Linda Leon career Biography

Linda Leon has worked in the communications industry since being selected to be part of a television internship program in high school. During that time she worked at a local cable television station and got hooked on video production. She remained with that station through college and developed skills as a freelance camera person, acted as talent and producer of local productions. Over the years Linda stayed within the industry. She left her hometown of Atlanta, Ga and moved to Houston, TX where she eventually continued in communications working at a local television station for 12 years. She currently still resides in Texas as has her own production company. This industry has given Linda a very broad spectrum of media skills which include writing books that were a part of her outreach at the station and abroad, producing television and radio programs.

As a part of her journey in communications Linda continued to advance at the station becoming part of not only program producers but she was also in charge of media relations with outside entities. This was a very intense job responsibility which included working with publishers to get their authors promoted on the station in various station produced programming. She was able to interact with authors, agencies and get first hand experience on how major traditional publishing houses promoted their authors. This was a very eye opening experience that she never would have imagined would benefit her years later in working with writers. In this position she was able to view the best books, the best promotional material, the best author development and was able to glean insider information on how things actually work in the industry.

During this time she was also going through the process of learning the publishing industry from the writers side. This was a difficult journey. But gave her an opportunity to see the book industry from a different perspective. However with the combined information that she was obtaining from her work with authors and meeting a mentor, she eventually developed a well rounded view of the book industry which she used to her advantage learning from the best. All of this activity over the years taught her about press development, promotions, proper book design, marketing, seminar development, how to pitch to book stores, how to pitch to the media and a host of other skills. It provided her with a very unique and valuable perspective.

About two years ago a ghostwriter company became aware of some of Linda’s work and asked her if she would be interested in writing for their authors. She had never thought about writing for others. This was a very challenging opportunity, but she took it. This process has been another joy of her life, because now she was in contact with new authors who wanted to know “what next?” Now everything that Linda has always done and learned is coming back full circle to help others. Author support is a new venture for her. They will be light years ahead of the average new writer.

Linda provides them with professional guidance through the scope of their book, does book not abandon them after their book but works diligently to provide assistance. Here are some of the ways she has worked with them.

• Working with them from manuscript to marketing
• Press kit development
• Query letters
• Properly developing book signings
• Getting them through the media maze and helping them to establish interviews
• Placing them in contact with PR firms that she has connections with
• She is able to provided guaranteed top media placement in major markets
• Negotiations in all areas pertaining to their book
• Book distribution into book store development
• General guidance, support, and author assistance
• She is also equipped to do book trailers and infomercials for author support

All of her station and production skills come into play. She negotiated contracts at the station which helps her to be a expert negotiator and author advocate. For years she saw the best the publishers had to offer, so when she is working with a client she uses the same styles that they promoted their authors with on press development. As she watched how they used the media to drive sales to their outlets she knows why it is absolutely imperative to get proper media exposure and she knows exactly how to get it done and what media is looking for because she has been a producer. Her understanding of why submissions get rejected only aides in helping authors because she knows what to avoid doing when submitting to the media. The amount of knowledge gleaned over the years in her opinion can’t be measured. She has had much exposure on both sides of the writing spectrum and that makes her a valuable asset to any author.

In addition to her television work Linda has also had the opportunity to be a writer for UPI. This was excellent training because of the nature of understanding the science of headlining, which all books headline via their titles. Titles do help to sell books. She understands what it takes to draw attention to the book through titling. This knowledge combined with watching how professionally traditional publishers designed their books provides an advantage to the new author who do not understand the significance of this. Linda has developed a keen eye for identifying winning elements for cover design.

Linda has enjoyed her media journey. Her works and self produced programs have reached audiences locally, nationally, and internationally. She considers it an honor to work with new authors for not only their growth and development but to help them to avoid pitfalls that she experienced in her early writing career. Her desire is to provide any knowledge that she has for their benefit.