When PLA Media says that it is selective about who it accepts into its close-knit work community, it means business. However, when our paths fortuitously crossed with award-winning author, journalist, and actor Lily Clayton Hansen, we were intrigued by what the multi-hyphenate could bring to the bigger picture. As a company that is always looking to evolve, we know that creativity is 100% tied to this.
The writing veteran joins PLA Media as a Publicity Specialist, on a project basis, after nearly ten years of running her own company, the custom publishing house Word of Mouth Conversations. Hansen brings fresh energy, insight, and imagination to PLA Media’s Music Row office.
“After working for 17 years in journalism and crafting stories around artists, entrepreneurs, executives, and community leaders in the form of books, bios, and magazine articles, I’m excited to join PLA Media, to work on a variety of projects, where I can hopefully make a difference in their clients’ careers all of whom are doing amazing things,” says Hansen.
Hansen brings her extensive experience as a writer, consultant, and media trainer to our current client roster. Crafting unique narratives, which she has done for global companies like HCA and Alliance Bernstein and celebrities since she interviewed Kelly Osborne at age 21, who encouraged, “You’re really good at this writing thing and should pursue it,” is Hansen’s specialty.
From her four books, which include a regional best-seller about Nashville, to her three award-winning films, Hansen has built a career around creatively framing human interest stories. She is excited to make a slight pivot and see how that niche translates to public relations.
“Lily’s insight, strategic approach, and verve intrigued me,” says founder and CEO Pamela Lewis. “I am delighted to have her join our team and to learn from her broad and diverse experience.”
Hansen, who has worked with everyone from household name celebrities to chefs, nonprofit leaders, musical artists, and capital-raising entrepreneurs, has an uncanny gift when it comes to crafting public personas.
“Through the thousands of bios, magazine articles, and memoir projects I have worked on in my career, I have learned how to quickly analyze a subject’s story, trust my instincts, and summarize what I see into words,” explains Hansen. “For PLA Media, I hope to use this talent gleaned from working with corporations, celebrities, and extraordinary but everyday people, to take clients’ narratives to a whole new level.”
Go hear Lily speak about “How to Deliver a Dynamic, Memorable, and Conversational Interview” at Launch TN’s 3686 Conference, where she will interview author and historian Don Cusic.
About Lily Clayton Hansen
Storytelling, whether in the form of a script, book, magazine article, or press release, underscores every move Lily Clayton Hansen makes. As the author of three coffee table books, hundreds of articles, and over 1,000 bios, Lily knows how to find the arc of a narrative and convey it in her chosen medium. Oftentimes referred to as the “people whisperer” by her subjects and clients, Lily finds nuggets of insight that others too frequently overlook. Through keenly listening, asking thoughtful questions, and leaning on her insatiable curiosity about people, Lily can create a detailed story about even the most private of individuals.
Contact Lily Clayton Hansen at lily.hansen@plamedia.com.
