Episode 60: Rebecca Brenner Graham Gives Us the Publicity Behind-the-Scenes
Feb 25, 2025
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Rebecca Brenner Graham, a post-doctoral research associate at Brown University and author of "Dear Miss Perkins," dives into her journey from teaching history to crafting compelling narratives. She shares insights on balancing teaching with writing, offers humorous anecdotes about her creative process, and discusses the importance of resilient historical figures like Frances Perkins. Moreover, Rebecca provides valuable strategies for authors on promoting their work effectively, emphasizing proactive engagement and the significance of personal connections in the literary world.
Dr. Rebecca Brenner-Graham's journey from teaching high school history to authoring a book illustrates the deep connection between education and impactful writing.
Her extensive approach to book promotion highlights the necessity of building community and actively engaging potential readers for successful outreach.
Deep dives
The Journey to Authorship
Dr. Rebecca Brenner-Graham's path to becoming an author was shaped by her long-standing passion for history and the influence of her teaching career. Originally aspiring to be a historian in various academic roles, her love for writing blossomed during graduate school, leading her to focus on public history. She combined her experiences in teaching high school with her writing endeavors, often finding time to craft her narrative in unconventional settings, such as bars and classrooms while students were engaged in writing tasks. This blend of teaching and writing significantly shaped her first book, "Dear Miss Perkins," showcasing how history can be made relevant and compelling for modern readers.
Creative Writing Techniques
Dr. Brenner-Graham's writing process involves a collaborative revision strategy that incorporates feedback from various sources, which enhances the quality of her work. She frequently relies on her partner for initial edits and engages with a writing group for additional insights. This social approach to revision not only informs her drafts but also allows her to incorporate different perspectives into her writing. While she utilizes digital tools, her organization style is somewhat chaotic, humorously sharing experiences where her document labels were based on personal emotions rather than systematic categorization.
Switching Focus and Finding Inspiration
Dr. Brenner-Graham transitioned from an academic dissertation focus to writing a trade book about Frances Perkins, inspired by her undergraduate thesis and subsequent research. This decision was crystallized during a pivotal moment in a bookstore, sparking a rediscovery of her passion for Perkins' work on refugee policies from Nazi Germany. The process of writing the book involved not only thorough research but also careful consideration of how her audience would engage with historical narratives. She emphasized the importance of making academic insights accessible and relevant, paving the way for a broader understanding of historical events among general readers.
Navigating the Publicity Landscape
The process of promoting her book has been a significant aspect of Dr. Brenner-Graham's journey as an author, demonstrating the extensive effort required to reach potential readers. She adopted a proactive approach, introducing herself directly to bookstores and building a community around her book's themes, including Frances Perkins' legacy. Through various outreach efforts, she organized numerous events and engaged in writing essays related to her book, showcasing the importance of persistence in the publicity process. This experience has reshaped her understanding of authorship, revealing the vital role that networking and active engagement play in successfully launching a book.
In this episode Kate is joined by writer and historian Dr. Rebecca Brenner Graham. Rebecca is a post-doctoral research associate at Brown University, but before that she taught high school history, an experience that we talk a lot more about in this episode. Her first book, out now, is called Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’s Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany, and it is not only a compelling history but holds valuable lessons for readers now. I also asked Rebecca to dig into her approach for publicizing a recently released book, and I think her advice will be a big help for other authors.
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