Episode 399 – The Unstoppable Truth About Book Marketing and Media with Mickey Mickelson
What happens when curiosity, resilience, and storytelling collide over a lifetime of building What does it really take to build an Unstoppable career in publishing without shortcuts or hype? In this episode, I sit down with publicist Mickey Mickelson to talk about the real work behind book promotion, author branding, and long-term visibility. Mickey shares his journey from banking into publishing, how Creative Edge grew from one client to over one hundred, and why most authors misunderstand marketing, social media, and publicity. We explore why relationships matter more than bestseller lists, how authors limit themselves by staying inside their genre, and why professionalism is non-negotiable in media. This conversation is a practical look at what it takes to build trust, credibility, and an Unstoppable presence in today’s publishing world.
Highlights:
00:09 – Hear why relationships, not hype, sit at the core of an Unstoppable publishing career.03:56 – Learn how real-world work experience shaped a practical approach to marketing and publicity.05:33 – Discover how Creative Edge was built around connection, vision, and long-term thinking.10:29 – Understand what publicists actually look for before agreeing to represent an author.12:16 – See why traditional publishing myths still hold authors back today.16:37 – Learn why social media presence directly impacts the success of media opportunities.21:09 – Understand how authors limit themselves by focusing only on genre.27:08 – Hear why professionalism and follow-through matter more than talent alone.39:28 – Learn why books do not stop being marketable after six months.54:09 – Discover what authors can do right now to build stronger branding and visibility.
About the Guest:
Mickey Mikkelson is the founder of Creative Edge Publicity.
Mickey graduated from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology with a Marketing Diploma in 1996.
In 2006, he began his work in the literary and bookseller industry as the Special Events Manager for Chapters/Indigo, Canada’s largest bookstore chain, in St. Albert, Alberta. In 2015, he formed Creative Edge Publicity, an aggressive publicity firm that specializes in advocating for both the traditional and independent artist.
Since founding Creative Edge, Mickey has signed some of the top talents in the literary industry, including multiple award-winning authors, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, and successful indie authors, many of whom have become international bestselling authors while working within the Creative Edge brand.
Creative Edge was also listed at the Publicist Of The Year for 2024 by USA Global TV and works in tandem representing a number of authors with the award-winning social media and book marketing firm, Abundantly Social located in Houston TX.
Ways to connect with Mickey**:**
Website: Creative Edge Publicity - Home
Facebook: (19) Facebook
Instagram: Instagram
LinkedIn: Creative Edge | LinkedIn
About the Host:
Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.
Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT\&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children’s Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s 2012 Hero Dog Awards.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/
accessiBe Links
https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe
https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/
https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/
Thanks for listening!
Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!
Subscribe to the podcast
If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .
Leave us an Apple Podcasts review
Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.
Transcription Notes:
