Getting the Word Out in the Catholic Press

I'm a big believer in the power of the press. That's why the opening salvo in each of my eBook launches is contains a press release to the editors of the major national, archdiocesan and diocesan Catholic newspapers and national Catholic magazines in the United States.


When I announced the publication of my first eBook in January, I sent the press release with a JPEG cover image to 131 Catholic newspaper and national Catholic magazine editors, offering each in the covering e-mail a free 14-day loan of a copy of the ebook for their inspection and review on their computer or eReader. I was gratified by their response.


Virtually all of these publications are available to all Catholic men and women in their diocese in print and online editions, opening a market of millions of prospective readers who are the most likely buyers of my type of eBook.


In those dioceses where I actually lived and worshiped at one one or more of their parish churches, I lead off the announcement by identifying myself as a former parishioner of those specific parish communities. The example of the announcement below is the more generic version sent to those dioceses, in which I had never resided:

INSPIRED COMMUNICATIONS PRESS RELEASE

New eBook Urges Catholics to Help Jesus’ Less Fortunate

For Immediate Release:

INNSBROOK, MO — These times of disastrous economic conditions and events spawned by global geological and climactic changes require more Catholics to do something for those unfortunate ones who suffer most their consequences.

So says John O’Neill, who has published his first eBook, Jesus’ Six Keys to a More Perfect You. In the book, he classifies Jesus’ instructions to His disciples into six keys designed to transform ordinary Catholics into extraordinary people, dedicated to imitating Christ by serving others, especially the poor and suffering, whom Jesus called His “least ones”. The book also suggests practical ways in which the reader can perform these corporal and spiritual works of mercy through various charitable organizations in his or her community.

The electronic book is available on amazon.com (Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Nook) and Smashwords.com, publishers and distributors of eBooks in all formats. “I chose these three publishers for their retailing success,” said Mr. O’Neill, “and for their ability to format and download books onto PC and Mac computers and Kindle, Kobo, Nook and Sony eReaders, as well as onto such mobile devices as Blackberry, iPad, Android, iPod touch and netbook, a valuable aid in spreading Jesus’ teachings to the large market of Millennial and Post-Vatican II generations of Catholics nationwide.”

John, a seminary-educated Catholic layman, with a degree in Thomistic philosophy and a year of post-graduate theological studies at Catholic University of America, continues to write manuscripts which he hopes will become future eBooks in the Catholic religion and spirituality or self-help genres.

Copies for sale at $4.99, and a free preview sample of Jesus’ Six Keys to a More Perfect You, can be found at the publishers’ websites listed below:

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-eBooks/ [Search on title name]

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/index.asp [Search on title name]

http://www.smashwords.com/books/byauthor [Search on John O’Neill]

For more information or for a book review copy:

Contact John O’Neill at johnoneill1021@gmail.com, or by phone at 636-295-0449 or 636-745-7861.

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