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 and Organizer of The Munk Debates

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 defenceless 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

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

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

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

Debby and Martine, I just wanted to let you know that my experience in dealing with you both has been outstanding!! The level of professionalism was transparent and seamless. The amount of publicity has been awesome!! Wow. I really believe that my cookbook has been given a great chance to succeed, because of MDG and Associates.

I don't think I've ever experienced such a full schedule with absolutely NO breakdowns in time management or one without some level of confusion and incompetence. My experience is that the members on your team are all highly intentional, gracious, calm in situations of chaos (like traffic or unorganized media folk) and really fun to be around. Martine, you made me feel special, and I deeply appreciate it.

I'm actually sad that my publicity tour came to an end. Thank you so much for bringing such an outstanding energy to my book. I feel privileged to be associated with such an extraordinary team.
– Shari Darling, author of Orgasmic Appetizers and Matching Wines -- Tiny Bites with the MOAN Factor.

Happily, my US publisher decided to retain Meisner, de Groot & Associates to promote my first book in Canada. Lucky me. Getting to know and work with Martine Quibell has been a delight, not only because she skilfully arranged author appearances and many radio, newspaper, and web-based interviews, but also because she is truly interested in and enthusiastic about my writing. Martine is creative, organized, and always cheerful. Everyone I’ve spoken with in the media agrees that she’s amazing. Thanks, Martine.
– Robert Kull, author of Solitude: Seeking Wisdom in Extremes

Everybody at Meisner, de Groot and Associates worked tirelessly on my behalf to get me as many radio and television interviews as possible once my book "The Class Project-How to Kill a Mother" - the true story of Canada's Infamous Bathtub Girls, was published in March 2008. Martine Quibell in particular never stopped trying to get interviews for me right across Canada, literally from coast to coast, including several spots on some of Canada's top news and information radio stations. Without her efforts there would have been no way I could have garnered the publicity that I received. I knew right from my first meeting with Debby de Groot and Sherry Naylor that I would be in good hands. A five star effort all around for this incredible team of publicity professionals.
– Bob Mitchell, author of The Class Project: How to Kill a Mother

Promotion is such an important and necessary part of having a new title published, but book tours can be exhausting. That is why everyone needs a publicist like Martine Quibell to smooth the way to a more relaxing tour. Martine certainly made the promotion for A Taste of Canada (my tenth book, so I speak with some experience and tours behind me!) as seamless as possible. In fact, we had great fun together. I appreciated not only her good humour (always ready to answer my many questions) but also her efficiency (lovely to receive an email at the end of each day reminding me of the next day’s interviews). Martine, Debby de Groot and the MDG office in general---class acts all!
– Rose Murray, author of A Taste of Canada: A Culinary Journey

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

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

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)

Just a note to let you know what a pleasure it's been to work with Martine. She could not have been more organized. Everything went very smoothly – mostly because she paved the way so well. Thanks for your support of Toronto: A City Becoming.
– David Macfarlane, author of Toronto: A City Becoming

“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

A BIG THANK YOU FOR 'pampering' us as well - "A GOLD MEDAL PERFORMANCE" from a talented publicist and figure skater! (about Shannon Cosby)
– Douglas Clements, author of START FRESH!

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

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

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)

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

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, Bluebridge

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Debby de Groot is the first person that I call when I need freelance marketing and publicity services. I know that when Debby is working on a project that the best possible job will be done as she is one of the most professional, reliable, and results oriented individuals in the business. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and attention to detail are only a few of the reasons that she is such a pleasure to work with. Debby is a true gem.
– Lesley Horlick, Random House of Canada

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)

Lia Lyons at Meisner Publicity met me with a giant latte at 6:30am one morning for a breakfast TV interview, and didn't stop escorting me into radio and TV studios for about 48 hours of intense publicity. I'm sure I got the best media coverage Toronto could offer. She also gave me some swimwear advice that changed my life.
– Stephen Clarke, author of "A Year in the Merde" and "Merde Actually" (Penguin Canada)

I had a great experience with Lia Lyons. I was in Toronto for one action-packed day involving one interview after another in television and radio studios, on the telephone, and in person in supermarkets, restaurants, and even a car, along with a couple of bookstore signings thrown in just for fun. She made this impossible schedule work so smoothly that it was easy and a pleasure to get through it all. High marks for top-of-the-line professionalism!
– Marion Nestle, author of What to Eat (Farrar, Straus and Giroux/ Douglas & McIntyre)

I've worked with Susan Meisner on both my books and films - big budget and small. I adore her enthusiasm, creativity and sheer bloody-mindedness. She's a grown up and gets the job done. She knows everyone in the media and is loved by them all. Smart, sassy and literate, she offers versatility and an ability to get me coverage from surprising sources. She fits me into every kind of outlet without compromising my integrity or the quality of my work - from hosting a valet serviced film premier at the Royal Ontario Museum, to a college radio station, to Canada AM morning TV, to a full page in the TV guide and Globe and Mail. Did I say I adore her?
– Lindalee Tracey, author and filmmaker, Toronto: City of Dreams (CTV)