Travel, hotels, lights, camera, action, readings, signings, interview for hokey local morning shows, such glamour.
Oh, yeah.
It's a VIRTUAL book tour...so....
Posts about anything and everything you can come up with somehow related back to the book you're trying to hock, "character interviews" (oy), all about me posts including the requisite "why I write" and "How long I've been keeping notebooks" plus the ever thrilling "who inspires me" paragraphs, contests/giveaways/begging for comments, and of course, the blurbs/excerpts and finally, the reviews.
It is in many ways more exhausting as it requires you to continue to write, be creative on (virtual) paper, come up with scintillating answers that will live forever in potential internet ignominy. And no room service?
I bring this up today as fair warning and to open a discussion about blogs in general. There was a day when a blogger was a glamorous pseudo-journalist, pontificating and editorializing all over the screen in a way frowned upon by traditional newspapers and magazines. Now, we (and I do use the Royal We, thanks) are a penny a baker's dozen, running our collective mouths on everything from "craft" to "inspiration" to "cute kittens" and "dancing robots" and (God help us) "Star Wars." I know I can roll my eyes, because I've done it ALL. Anything to prove I'm alive, busy, and really flipping talented.
Sigh.
oooooo-lookit how I snuck in my cover art for the final book!And in order to promote my upcoming series (see: Vacation blogpost last week) I will be embarking on a series of tours, simultaneously designed to get you ready to read my Hot Realtors Series or at the very least whap you upside your head with my fabulousness.
Or not.
Tell me, IS it the blog tour, the incessant blog posting that sell YOUR books? Or is it the act of writing, getting published and writing and getting published some more that does it?
The podium is yours. I've got about twenty different interviews and posts to write....
oh SNAP another one! this is the middle book....*slinks away...*
8 comments:
Hey Liz, you make it sound like this writing publishing gig is no fun at all!
I do understand.
I hate the question "Why do you write?"
I hate the question "How long have you wanted to be a writer?" and I feel so lost among all the bloggers.
But you are doing a good job! We're learning about your books, Yes we are! :o)
Thanks for the fun post! :-)
darlin' it's about 50/50 love/hate thing don't you think?
As the publicist knows,( APA told me) blog tours for your book can be effective. More effective if you can find a way to attract a greater readership by putting your book out to not just book blogs but to where your book can meet those with similar interests.
Oh lordy, this scares me.
I like to avoid anything that causes exhaustion...
I have bought books after reading an author's blog. I have tried new genres and new writers from seeing posts on blogs that I already follow...so the incessant posting does pick up a reader or two.
Writers, when finally getting published want their books to be read. So you kind of have to do whatever it takes to get those books in front of readers. Write and promote on, Liz!
I took my book on tour and it didn't do the greatest. I actually paid a Book Blog Touring service and sold only one book. Plus most of the blogs I was "featured" on had only about 45-80 followers. That isn't a mistake I will make again.
I have found reviews, getting as many as possible and putting them on key sites or asking if I can guest blog and share a review, does wonders for sales. And by knowing your way around the author tools that Amazon provides. Series about realtors? Heck, I'll give it a read because its not been done to death! Best of luck!!!!!
I'm still in the first month of promoting my book Ryman's Tower And 14 Other Stories, so it's too soon to say what the payoff will be from blog posts and comments. I'm definitely going to follow up on doing a virtual book tour. Meanwhile, I'm continuing to write. New collection of short stories coming soon! :)
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