Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest Martine Ehrenclou, MA, author of Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide to Get Your Loved One Out Alive. Martine is a writer and patient advocate. She has had several of her articles on hospital patient safety published in national magazines and newspapers and has been interviewed on numerous nationally syndicated radio shows. She currently lectures on the topic of "How to Survive a Hospital Stay" at universities, organizations, hospitals and bookstores. Martine has also had stories published in bestselling books, has written for newspapers and magazines, and with past businesses has appeared on national TV talk and news shows (ABC World News Tonight, Phil Donahue, Jenny Jones and more) in national magazines (Time, Inc., The Economist, and more) and in national newspapers (Los Angeles Times, Washington Post and more.) 

Martine received her masters degree with honors in psychology from Pepperdine University, Los Angeles. She currently runs writing groups for at-risk teenagers and adults and publishes literary magazines of her students' work.  She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband and their daughter. 

Good day Martine and thanks for participating in our interview. 

Thank you! 

Norm: 

Could you briefly tell our readers something about Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide to Get Your Loved One Out Alive? 

Martine:

My book is about how to be a proactive advocate for a hospitalized loved one in effort to prevent deadly medical errors, medication mistakes, the spread of hospital-acquired infectious diseases, potentially fatal falls and more. It gives effective tips on how to reach the doctors when you really need them---every time, how to navigate the hospital with confidence, what to do if you live out of town, how to interact with the patient's primary nurses and physicians. I believe that a hospitalized patient cannot advocate for themselves because they are ill, medicated and recovering. In collaboration with the patient (if possible) a loved one needs to do this for him or her. The book teaches you how. 

Norm: 

What motivated you to write the book and how did you decide you were ready to write the book? Why do you think this is an important book at this time?

Martine:

What initially motivated me to write the book was my mother's 5 month hospitalization and my godmother's repeated hospitalizations in different hospitals and then an eventual 7 month stay. With all that I witnessed—medical errors, medication mistakes, misdiagnoses, neglect, and my own confusion and overwhelm in the hospitals, I wondered if my experiences were common. I interviewed 50 family members. Their experiences were all the same—not the extended hospital stays for their loved ones, but the bewilderment in the hospital—it's such a foreign world to most people, and the desperation on the part of families about medical errors and what had happened to their loved ones. I decided something had to be done. I had a gut feeling that if I interviewed enough registered nurses who worked in hospitals and physicians that I could provide a manual for people to help them when a loved one was admitted into the hospital. 

I did a lot of research and found several major studies on preventable medical errors that resulted in patient deaths. I discovered that hospital patient care was in serious trouble. As I was finishing up the book, the Dennis Quaid incident with his twins occurred. 

Norm: 

What was the most difficult part of writing your book? 

Martine:

When I interviewed families, it was fairly close to the death of my mom and godmother. Hearing their stories brought up their suffering, what they'd lived through and their agonizing experiences with hospital stays. It was painful. So I took a break from the book for a while. Once I got some distance from it, I got back at it and actually found a sense of hope and empowerment once I started interviewing nurses and physicians. Most of them were so excited about my book that my excitement grew and grew. 

Norm: 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your book?

Martine:

I heard the family members' stories and had talked to a number of people about their loved ones' hospitalizations. We were all on the inside so to speak. I was surprised by the nurses' faith in what I was doing, their excitement over it, and their eagerness for it to get published. They all wanted copies. Looking back, I suspect they were so hungry for information that would educate family members and good friends to help bridge the gap between hospital staff and patients' loved ones. I was surprised to find out that the medical professionals and I were all the same side. 

Norm: 

What will you be doing for promotion and how much of it is your doing? 

Martine:

As you know, promotion is key to a book's success. It's funny, once the book was done, some said, "well now you can relax." Relax? Once the book is done is when the hard work begins! I began by doing free mini-lectures and book signings. Then I put on lectures at all sorts of organizations, entered the book into book award competitions, sent the book out for review, wrote articles for newspapers and magazines, sent out press releases with tips, entered the book in exhibits and shows, started doing library mailings with color flyers, did some small advertising, put together a monthly e-newsletter with free information. I started doing radio interviews and connected with the national sales manager at my distributor. I put together press kits which were self-mailers for his sales force. 

I've done most of the promotion myself. I hired a PR company to help me with the big magazines that I didn't have contacts with. 

Norm: 

Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish? 

Martine:

I originally pitched to two publishers who specialized in nonfiction/health books. I also pitched to two agents. Got rejections from all four—all of them said that it was a great idea but that this kind of book was typically not a good seller. Since I have a marketing and PR background, I knew I would be doing my own promotion anyway so I decided to form my own publishing company and hired a publishing consultant to teach me the ropes. I then began created a promotion plan, planned for the next book, and planned to start publishing other author's self-help/health titles. 

Norm: 
Where can our readers find out more about your and your book? 

Martine:

My website is one of the best places. www.CriticalConditions.com 

Norm: 

What is next for Martine Ehrenclou and is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered? 

Martine:

I'm working on my next book, another health/self-help book on health care outside of the hospital and then start publishing other author's books. Lemon Grove Press doesn't stop here. With the publishing industry in the shape it is, I suspect we'll end up publishing for digital readers at some point. 

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavours. 

Thank you so much! 

Click Here To Purchase Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide to Get Your Loved One Out Alive