3000 pulses later

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After publishing a book, it’s generally up to you, as the author, to reach readers and create the impact you dreamed of making. With a strong promotion plan, passion and consistent action steps, exciting opportunities can present themselves for a published author.

Some time ago I published an interview with Martha Rhodes about her self-publishing path for her memoir, 3,000 Pulses Later, how the New York Times featured the book in an article and the British government (National Healthcare System) brought Martha to speak in England and Wales for the rollout of TMS, the drugless treatment that saved her life.

So much more has transpired since then that I asked Martha for an update on what has happened since publishing her book.

Martha’s Marvelous Journey After Publishing a Book

Lisa: Martha, your book publishing journey continues! You recently won a prestigious national award. Can you tell us about that? How it came about and what it means?

Martha: I received the PM360 ELITE 2016 Award for Patient Advocacy because my book 3,000 Pulses Later has made me well known in the U.S. and Internationally as an author and advocate for Transcranial Magentic Stimulation (TMS) depression therapy. I work with patients not as a healthcare professional, but as a person with whom others with Treatment Resistant Major Depression can relate.

martha rhodes wins award Unbeknownst to me my name was submitted by someone in the neurostimulation industry who’s familiar with my book and the work I do. When I received notification that I was chosen from over 500 submissions I felt surprised and honored.

Since I spend several hours every month emailing and speaking with patients who need information and encouragement, receiving this award has inspired me to continue my role as a patient advocate.

Lisa: It’s well deserved recognition. You have helped so many people. And the follow up you do with people is a testament to your commitment to your readers and other people who suffer from depression, particularly drug-resistant depression.

Meeting the Man Whose Invention Saved Martha’s Life

Lisa: You’ve done some work with Emory University as the result of publishing your book, can you say more about that work and what it meant to you, personally?

Martha: Emory University’s Office of Technology Transfer asked me if I would participate as a patient in a program they created called, “Put a Face On It. martha travel ” The program is meant to convey the human side of how Emory’s technology helps others. They had read my book and felt I could appropriately tell my story of how this new depression technology has benefited me.

We created several videos and articles explaining the TMS patient experience and the value it has had on my life and can have for others who need an alternative therapy for depression.

Although publishing my memoir exposed my personal crisis in a public way that initially caused me some anxiety, working with the Emory University team has been validating and empowering. I feel more proud of my book and my patient advocacy than I could ever have imagined.

On a personal note, while I was at Emory doing the taping, I was introduced to the research doctor who invented the TMS technology device. When he walked into the room and I was told, “Martha, meet Dr. Charles (Chip) Epstein!”, without skipping a beat, I threw my arms around him and, through my tears, I thanked him for saving my life. It was a moment I think we’ll both always remember.

330px-ellen_degeneres_2011 — The Emory University TMS commercial aired during the Ellen Show, among other top shows.

Lisa: Wow. I bet Dr. Epstein felt similarly to the way you’ve felt when people say your book has helped save their lives! You’ve now been on commercials during the Ellen Show, Rachel Ray and the Today Show, among others. Can you share how that happened?

“I Saw You on TV”

Martha: I’ve become somewhat of a colleague to several people in the neurostimulation industry since my book came out. Now that I’m a TMS patient advocate, we rely on each other for feedback, updates, and mutual support. One of the TMS therapy system companies asked if I would be willing to do the commercial as an interview and mini-infomercial.

I had no idea of how wide the television reach could be, but after many friends and family contacted me with “I saw you on TV!”, I realize how important my participation is at all levels for spreading the word about this new depression therapy.

Lisa: Yes, you’ve reached so many people and affected so many lives, even well beyond your readership. I think part of what made that possible is how you’ve networked with others who serve the same audience, shared resources, been a real team player. And many of your opportunities came out of that.

The Greatest Reward of Publishing a Book

Lisa: I know you’ve sold over 6,000 books and counting. What is some of the most moving feedback you’ve heard from readers?

Martha: First of all, receiving any feedback from people for 3,000 Pulses Later came as a total surprise because I only wrote it so that others would know about the then-unpublicized alternative therapy that might work for them as it did for me. (At the time the book was the first and only first-hand patient account of what the TMS experience is like.)

Since then I’m absolutely amazed to have communicated with hundreds of people from across the United States and from as far away as Australia, South America, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, India, and South Africa who have read my book!

Martha rhodes author after publishing a book — Martha Rhodes at Emory University

Whenever I deliver speeches either on a local level (libraries, civic organizations, hospitals) or in a larger forum (industry-wide meetings, webinars, and national conventions) unfailingly, people will line up afterward wanting to talk about their own or a family member’s experience with depression or suicide. The feedback for sharing my story always informs me of how prevalent depression is and how necessary it is to continue the conversation.

I receive emails from patients whose stories are nearly identical to mine, thanking me for having the courage to share my story in such a personal way and for helping them find some relief from the pain depression inflicts on them and their loved ones.

Emails and letters come from some who wish TMS had been available before their sibling, parent, or child committed suicide, others who are grateful TMS prevented such a tragedy. I hear from spouses whose marriages teetered on collapse because of depression, but thanks to TMS, they have mercifully been saved.

Ironically, these messages usually arrive just when I say to myself, “I can’t do this patient support work anymore!” because it’s time consuming and sometimes emotionally draining. But then there’s that one particular email that grabs me and pushes me to continue my work. So many of the feedback messages bring tears to my eyes and immeasurable hope to my heart.

Lisa: Wow. Like many authors, I think that speaks to how mission-driven your focus is.

Back to Writing and Publishing a Book

Lisa: Has anything else transpired that you’d like to share with our readers?

Martha: Yes! Depression and mental health have become an increasingly serious issue in today’s world. If you have a story to share about an important issue and a way to help others with similar problems—go for it! Write that memoir or self-help book and it will be your gift to the world on whatever level it reaches.

Martha Rhodes knew she wanted to self publish. She got quoted in the NY Times and other great publicity for her book.

I mentioned in an earlier question that the feedback I get is thanks for being courageous. Lisa, I still don’t get that I’m courageous, although it did take a lot of work and guts to complete 3,000 Pulses Later.

For myself, and I hope for your readers, the reward for sharing a powerful, relevant story is more about generosity of spirit. Putting thoughtful, truthful, heartfelt words onto paper and publishing a book that could help others is the best way I know to contribute to the world—generously.

Lisa: What a beautiful sentiment. I wholeheartedly agree!

Readers: You can read my first interview with Martha Rhodes here and learn more about how she wrote and published her book, and many of the exciting things that transpired when she published it.

Martha Rhodes, a former New York advertising executive and author of 3,000 Pulses Later: A Memoir of Surviving Depression Without Medication, has turned her career toward advocacy for patients seeking the alternative therapy for major depression called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). She is the recipient of the PM360 ELITE 2016 Award for Patient Advocacy and has been able to spread the word about TMS with speaking engagements and through the media such as television, radio, and published interviews. Martha attributes much of her book’s success to Lisa Tener’s Bring Your Book To Life® program [aw, shucks, Martha! You are so sweet to put that in your bio!]. She lives in Connecticut with her husband of 40 years and their rescue dog, Josie.

Sometimes people feel demoralized when they hear they need a huge platform to get the interest of a large traditional publisher. So I thought I’d provide some myth-busting, clarity and hope on the subject.

Are publishers looking for big platforms in general? Yes. But…

1. There are always exceptions to the rules: don’t rule your book out if you don’t have the platform.

2. Get creative: I’ve helped clients think creatively about leveraging other businesses, connections or opportunities they hadn’t considered, helping them attract an agent and clinch a book deal, even as a first time author with what looked like a meager platform to begin with. Think creatively and you may have more platform than you initially thought.

3. Invest time and money strategically: With the right kind of expertise, you may be able to interest a large national news source or blogging platform, like Psychology Today or the Huffington Post. If you write fabulous posts and network, your blogs may even be featured prominently on page one and promoted by those same sites.

4. Consider mid-size publishers. You may be able to contact these presses directly. Several of my clients signed book deals with mid-sized publishers this summer including ABC-CLIO / Praeger and New World Library. In such cases, a modest platform is often enough, especially if the publisher is looking specifically for a book on your subject, which happened to one client this summer! The acquisitions editor actually told me, “I’ve slated a book on that subject for 2015 or 2016!” Credentials, market analysis and freshness of the book were all important to the publisher, but platform was not as much of an issue at all.

5. Consider self-publishing. There are many advantages–you’ll have your book sooner, you have control, you can make changes more easily, you make more money per book–and the list goes on. Platform never has to stop you from publishing your book. Maybe you don’t even need to sell a huge number of books for your book to make the kind of impact on your life, business and other people’s lives that you are looking for. Bring Your Book to Life Program graduate Martha Rhodes self-published her book, 3,000 Pulses Later. Being self published didn’t stop her from getting interviewed by the New York Times and she’s in talks with a Japanese publisher who does want to traditionally publish in Japan (and they’re talking a 10,000 copy first print run–a very healthy number)!

These are only 5 possibilities–there are many more. In fact, feel free to share your own platform and publishing tips and success stories here–or ask a question.

After Publishing a Book, What’s Next?

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Martha’s Marvelous Journey After Publishing a Book

Meeting the Man Whose Invention Saved Martha’s Life

“I Saw You on TV”

The Greatest Reward of Publishing a Book

Back to Writing and Publishing a Book

The Truth About Author Platform

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