How To Grow A Media Network
- Jan 9, 2022
- 6 min read
Written by: LJ Thomas, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
LJ Thomas is an author, publicist, graphic designer, show creator/host, and business consultant. I live in South Carolina with my musician singer/songwriter husband. He is also my photographer and videographer (degreed in TV production and digital filmmaking).
I am the author of the Leo Learns About educational children’s series. These books help teach good behaviors to children. The main character is a 5-year-old little boy named Leo who is full of questions trying to learn and understand his world. Currently, the 7th book is in production. The available titles include: Leo Learns About Anger, Leo Learns to Wait, Leo Learns About Bullying, Leo Learns About Cleaning, Leo Learns About Confidence, and Leo Learns About a Bigger Family. I write this series with my grandson. He came up with the idea when he was 4 years old.
A second children’s book series called Billie’s Place is dedicated to my second grandson. It is based on the happenings on a farm owned and operated by a black woman. It is new, but several books are in the planning and creation phase. The books in bother series’ can be purchased on Amazon with the author LJ Thomas.
In addition, I have a collection of sci-fi short stories ranging from government conspiracies to aliens to monsters. All of the stories are set in small southern towns and involve tweens and teens. These include: Evie’s Legacy, Tommy’s Dream, Smart Agent, Gary’s Talent, Dwellers, Living Forest, Bright Ones Disappear, and Xertican Keys. All publications can be purchased either at Amazon.com or Walmost.com under the pseudonym Jamela. My KIL series (Kidnapped in Love) is also under Jamela and available at the same outlets.
I love writing fiction, but I also have a resource book on multiple sclerosis, Bad Nerves: Living with MS, and one on domestic violence, Tales of Survival: Domestic Violence. All of my nonfiction work is published under LJ Thomas
I am the creator and host of the Purely Positive show (Facebook, YouTube, ppositivenetwork.com, and more distribution is coming soon). The show is starting its 8th season in January 2022 spotlighting positive people doing positive things for a positive community. It’s important to bring some good news to the world since we are constantly bombarded with negativity. To find out about being featured on the show, contact purelypositiveshow@gmail.com. Remember we are always looking for advertisers and sponsors as we continue to grow.
We recently moved back to SC to help care for family and discovered there is a need in the area. The illiteracy rate is rising and it is heartbreaking to see. We decided to do something about it and started a new show in the process. South Carolina Gets Lit brings visibility to authors and fights illiteracy at the same time. We “exposing authors and building readers”. We have started the literacy program by simply reading to children and giving them the opportunity to see characters that look like them. We recognize that oftentimes if a child does not master reading in the school system, they may not get left behind, but they will not get a full education. Therefore, we not only help the elementary school children but by extension, we are also there to help adults since it is possible they may not have the skills to assist their little ones. Unfortunately, this is a national issue and we have to start somewhere.
South Carolina Gets Lit is always looking for partners and sponsors. We can be reached at scgetslit@gmail.com for additional information. Donations can be made via PayPal using the same email address.
Purely Positive Impacts is the publishing division of Purely Positive Network. The tagline is “Read. Learn. Grow. Succeed.” The mission is to provide an educational publishing experience of children’s books(fiction and nonfiction) in partnership with the author for a mutually beneficial relationship whereby the author gains the knowledge of how to publish, market, and impact the reading audience. In addition, we seek to decrease the illiteracy rate by producing visually stimulating and entertaining reading material for young readers.
The vision: We offer a unique partnership with authors (adult) wherein we can either publish your book or assist you with publishing your book.
The services offered will allow the author to learn these skills or develop the necessary knowledge to hire a professional.
Partnership with authors willing to do the work to bring their book to life and make it available to the world
Collaboration with individuals who have a passion for bringing books to life to entertain as they teach young readers.
Working relationships for future endeavors surrounding educating children and developing a love for reading
A web store whereby parents, educators, and children can shop for professionally produced titles to encourage and foster a love of reading. (3D cover of the book, a brief synopsis, add to cart, additional purchase links, book trailer (if applicable), link to author website)
I spend my professional time helping businesses, brands, organizations, and people gain visibility. After all that is what a publicist does, we garner media attention. We live in a brave new world and media attention is different from when it was only TV, radio, and the newspaper. These are still important, but the doors have been opened and I use this opening to help others see my clients. I use my skills as a writer (magazines, blogs, websites, newspapers, and books), graphic designer (flyers, logos, EPK’s, business cards, press releases, websites, and more), and production (my show, video editing, songwriting, commercials, video lives and more) to get this attention. I also have a network of resources to get exposure for my clients which includes magazines, podcasts, radio, TV shows, bloggers, and websites. I am happy to speak with clients about publicity needs. Contact me at ppnpublicist@gmail.com.
Since I have been in the business for more than 30 years, I have worked with everything from bestselling authors, to music moguls, to record label execs, to organizations, to nonprofits, to corporations, and mom & pop operations. My client list is varied, but the brands, businesses, causes, events or persons who want individualized custom solutions to get media attention should hire me. My philosophy is simple: treat others the way you want to be treated and give honest, professional service. This has been the hallmark of my business since I started back in 1995. If I do not believe I can help a client, I let them know and refer them to someone else. Contact me at ppnpublicist@gmail.com
My biggest goal is to impact society in a positive way. I love to help people. I take pleasure in doing this through my shows and volunteering, virtually because of Covid. I know that reading to children and helping them learn to read is a passion for me. I’ve been doing it for more than 30 years and I will continue. I want to build lifelong readers who become lifelong learners so they can educate their way out of poverty.
I see myself having a global media network, Purely Positive Network (Purely Positive Show, Purely Positive Impacts, South Carolina Get’s Lit, PPN Publicity) in the next ten years. We are dedicated to bringing visibility to and supporting entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations who are giving back. I see Purely Positive Network with a presence in Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada, South and Central America, and the USA. I will have a global workforce thereby contributing to the economy and helping families live a good life. I will have educational programs at our offices for the employees and their families. We will have global sponsorship and this will help our sponsors grow and impact the world in a positive way. Our partners will work with us to further our mission and we will all grow together. We can be reached at purelypositivenetwork@gmail.com for inquiries or suggestions.
LJ Thomas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
LJ Thomas is a Publicist, Graphic Designer, and business consultant. She is the creator and host of the Purely Positive Show (Youtube and Facebook), which is about to enter its 7th season. As CEO of the Purely Positive Network, her focus is on bringing a positive experience as she assists her clients in various aspects of business, promotion, and production. The international Purely Positive show (www.purelypositiveshow.com) spotlights positive people doing positive things for a positive community. LJ has had the privilege of partnering or working with such notables as Dr.Tonya Blackmon, Record label CEOs and execs., Publishers, Authors, talent agents, music artists, other business owners, and her latest endeavor with the Custom Cutz Mobile App CEO, Gregg Delaney. She is also the author of the Leo Learns About educational children’s series (available on Amazon and at Walmart.com). The series further promotes her mission of being positive and learning. LJ is a woman on a mission and everyone who works with her sees this immediately.
