Drive-by Promotion

            Thanks to the proliferation of blog sites on the Internet, I’m on a “Blog Tour” with my new book. A few months ago I’d never heard of a blog tour. Now I’m an expert at virtual visiting. And it's saving me a ton of gas money.

            Blog tours are becoming standing operating procedure when an author has a new book published. It’s nothing like the old fashioned book tour. For that I had to cold call some far-off bookstores, ask if I could come and talk about my book, and then try to find my way home from Fresno, Modesto, or Palo Alto when my GPS died.

            On the old fashioned book tour, I had to wear clothes, bring bribes in the form of cookies and bookmarks, and sit at a table watching readers buy Stephanie Meyer’s books by the arm load. An old-fashioned book tour is expensive, too, what with the cost of gas, a GPS, cookies, and clothes, not to mention time consuming—a long drive, a two-hour “event,” and an extra long drive back after getting lost. I was exhausted by the time I arrived home, my cheeks were cramped from all that smiling (and sitting, if you get my drift), and my arms ached from hauling still full cartons of books.

            Now it’s perfectly clear to me why blog tours are the way to go. Making an appearance as a guest on popular blog sites related to my genre couldn’t be easier. No traveling long distances, no hauling heavy books, no baking cookies, and no worries about siphoning someone' s gas. I don’t even have to wear clothes if I don’t want to.

            All I did was send out a dozen queries to my favorite sites and FemmesFatale.com, and ask if I might “stop by.” To my amazement, they all responded positively to my request, and I found myself with blog stops every other day for nearly a month.

            Along with my queries, I sent a list of possible topics related to my new book, such as “How to Plan Your Own Killer Party,” “How to Survive an Old-Fashioned Book Tour” and “How to do Research for Your Romance Scene.” Some sites chose a topic from my list, while some sites had specific topics for me to choose from, such as “Please include chocolate recipes.” Others just wanted Q & A interviews, and the rest said I could write whatever I wanted. How cool was that.

            Another blogger recommended that I stockpile a bunch of articles ahead of time, but I’m more of a deadline writer. I jotted the dozen or so dates on the calendar, and then wrote the each blog while lounging on my couch, listening to music. I never got lost while traveling the entire country. I got to eat all my own cookies. And I could wear my PJs (or not) all day long if I wanted to. When my articles went “up” on the sites, I dropped by throughout the day to see if there were comments, and responded to each of them, feeling as if I’d made some new friends.

        Thanks to blog tours, I may never leave home again. Or get dressed.

 

 

Comments

[Mysti Berry]

Thanks Penny for sharing this! Now every time I read a blog post, I'll think of you in PJs with little cocktail glasses on them, and bunny slippers :)

[Staci]

Penny, sounds like blog tours are definitely the way to go. You had me sold when you mentioned PJs and no baking!

[penny warner]

Mysti and Staci,
As a matter of fact, I'm sitting in my PJs right this minute....but that's because I just got out of the hospital after having gall bladder surgery. So this time I have a good excuse....I was planning to wear them to Malice, but have had to cancel!

[Mary]

ear whatever you like as long as you keep those books coming. ;0)

[penny warner]

Thanks Mary. Must been those Peeps....

[Susan C Shea]

Penny, I'm sorry you had to miss Malice and get to know a hospital room instead - get well soon! On the upside, your tale of the virtual tour is terrific to hear about. I love meeting readers, and I know you do too (and they you), so it doesn't have to be exclusively one or the other. But it sounds as though you attacked the virtual tour opportunity with the same gusto you do the real live ones we've done together. Onward!

[penny warner]

Hi Susan,
A virtual tour is especially good way to go when you can't get off the couch too!
But you're right, there's nothing like talking to the fans in person. And if my talk gets slow, I can show them my surgery scars...

[Diana Orgain]

Penny - so sorry to hear about the hospital visit! I'm glad you're okay! Great post - blog tours are terrific!

[Ann]

Penny - I hope you are recovering! And thanks for the encouraging words about blog tours. I've been slow to jump on that particular wagon, but am getting ready to give it a try. :-)

[penny warner]

Ann, Let me know if you need any tips, although I found Beth Groundwater's information to be the best!

[penny warner]

Diana,
Touring with you is actually more fun that a blog tour, but it works well when you can't get off the couch, thanks to stitches...