Writing World recently published my article on how to plan a virtual book tour. The article describes a simple, five step process that I used to plan my own tour in March 2010 and includes sample text for hosts and for press releases.
Would I do another virtual book tour? As I say in the article: "Absolutely! Done right, the process yields increased visibility to an author while increasing traffic for the host blogs. It's an ideal venue through which to create and leave behind a long-lasting cyber-trail of information about your book, about your writing and about yourself. Most of all, a virtual book tour is a perfect vehicle through which to enjoy the benefits and revelations of a real-time, deep conversation with readers and literature enthusiasts the world over."
I've always said that I value our cyber-community here at Thoughts and Ponderings. I truly do. That said, if any of the followers of this blog would like to do a virtual book tour this year, I'd be happy and honored to be one of your hosts.
Wishing each of you a week full of enjoyable reading and lucid writing,
Mohamed
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Hello and thank you for commenting on my blog. I do not know from whence you came but your blog looks very interesting. Since I am a blossoming writer, I shall follow you and hopefully your musings can give me a nudge in the right write direction.
ReplyDeletei'm glad it worked out so well for you! never heard of these, but look forward to asking questions of whatever author you get!
ReplyDeleteDear Beatnheart,
ReplyDeleteThat makes two of us: I don't know "from whence I came" either. But I do know where I hope to go, and that's to a state of being a better writer. Thanks for joining our cyber-community!
Mohamed
Thanks, aspiring_x!
ReplyDeleteBTW, one of your recent posts really got me thinking about the relationship between a writer's vocation and her or his writing. Is there a causal relationship or are these independent variables? It's looking more and more like your post is going to be the basis for this week's Friday Friends :)
Mohamed, your article is great! I know because I organized my own virtual book tour also, and your five steps are right on. Thanks for sharing them with us.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jolene. If it wasn't for the internet, you couldn't be in Wasilla, Alaska sharing thoughts and ideas so easily with some guy on the east coast...or, as they used to say in Fairbanks when I visited there last summer, "The lower 48." Enjoy the day! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura! It's always great to get validating feedback, both from intellectual AND emotional standpoints :).
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your article being published. I hope you have a successful virtual tour! I really, really hope to be setting up my own someday soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Angie :). Hey, whenever you get to the point of setting one up, my offer still stands - I'd be happy to be one of your blog hosts. I hope that all is going well for you out there in beautiful Utah!
ReplyDeleteMohamed
Great idea! I'm going to read your article now, as I have no idea how to do a virtual book tour!
ReplyDeleteSounds great, Lydia! Let me know if you do a tour. I'll definately be interested in reading your Q&A's and will post a question or two of my own :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mohamed...though I have heard about virtual book tours, I am not very familiar with it. Sounds interesting. Will go through your article.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that your virtual book tour went well.
Your article sounds really interesting and also timely. I've seen a LOT of virtual tours this year, especially within the marketing groups like Class of 2K10 and Elevensies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking in on my blog. I look forward to reading more about you and your writing!
Thanks, Rachna! One of the most enjoyable aspects of the tour for me was that it included a variety of international locations. I had blog hosts in Washington, D.C.; Berlin, Germany; and London, England. Next time, maybe I'll include India! :)
ReplyDeleteAmy,
ReplyDeleteI'm not at all surprised that virtual tours are so popular. It's a great way to get the word out about your book and about your writing in general. Besides being a super marketing tool, it's also just plain fun!
Mohamed
Great article. Very helpful!
ReplyDeleteVirtual tours seem to be the thing to do.
Headed over to have a look at your article now! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHow absurd and cubist! Congrats on your success and may you have many more. And, it's really neat that you respond to folks who leave comments. Just based on that kind of thoughtfulness, I think you'll go far!
ReplyDeleteHaha, lucid reading. I think that's where I fall short. Too often I close a book and go, "Wait, what did I just read?" Need to work on my lucidity.
ReplyDeleteGreat article Mohamed. I've participated in several blog tours (as a host) and while I'm not always sure if they achieve what the author hoped (as I'm not on the other end to see if sales were improved as a result of the tour) I certainly think they can't hurt!
I'm sure I'll do a blog tour WHEN I have a book to blog about!
Thank you, Lynda! I'm really enjoying all the new posts on your blog, topics ranging from characters to vocabulary. You've really got some great tips for writers. Thanks for sharing them with us!
ReplyDeleteI hope you find the article helpful, Talli. I know how busy you keep out there in London and I'd hate to think I wasted your time with an unhelpful article. BTW, if you ever do a virtual book tour, "Thoughts and Ponderings" extends an open invitation to you for hosting :).
ReplyDeleteAli,
ReplyDeleteI think I wrote "lucid writing"....although, I must admit, there are occasions that I've lost my lucidity while reading as well. Hey, give me a break; after all, I AM an absurdist :)
Thanks for visiting us and sharing your thoughts. I hope that you'll enjoy the "happy accident" of writing for many years to come.
Mohamed
Why, thank you, Judy! As you can see from my blog, I have no trouble being absurd. Cubism, on the other hand, takes a more literary effort.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you exist in harmony with that diversity of beings at your homestead: 3 goats, 6 chickens, a dog, a cat and a python. I love it! May goodness and mercy follow you all of your days :)
Mohamed
Oh wow, I have to read about blog tours. I'll be planning one soon. I'm about to publish my novel as an ebook and I guess it would be a good idea to actually tell people about it, right. LOL
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I wanted you to know that I left an award for you over at my blog. :)
Ooh, congratulations Mohamed! A virtual book tour sounds very cool :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great article. I bookmarked it.
ReplyDelete"May goodness and mercy follow you all of your days :)" - be better off being followed by someone with a shovel!
ReplyDeleteSorry, in a humerous mood :)
I love hosting book tours - the enthusiasm for the written word and the buzz a tour can create - it's a lovely methid of promotion, and I've come into contact with material I wouldn;t otherwise have got to know about, or at least not for another few years.
When (being an optimist) I get a book published, I will ask you to host me, Mohamed.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the award :)! {blush}
Let me know if your tour needs another host; you're always welcome at "Thoughts and Ponderings."
Your experience with ebooks should be fascinating and instructive. If you write a post on it, I'd definately love to read it, learn from it and post a link to it.
Be well!
Mohamed :)
Why, thank you, WritingNut! Hey, I enjoyed your latest post about how your characters begin to take on a life of their own, doing what they want to. Don't worry. It happens to me too, all the time :).
ReplyDeleteMohamed
Thanks, Medeia! I'm surprised that any of my writing (fiction or non-fiction) would pass the test of your Mensa-brain :).
ReplyDeleteIf you do a virtual book tour, I would think you'd want an international one (considering your first book's topic). I know bloggers in the UK and Turkey. Those might be great locations for you.
Take care!
Mohamed
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteHumorous moods are my favorite :).
Yes, that's a sentence out of the 23rd Psalm, my 2nd favorite part of the Bible. My favorite part's the Sermon from the Mount in Matthew.
I look forward to hosting your tour; it'll be fun!
Mohamed