Mickie Kennedy – Creative Writing helps Bring News Releases to Small Business

Mickie Kennedy is an expert at helping small businesses, authors, and startups increase their visibility and credibility. 26 years ago, Mickie founded eReleases after realizing that small businesses desperately need a press release distribution service they can afford. While working in PR. Mickie came face to face with customers that wanted to use press releases due to their effectiveness at bringing in business, but could not afford to pay the extremely high startup fees that most agencies charged. Mickie saw an opportunity to help — and eReleases was born. Mickie created eReleases to give small businesses access to the media and to a national newswire – all with a personal touch. eReleases has grown since then and even works with big names now, but the spirit of Mickie’s original intent has not changed. eReleases delivers personal service and exceptional value to every customer, with every press release, at every price point. Mickie lives in Baltimore County with his family and two feuding cats. He enjoys British science fiction and acknowledges an unhealthy addiction to diet soda. Mickie holds an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Poetry from George Mason University. He still writes poetry most Monday nights with a group of fellow misfits in Brunswick, Maryland. Mickie Kennedy Vroom Vroom Veer Summary In this episode, host Jeff Smith welcomes Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases. The episode begins with a brief introduction, including a light-hearted reminder from Michael Stein, a voiceover promoting the show. Jeff expresses excitement about having Mickie on the podcast and asks about her current business endeavors. Mickie shares that for the past 26 years, she has been helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, and authors gain publicity through affordable press release distribution via eReleases, which sends releases nationally through PR Newswire at a fraction of the cost of traditional agencies. The conversation shifts to Mickie’s childhood, where he describes growing up in Eastern North Carolina, engaging in outdoor adventures, and spending time with friends in a rural setting. They reminisce about childhood activities, including dirt bike riding and fishing. Mickie reflects on his time at East Carolina University, where he pursued English literature and anthropology, eventually obtaining an MFA in creative writing. He originally planned a bohemian life as a poet but transitioned to writing press releases at a telecom research startup, where he discovered the potential impact of storytelling in press releases. Mickie describes a pivotal moment in 1998 when a friend faced exorbitant costs for a press release, prompting him to create eReleases to support small businesses with affordable press release services. He explains the unique approach eReleases takes by crafting story-based press releases that journalists can utilize, contrasting it with the common practice of simply highlighting product features. The discussion covers his love for British science fiction, particularly Doctor Who, and how a public TV antenna introduced him to it. They also touch on his dual interests in poetry and writing, with Mickie revealing his current poetry projects and upcoming book. Jeff and Mickie discuss his two cats and their temperamental relationship, drawing parallels to the challenges of herding cats metaphorically in work scenarios. The episode concludes with Jeff encouraging listeners to connect with Mickie through eReleases' website and social media, emphasizing the supportive and honest nature of their team. Finally, Jeff wraps up the episode with a cheerful goodbye, reminding listeners to check the show notes for more information. The episode captures Mickie's transition from writer to PR expert, her business philosophy, and personal anecdotes from her journey. Connections Website