Just... DO... It
- Christine Shuck
- Jul 8
- 4 min read
I get ideas all the time. Not just story ideas, those unfortunately come way too often for me to keep up with, or finish writing in any reasonable fashion. But also marketing ideas.
I write them all down.
Nowadays, I use Google Calendar. I use the hell out of that thing. The Tasks, especially.
Each morning, as I sip my coffee and try to turn my bleary, sleepy brain into something useful, I review my Tasks list on my Google Calendar.
And it gets BAD, folks.
I'll have nine, twelve, even sixteen tasks waiting on me at any one time.
Reminders to do deep cleaning on Cottage West, change air filters, review our monthly subscriptions from Amazon, get labs done for an upcoming doctor's appointment. You name it, I've got it listed.
And I'll be honest, having a bunch of them waiting for me to mark them completed stresses me the hell out. I'll start opening each and re-assigning them with a date a month or two in the future if I can.
That Task to get all my Spanish translations into paperback? That's waiting until the audiobook project is done!
But I dutifully create a new Task anytime I think of one. I create it, and deal with it (or ignore it) for as long as it takes to get it done.
One of those Tasks I created was "Ask Chat who to contact at KCUR about getting interviewed about my books." It was kind of on a whim. I had no idea if it could actually do it or not, but I figured why not ask it? But then, as some things go, I kept putting it off. Part of me wants to really understand how AI works, and another part is affected by all the anti-AI rhetoric. And so, whenever I would see this Task pop up, I'd shuffle it along to a week from now, or longer, avoiding trying it.
Today, as I saw it again, I nearly moved the date to a day a week from now. Instead, I stopped, opened up ChatGPT and typed: "Review KCUR.org and give me suggestions on who to contact about being interviewed for my fiction books."
And oh, HOLY COWBELLS, but it was thorough! Here was its response:
Here’s a refined look at KCUR.org and some personalized recommendations to help you pitch yourself for interviews about your fiction books:
📝 1. Arts & Life Team – Best Fit
The Arts & Life section covers local culture, creative processes, and the literary scene. Two standout contacts here:
Julie Denesha — Arts Reporter
Steve Walker — Freelance Arts Reporter
Focus: theater, visual arts, music; known for storytelling and interviews kcur.orgkcur.org
(No listed email, but you can reach him via the station front desk.)
These two are your strongest inroads. Julie seeks creators and narratives; Steve has a track record of interviewing artists.
2. Talk Show Hosts & Producers
If you're aiming for audio appearances:
Brian Ellison — Host/Contributor, including "Up to Date"
Halle Jackson — “Up to Date” Producer
📞 3. Station Contact & Logistics
For initial outreach:
Start here to establish the conversation and ask to connect with the reporters or producers above.
🎯 4. Strategy Tips
Craft a tight pitch (1–2 paragraphs) explaining:
Your fiction genre, themes, or any Kansas City ties.
Why your story resonates locally or culturally.
What makes YOU compelling for interview audiences.
Mention prior work:
Past publications, unique angles, or relevant background.
If you’ve done previous media appearances, link or reference them.
Target appropriate channels/UI:
Julie/Steve for written digital and on-air segments.
Brian/Halle for structured radio/podcast formats like "Up to Date."
Be clear and professional:
Subject line like “Interview request: [Your Book Title] – KC author.”
Offer your availability and flexibility.
✔️ Recommended Contact Flow
Step | Who to Contact First | Why |
1 | Julie Denesha (arts reporter) | Ideal for book features in Arts & Life; direct email available. |
2 | Brian Ellison or Halle Jackson | Great for radio/podcast exposure, especially if your book ties into broader themes. |
3 | KCUR front desk / news@kcur.org | Use this if the direct route doesn’t get a response—cite your attempt to reach Julie or Brian. |
Final Take
You’ve got a strong case for KCUR coverage—this station loves weaving local creators into their storytelling. Start with Julie Denesha, tailor your pitch, and follow up strategically with show hosts if needed. Let me know if you'd like help crafting your pitch or prepping talking points!
Um... thanks ChatGPT...
But seriously, folks. I think back to when the World Wide Web first started to be a thing. I can remember billboards showing websites and I still had AOL Online dial up and a computer that moved at sloth speed. I remember when the websites stopped looking archaic and started being user-friendly. And I remember discovering Google and Wikipedia and just loving all of the information at my fingertips.
ChatGPT is next level. I felt like someone had taken me by the hand and showed me these people's desks and said to me, "Hey, I've got you! I'm here to help in any way I can."
I had looked at that Task as something overwhelming, as something I "probably needed to do, but ugh, no, I really don't want to do!" And that changed into, "Holy hell, I've got this. I totally know what to do!"
I sat down, wrote out the email, attached a graphic from my Gliese 581g Kickstarter, and pressed the Send button right after I reminded myself that I've written books, SIXTEEN OF THEM, and that yes, folks might actually be interested in talking to me about them.
Sometimes, like Nike says, you need to Just... Do... It!
What do you need to do? What project or task are you avoiding?
Jump in, kid, and... DO IT!
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