing, always evolving industry. To truly succeed you have to stay ahead of the curve, be in the know, and abreast of where the industry is heading or as I like to say, “Be In …”  The book’s title, Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego encompasses being truly “In” when it comes to industry learnings and practices.

What books have most influenced your life most?

The 4 Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Good To Great by Jim Collins

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Tim Ferriss, he provides practical concise information that you can immediately apply to your life.

What book are you reading now?

The Entrepreneurship Mind by Kevin Johnson and Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Yes, I like Tia Williams and Lauren Conrad’s teen series. In the future I would like to write a series for the 20- or 30-something-year-old girl.

What are your current projects?

Currently, I am doing a book tour in conjunction with Amazon Publishing titled “Running In Heels – Diary Of  A Publicist” and a I will be doing a Fall Collegiate Book Tour speaking to PRSSA groups and journalism, marketing, communications students. For more information on dates and stops, you can visit runninginheelstour.blogspot.com/

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

If I had to do it all over again, I would have launched the Kindle and iBooks version of it immediately.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

As a child I was very shy and writing was how I could best express myself. The person I knew I really was, came out better on paper for me.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing?

Time management, this is why I set very strict deadlines for myself and incorporate outside accountability.

Who designed the cover?

Shawn Bell – The Media Doctor Design Agency

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Figuring out what parts to take out as to not be redundant

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

That the organization of thoughts from the beginning make for a smoother ride.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

I once heard this quote, “That if you are a writer waiting to write, then in actuality you are a waiter and not a writer”

20. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

“Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego” is not just for aspiring or current PR professionals, everyone needs PR in some way, shape or form. To have a basic understanding of this subject can help to further anyone in their current endeavors.

What were the challenges (research, literary, and logistical) in bringing it to life?

Research challenges included fine tuning information that was not readily available to the public.

Literary Challenges included figuring out how I wanted to format the book and how I wanted it to flow.

Logistical challenges included finding the time to write the book, going through the legalities, and determining a publisher.

Social media links:

 For Are You In Inc: PR’s Alter Ego the T/IG hashtag is #AreYouInInc

To purchase the book, visit www.AreYouInInc.com, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and it is also available on Kindle.

My PR agency can be found online at www.TheGarnerCircle.com

T/IG: @TheGarnerCircle & @tgcPRagency

Facebook.com/TheGarnerCirclePR

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