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'The book launch is just around the corner...so is my virtual tour. If you're interested in the process...here's how it goes:
After sending in my money and talking over the game plan with a wonderful woman named Dorothy, here's what that looks like:
** I've had a trailer made for YouTube,
** a banner created
** I'm guest blogging on 20 different writing blogs
** I've sent off 4 books to be reviewed
** I've written an article for a piece about my novel
In March, when the virtual book tour starts, I'll guest blog, I'll open some Q and A with other bloggers, I'll have a blast! So far, I have been really happy with the process. I'll let you know how it goes as March comes in...see what sales looks like after. This is, after all, about promotion, promotion, promotion!
If you have any questions about this process...please ask!
Until then, I am off to Disneyworld to visit my youngest daughter and play like I was 10 years old!
Woot!
lindakaysilva - Virtual Book Tour INfo
22 February 2008 @ 12:42 pm
Virtual Book Tour INfo
2 comments | Leave a comment
I have a question, actually:
How involved does an agent typically get in promotion, does the publisher contribute, or is it up to the author?
How involved does an agent typically get in promotion, does the publisher contribute, or is it up to the author?
Dorothy isn't my agent...unfortunately. She'd be a good one. I currently don't have an agent. I found an agent harder to get than a publisher. When you go agentless, you're limited to where you can publish because most of the big guns won't look at your stuff without the handoff coming from an agent. (not all, mind you, but most of the big guys and gals!).
Typically, however, an agent does little to no promoting. Their job is to get the publishing contract. If you want help with promotions, and you have the money, you hire a publicist...that's what I call Dorothy because I pay her to get my work (and me) out there. If you're lucky enough to land the big guns, then THEY take care of most of the publicity, but for the small fries...we're on our own...which is why I've really been pumping up Pump Up Your Book Promotions.
As a smaller press, Spinsters and Bella can't help up get out there...that's up to us. Fortunately, we have a great group of women who now have a blog, monthly conference calls (thanks to Ruth P) and are forming a community in an effort to lift Spinsters and Bella off the ground and into a higher league.
If you look at the math...self-promoting on the road is a money losing propositon for most of us, especially since so many independent bookstore closures...let's look at the math, shall we?
So I hit the road on the West Coast, and I am going to 10 different bookstores from Portland to LA. I'm going to need to pay for gas, some hotels, all of my food, and miscellaneous. For a week long gig, even IF you have places to stay, the gas alone will kill you.
Now, let's say I get 30 people (and that's A LOT) for each book signing...that's 300 folks right? How much do I make per book? Hmmm...about 2 bucks? So that's 600.00 bucks...are you getting the picture? Gas and food alone are going to cost that much...it's a losing proposition...especially since, let's be honest, at most book signings, the people who come ALREADY HAVE your book. So, let's say only 15 people buy them (and that is still a lot)...
That's 300 bucks...yep..that hole is looking deeper and deeper.
I know this because I lived it with my first books, and I had to come to the conclusion that I must be doing this out of ego..because as a BUSINESS move, it was stupid... and too many writers (me included) often fail to adequately deal with the business side of writing.
So...I thought...instead of losing so much money, why don't I try something new?
And so I am trying the virtual book tour. It cost me 350 bucks...and you saw what I get for that money. The best part is....if I sell NO BOOKS (which won't happen) I am only out 350 bucks...I can do the tour in my jammies and bed head from home, and I can keep track of the sales as a result of the tour.
I figured it was worth the try.
So, I'm trying.
And I'll let everyone know how it goes, so in teh future, when you're published, you can consider it as an option.
Sorry for the long-winded answer (I'm alone for the weekend and have more time! :)
Typically, however, an agent does little to no promoting. Their job is to get the publishing contract. If you want help with promotions, and you have the money, you hire a publicist...that's what I call Dorothy because I pay her to get my work (and me) out there. If you're lucky enough to land the big guns, then THEY take care of most of the publicity, but for the small fries...we're on our own...which is why I've really been pumping up Pump Up Your Book Promotions.
As a smaller press, Spinsters and Bella can't help up get out there...that's up to us. Fortunately, we have a great group of women who now have a blog, monthly conference calls (thanks to Ruth P) and are forming a community in an effort to lift Spinsters and Bella off the ground and into a higher league.
If you look at the math...self-promoting on the road is a money losing propositon for most of us, especially since so many independent bookstore closures...let's look at the math, shall we?
So I hit the road on the West Coast, and I am going to 10 different bookstores from Portland to LA. I'm going to need to pay for gas, some hotels, all of my food, and miscellaneous. For a week long gig, even IF you have places to stay, the gas alone will kill you.
Now, let's say I get 30 people (and that's A LOT) for each book signing...that's 300 folks right? How much do I make per book? Hmmm...about 2 bucks? So that's 600.00 bucks...are you getting the picture? Gas and food alone are going to cost that much...it's a losing proposition...especially since, let's be honest, at most book signings, the people who come ALREADY HAVE your book. So, let's say only 15 people buy them (and that is still a lot)...
That's 300 bucks...yep..that hole is looking deeper and deeper.
I know this because I lived it with my first books, and I had to come to the conclusion that I must be doing this out of ego..because as a BUSINESS move, it was stupid... and too many writers (me included) often fail to adequately deal with the business side of writing.
So...I thought...instead of losing so much money, why don't I try something new?
And so I am trying the virtual book tour. It cost me 350 bucks...and you saw what I get for that money. The best part is....if I sell NO BOOKS (which won't happen) I am only out 350 bucks...I can do the tour in my jammies and bed head from home, and I can keep track of the sales as a result of the tour.
I figured it was worth the try.
So, I'm trying.
And I'll let everyone know how it goes, so in teh future, when you're published, you can consider it as an option.
Sorry for the long-winded answer (I'm alone for the weekend and have more time! :)