Testimonials

Sterling has been working with Debby and her team for three seasons now, and have had nothing but great results.  In addition to the time, energy, passion, and creativity that her team puts into a campaign, the results have been staggering.  From managing our lists and giving input on marketing for titles to booking local author tours with great success and reporting the results, the MDG & Associates team is first rate.    

– Leigh Ann Ambrosi, VP, Marketing & Publicity, Sterling Publishing
 

Our experience with Debby and Shannon has been wonderful. They understood the significance of our book immediately and executed a focused and effective publicity strategy. They've not only been enthusiastic about our book and extremely supportive, but they also got us great media coverage. Most importantly, they seem to love what they do and, as a result, are a pleasure to work with. We hope to work with them again!
– Jodi Bager and Jenny Lass, authors of Everyday Grain-Free Gourmet (Whitecap Books)
 

Your team is really helping us to sell through the expanding number of books coming onto the market. A classic case where publicity and promotion are driving sales.
– Jamie Broadhurst, Marketing Director, Raincoast Books

How do you take an unknown author with a known topic (Tim Hortons) and have them become the talk of Canada? Answer: Meisner Publicity! Chosen by my publisher, Goose Lane Editions, Meisner Publicity and Sherry Naylor arranged 14 television interviews, over 10 radio shows, and a bunch of newspaper articles including Canadian Press, right across Canada. It made my book Tales From Under the Rim, into a national event and helped me become a speaker with the National Speakers Bureau. Well done and thank you Sherry, and thank you Meisner Publicity!
– Ron Buist , Author, Tales From Under the Rim (Goose Lane Editions)
 

Debby de Groot was instrumental in helping to place our authors for interviews and profiles, as well as getting their books reviewed. Her professionalism, hard work, and dedication were appreciated – especially when The Perfect Circle and Home Schooling were named as finalists for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
– Marc Côté, Cormorant Books Inc.

The Dream Team! Thank you so very much for looking after me and our IMAX film, Journey to Mecca so well. The VIP screening event and media outreach was a great success and a wonderful, if not very humbling experience for me.
– Taran Davies, Producer, Cosmic Picture

I’ve been in publishing for 41 years, sending defenseless authors out there to promote their books, so it was a case of cosmic justice when I, the publisher, was chosen to promote A Night Out With Robert Burns. Debby, Sherry and Martine took full advantage of the fact that the book coincided with the 250th anniversary of the Scottish poet’s birth, to the extent that a local CBC radio show actually warned people that it was going to be hard to avoid me that weekend. In total, Martine arranged at least 30 radio interviews about the book, from St. John’s to Victoria, and her post-anniversary e-mail was headed: “Are you still standing?” Polite, organized, efficient people, but merciless. If you don’t want to work hard on your book, don’t use them.
– Doug Gibson, Publisher, Douglas Gibson Books

I have worked with MDG & Associates on two projects recently – the VIP screening and media outreach for the IMAX film, The Journey to Mecca, and the media outreach for the Munk Debates, held at the ROM. On both occasions I found them to be detailed, efficient, calm under pressure, experienced and effective in garnering exposure. I am working with them again on the release of my new book Who We Are.
– Rudyard Griffiths, author of Who We Are (Douglas & McIntyre) and Organizer of The Munk Debates

Debby de Groot is one of Canada's most seasoned publicists for books and other media. She is highly professional and deeply committed to getting the broadest exposure possible for any books and media projects she handles.
– Jan-Erik Guerth, Owner, BlueBridge Publishing

Debby de Groot knows the book business inside out, is a joy to work with, and obtained concrete results within a matter of weeks.
– Lyn Hamilton, author of The Orkney Scroll.

On behalf of everyone at Penguin, my sincere thanks to you and your entire team not only for an excellent press campaign, but for a seamless execution of interviews at the event (“like clockwork” according to Ernest Hillen), and for itineraries and communications with staff, authors and key stakeholders that were delivered with the utmost professionalism. With your participation, we have created and executed a marketing and publicity campaign that is second to none.
– Yvonne Hunter, Director, Publicity and Marketing, Penguin Group (Canada)

MDG & Associates reminds you why Publicity and PR are a finely tuned skill – best left in the hands of the pros. Every member of their professional team proved to be extremely accessible, willing to go beyond the call of duty, creative beyond belief, and entirely cheerful every step of the way. I wouldn’t hesitate to use them over and over and to recommend their services to my colleagues.
– Adria Iwasutiak, Senior Publicist, Random House of Canada

We had the great pleasure of working with Debby and her entire team at MDG for the release of our Financial Times Press book: Conversational Capital: How to Create Stuff People Love to Talk About, written by Bertrand Cesvet. MDG was exceptional in its commitment to the project. A stream of well-organized press appearances and connections helped to turn the book into one of the top ten books for FT Canada in 2008. Simply professional, personal and results-driven.
– Sjoerd Koopman, Managing Director Intellectual Capital, Sid Lee

We are very pleased with the results of the first publicity project we placed with ddg Publicity. In addition to putting together a great day’s media for us, Debby de Groot spent time with us strategizing on the coverage, has been consistently enthusiastic, responsive to requests, pro-active with many suggestions and ideas, and has come through with the majority of what she promised us. We look forward to working on many additional projects together, as we feel that we are in the best possible hands.

– Carey Low, VP and Sales Manager, Canadian Manda Group.

 

Debby is the best advocate a book could have: wise, experienced, strategic and persistent.
– Sandra Martin, author of The First Man in My Life (Penguin Canada)
 

Thank you very much to Debby and Sarah – and everyone at Meisner, de Groot & Associates – for bringing our very small book, Ollie’s Field Journal, to some very big audiences. From The Hour to Canadian Living to The Young International Festival of Authors – we are grateful for your attentiveness and friendship – and your amazing contacts!
– Patti McIntosh author of Ollie’s Field Journal: A 9/10ths Happy Story from Africa (Junior Global Citizens Club)

I want to commend Sherry Naylor for the fabulous job she’s been doing for the Donner Prize. She is committed to every aspect of the prize from the books to the jury to the event and all the little things in between. She’s full of great ideas and has never-ending stamina in the hectic days leading up to the big event. Thanks Sherry!
– Helen McLean, Executive Director, Donner Canadian Foundation

Working with MDG & Associates is a true pleasure, and together we fully achieved our publicity goals with ease.  Sarah Stevens worked as my liaison on two book promotional campaigns – she represented herself, myself and MDG in the most professional manner at all times.  She successfully garnered media attention through both mainstream and innovative means and forms and treated all media occasions with utmost respect.  Her weekly updates have always been accurate and informative and allows us to evaluate and create new targets.  Thank you Sarah, and thank you MDG & Associates.

– Chef Anna Olson, author of In the Kitchen with Anna and Fresh with Anna Olson (Whitecap Books)
 

MDG & Associates is a valuable and indispensable part of the Reader's Digest team. Sherry, Sarah and Debby tirelessly ensure that all our product lines are represented well in the Canadian media – we really appreciate their dedication and good work. Their presence and involvement in the market ensures timely information and advice in every situation.
– Annie Péloquin, Public Relations Director, Reader's Digest Canada

Debby de Groot is one of the most experienced promotion and publicity people working in the Canadian Book Publishing Industry today. Her comprehensive knowledge of the media, coupled with her enthusiasm and capacity for hard work, make her an irresistible choice for anyone looking for help in marketing their books.
– Nick Rundall, Vice President, Whitecap Books Ltd.

I cannot thank Meisner Publicity enough. It was their individual attention, constant support, and ongoing dedication that gave Shooting Water its wonderful Canadian debut. I will always be grateful for that.
– Devyani Saltzman, author of Shooting Water (Key Porter)
 

No strategy is too big for MDG and no detail too small, they are the rock stars of PR!

– Chef Michael Smith, author of The Best of Chef at Home (Whitecap Books)
 

Debby got me an interview on CBC Radio Freestyle and the ranking of my book on Amazon.ca went from position 44,285 to 392 within five hours. Shows the power of PR, and the power of Debby.
– Richard St. John, author of Stupid, Ugly, Unlucky, and RICH

I have had the opportunity to work with MDG & Associates on a number of occasions and have been regularly impressed by their organization, thorough follow through, good media schedules, creative ideas and strong author and client relations. They can manage both small and large campaigns with a wide range of authors. I would certainly use them again and highly recommend them.
– Tracey Turriff, SVP, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Random House of Canada Limited